New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01
THEATRICALS IN THE NAVY.
HOW JACK TAR LIVENS UP HIS HOL1-
DAYS IN FOREIGN WATERS.
SOME NOTABLE PERFORMANCES OF LONG AGO
AN ARCTIC PANTOMIME-"RoMEo AND
JULIET" BEFORE THEIR HA-
WAIIAN MAJEsTIES.

WAIIAN MAJESTIES.
Sea captains have always recognized that GER
tain amount Of amusement in the leisure hours oi
the men is an important means OF keeping inc
crew In good health. and for this reason cohsueia
bIe liberty has always been allowed. even py inc
most exacting disciplinarian In the Chiteo states
NAVY I, freouently has happened that SHIPS conn
panies when enlisted for long cruise o's""
dramatic companies among themselves anu So
entertainments which. If not CLASSICAL were u'""'''
enjoyable .,., ,or
>ormorces was exhibited In the od-tme custom
~ Initiating new seamen when crossing the line
This ceremony. which was often extremely '.".a,'
was dscountenanced by the early oihceis VI "
United States Navy, and about no seNe'ai VI ~
commanders prohibited It's observance ai'ose'
r. ,,,,,h,,sbed Journal of an officer who was IN
the United States forty -four gun irisa'e io
(sister-ship of the famous Constitutioh' VINE" ON
made her cruise around the world lS5l-oS recorus ~
fact that Captain John Downes, the con'ihanuei W
the frigate was opposed to the ceremony, ou. ea'0
ey.rv .ncouragement to aspiring dramatiss IN 'ne
ships company. This resulted in the 1orHa'oh u
the Great and Only Original Potomacs' VIM
was perhaps. the first regular drafnauc eo'npa''
aboard a United States man-of-war Inc fo'o'iao
sailed from New-York in October. 1881 ana Inc snip
hed MT heen at sea many weeks before luii'
aedced theatrical company had been ORGANIZED
A PERFORMANCE AT RIO JANEiRO.
Anxious to show their skill this company wnen
the ship landed at Rio Janero invited numoer Oh
people from the city to witness Its performance
One Of the actors gives the following record OF 'S
entertainment: I'm return for the civihties our
officers had received from the number OF iades anu
gentlemen on shore our officers determined TO get
I'M fete for their entertainment on boaN the
frigate. During our passage from Ne"-ioiA SUN
encoura ment had been given 10 the men III iaNo
Of forming a small Thespian corps On ooaro Oh
the man-of-war there are perhaps more me" Vi
twice the number Of inhabitants. The crew OF such
a ship Is mostly composed OF persons Ill ue"pe.a
circumstances and having a rowing mcmahon me
,ro,ess,on OF an actor is always one OF doubtful
success In the many attempts some must Ia' anu
are thrown out OF the avocation o! oiss'pa'io" an"
And themselves from necessity on board manor
war On Saturday, october %, the theatre Was
rugged on the quarterback and invitations were
sent on shore the ladies and gentlemen Al
o'clock the deck was thronged with the officers OF
the Warren and the Lexington. also United STATES
cruisers but our brightest anticipations were
doomed to disappointment, and the sunny sfh''e oi
beauty was doomed to be lacking on THIS occasion
The weather suddenly changed, the heavens De-
came overcast and the prospect OF the attendance
of the ladies from shore every moment gre"
more faint. The performance was finally opened
without them. but still II contributed greatly 10
the amusement of all who were present Matters
however were not allowed TO terminate thus An
other evening was set apart for the purpose. tho
theatre was again opened and all who mad not peeh
able TO attend on the preceding evening We're now
present The performance went off with spirit a
dance followed, and the ladies and gentlemen from
the city seemed much pleased"
Before the cruise over, the Great ana only
Original Potomacs' were asked to play before the
King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands The play
was Romeo and juliet" which was considered one
Of the strongest In the repertory OF the Great ana
Only Original Potomacs. When that soul stirring
tragedy was first suggested one which the nau-
teal Thespians might take a hack at. the ques-
ton naturally arose. What shall we do for
Juliet?" But there plenty Of smooth-faced
youngsters in the Potomac's crew who were willing
to take this and the other female parts The ships
tailor called into service and soon put together
some pieces OF old sails which he Insisted were fair
" good limitations OF dresses. The difficulty OF
scenery was easily solved by hanging out sign.
This is a Wood Scene" or This Is a Church In
terror" or This is House." as the changing
scenes Of the drama required. and the rugged i'm
eginaton Of the audience was equal to the strain.
A NAVAL ROMEO.
When the Great and Only Original Potomacs
came 10 present the tragedy before the King and
Queen Of the Sandwich Islands, however some
doubt was expressed by the officers If such
stretch Of the imagination as canvas pettcoat on
strapping. weatherbeaten young sailor for Jul
Net, the simple words This is Church Int
rior." scratched with charcoal old shirtbox.
would The Romeo of the play also gave the
sober minded of the ship anxiety, for. al
though he frst-class seaman and could throw
q harpoon further than any other man In the big
ships company, he far from being an Ideal
hero Of the famous play. He tall. lank bow
legged Yankee. and had spent OF the years OF
bis life in whalcr. But, aside from his rolling
gait. nasal drawl, bony hands Zone Of which was
lacking three fingers and the thumb. the wardrobe
OF the Romeo was not quite up to the mark. In
stead of the graceful mantle to throw over his left
shoulder he had borrowed fulldress civilian coat
from the captain. Strange TO say the dusky mon
archs Of the Sandwich Islands to have been
favorably impressed with the hero The American
and English residents of the island insisted more
than one performance Of the play. To show their
great appreciation Of the performance their Majes
ties visited the frigae several days afterward and
expressed their admiration for the stalwart Romeo
who. at that moment. happened 10 be squatted on
the gundeck. engaged In the prosaic task Of mend
ing his trousers
1t the classical productions Of Shake
speare however. that the dramatic companies
aboard the United States men-of-war met their
greatest successes In farces and minstrel shows
they attained high degree OF excellence. One OF
the earliest minstrel companies in the Navy
formed aboard the United States steamer Pow
hatan. when under command OF Captain Joshua
Tattnan while her diplomatic cruise In the China
Sea, 1873 The late Rear-Admiral Stephen Deca-
tur Trenchard who at that time the executive
officer on the Powhatan kept private journal Of
this cruise. Among other interesting items Is the
account OF seeing the old year of 1858 out" The
occasion celebrated by a performance Of the
Powhatan MINISTRIES. The programme is given here
verbatim:
l. Overture. La File du Reem.n,e.
Opening chorus. I'VE Come Again"
|. " Ri;,y t SsH,s;
..ssoC,. en-, Kate"
g Virginia Rosebud"
PART TWO
10 Ballet.