The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-09
No yer don't" said the officer. You

mo yer don't" said the officer. You
| go ont OF here N0.
And II was not unit! the comedian
was dragged nearly to the door, and q
couple OF ushers had come to his AZ.
sistance. that he was released from the
clutches OF the officer whom he had 20
cleverly deceived. 10
Next morning in the green room
Brougham. In speaking Of the success
of his sell. plumed himself upon his
deceit OF the officer.
f'udge,' said Burton. ''the fellow IL
an ass-he ought to have known YOU
were an actor. I can always tell an
actor after seeing him on the stage as
far as ] can see him."
Brougham shrugged his shoulders
and said nothing.
Burton was very strict in his nrobi.
Dition or any smoking In or about the
theater. and especially in the entrance
| lobby. In those days the cigarette
nuisance had not been invented, and
young men did not have to go out be-
tween the acts of the play to smoke
them, so that mo smoking" was en-
forced and respected.
The stage door to the old Chambers
street theater In New York was within
twenty PAGES Of the principal entrance.
TWO steps led up to 1t, and little log
or niche at one side was at the corner
of che building.
A few days after the conversation
above recited Burton came down one
evening to the theater just after dark,
ana, as he was about to enter the stage
| door, found to his surprise the niche AZ
the side occupied by burly Irishman
IN big. rough coat and slouch hat,
smoking sort, black pipe-of all
things. Burton's especial abomin ton,
Drawing back In intense disgust, he
shouted:
Here, my man. get away from here
move away!"
"Divil blt!" growled the intruder,
made him draw further back in dis
gust.
What do you want here?" calculated
the manager.
Sure. I'm waiting for Mr. Brough.
ham," was the growled reply.
well, Mr.. BrOugham does not play
tn the second piece. Go away and
come back at 9 O'clock"
"Divil Bit" growled the intruder,
It'll l see Mr.. BrOugham."
III you do not start, I will call the
officer" said the now irate manager, as
two or three by-standers paused to see
what was the matter.
Call him, and bad luck to yez!"
This was passing all bounds of en-.
| uuTance. stepping TO the outer cOrrt.
dor of the theater Burton summoned
the officer, the same one whom Broug-
ham had so successfully deceived.
Here, Bilkem. haven't told you to
always keep this stage door clear, and
yet here Is an Internal Irishman smok-
ing his nasty pipe directly across the
Threshold"
The officer came out promptly. "Now,
then, start out Of this" said Burton.
"Divil Bit" was the gruff reply.
Pull him out" said Burton to the
officer who approached, cane in hand,
and laid his hand upon the shoulder of
the offender.
Much to their surprise. however, he
started up. threw his pipe into the gut
ter. and pulling off his slouch hat and
a wig as he advanced into the glare of
the gaslights. said to the astonished
manager, in well-knOwn tones:
Mr.. Burton, do you think. after see-
ing him on the stage. you can always
tell an actor as far as you can see
him?"
Upon my word" said the surprised
Burton. that was very well played"
Thanks" replied BrOugham; "some-
times a manager can be sold as we'll as
an audience"
Brougham died June Z, 1880, in New
York. He was buried in Greenwood
cemetery.