Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

The Popular Comedian In IL New and Origi-
nal Production us One of the Features
of a Benefit Performance 1t Was "This
House to BE Sold.'
Fifty years III journalistic harness
brings Il man i'll contact with most of
tho celebrities Of that period, scientific,
literary, political and dramatic Curtis
Guild of Boston, editor of The CONNER.
cial Bulletin Of that city. in giving his
experiences in "a Chat About Celebri-
ties" tells the following good story Of
one of John Broughum's characteristic
jokes:
l Twas witness to one Of Brougham' 8
dramatic practical jokes, which, with
its sequel, is quite amusing and worth
chronicling in these papers. 1t was dur
ing Brougham's engagement ut the
Howard Athen;eum that he announced
for his benefit two attractive comedies,
and between these the announcement
was made that u new and original pro-
duction would be brought out, entitled
"This House to BE Sold.
After the representation of the first
comedy and when tho orchestra had
played an entr 'acte, the audience was
surprised by loud voices and an unwont-
ed disturbance behind the curtain, which
increased, and the stage manager rushed
in an excited manner before the curtain.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he, Il
regret to state that member of the
company who was to appear III the next
piece has come to tho theater in such an
after dinner condition that
He got no further for we'll known
member of the company IuShed upon the
stage in an excited manner, with:
'Ladies and gentlemen, am in an
after dinner con tltiOn:'
"No! Nor' "YcsI" GO on with this
play!' and various other responses came
from the audience. Then entered the
manager, vino, addressing himself to
the speakers, said:
"Gentlcmen, 1 insist that you retire. "
"Not till | have an apology from
him. said tho iraio actor.
eco Oh, all Of you, - said Il respect
able, elderly looking man, rising in the
private boxes chs audience came to
SEQ the play, and NOS to settle actors
quamels.
ooh, father, cit down, do!' said .
young lady with tho SPEAKER, who ut.
tractcd tho attention CT the whole audi
enco.
For myself, recognized III the voice
of the elderly gcn.lnan w. II. Curtis,
ono Of he stock company, and the daugh-
ter Gs Miss Josephine Otton, another
and at once began to sconuH joke. Just
then an uproarious, evidently into9ic.t-
ed Irishr,an iii the parquct jumped up,
and, ilouri-hin2 Il stick, shouted
"Bedal, I'll perform IL Dart mesolf if
ye don't bring out Brougham!'
evil the Officer remove that mani"
said the manager from the stage.
A policeman came down, seized tho
offending Pat by the collar and began
to drag him away, when the elderly
gentlemal again interposed:
"The Irishuan is all right. Let him
alone!"
By this time tho audience was begin
ming to get il confusion, cries of $50
on" "Put him out!' resembling, and
some of the ladies begging their escorts
to leave for fear Of il disturbance. At
this juncturc tho manager, addressing
himself to the elderly speaker, said:
"Perhaps you would like your Irish
friend 20 appear hero!'
~ have no doubt he would make
bctter job Of it than you do, was the
reply, amid Zeal Of laughter.
A this point the tiibernian, who had
extricated himself from the officers
clutchcs, ran down the aisle, climt5d
over the orchestra, hitting the kettle
drum tremendous trump en- rOuic,
and amid laughter and siodts OF the
auditors, mounted aud stood upon the
stage, hat in hand, in an easy attitude.
The momont he lid 80 nnd uttered
the words Ladies' and gentlemen, the
confusion ceased und gave way to shouts
OF laughter and applause as he was roc
ognized as John Brougham, who spoke
thus;
"Ladics and gentlemen, l promised
you an original productions Oh the ocra-
sion of my benefit. 1t was This House
to Be Sold. and if this house has not
been sold, please inform NE, and ths
sell shall be more complote on some
other occasion"