The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-02
FIDELIO STAG" RAIDED.
CHAPMAN's UHIsK APPEAR
NILE CORd RUUTT

Everybody IL Declared Under Arrest and
the Dancer Flee- Into the wing.-The
Raiders Tam Out to Ne Merely the
Entertainment Cemmittee In Mise.
What proportion OF excitement should be
provided In q club entertainment by tho COM
mittee appointed for that purpose 10 q question
over which the member OF the Fidelio Club
are divided. On the one hand stand Messrs.
BretzHeld, Brill. Gems, and Klein. constituting
the entertainment committee. who hold that q
little stirring up Is good for . mans blood and
spirits, and on the other hand stand the vast
majority Of the club members, who prefer lighter
forms OF amusement to being frightened half to
death and then made TO cheer up In champagne
OF their own buying.
1t was planned some time ago that the quar-
ters OF the Fidelio Club. In East Fifty-ninth
street near Park avenue, should he the scene OF
some enlivening New Years festivities, which
the named above were expected TO
render sufficiently thrilling to be out Of the
ordinary. The festivities were to be OF the order
commonly known as stag" which. however,
does not preclude the presence OF all fenlninity.
vide the Seeiey dinner at Sherry's. In fact, ono
Of the performers engaged for the Fidello stag
was herself of that number which helped to
make the Seeiey banquet famous In the annals
Of the police, nor was that the only resemblance
between the two affairs. But that came later In
the evening. First in the line OF entertainment
ended only Just = trife before 1897. From the
banquet hall the club men trooped up into the
auditorium. where the entertainment was to be
given.
Everything went on all right until It came to
that number Of the programme who're Miss Cora
koutt. late OF the Chapman Raid Company,
came on. Hardly had her dance ia highly dec
orous. Instructive. and enlightenlng perform
xun when, with a crash. the doors OF the audi
torium burst open and q mai In the uniform OF
framing his face, plunged through. followed by
half q dozen. other men. only one Police Cap
tain on the force has such whisker.. and that,
Chapman. Miss Routt gave n dismal shrek
not called for in her contract and started for
Stay. womanr' Numbered he of the black
Cora stayed. A score OF men In the audience
jumped up. and everybody began shouting
What's thisr What arc these police doing
you've got no right in here. Tni, is . private
Who let EN- in' What are they going
They can't arrest anybody; there's nothing
wrong in the performance"
"Siieneei' howled the leader Of the raiding
party. You're all under arrest. Guard the
d9ors' men. Where are the President and
What are wo arrested for P" demanded a
dying an indecent exhibition. demand
kahaN hHo a. SAhSof
known"
In the absence OF the President, the Vice
President, Secretary. Treasurer. and several Of
the Board OF Governors tremulously came for
ward.
Take those men Hrst," said the bewh!skersd
autoerat.
"Bnt,C Captain, We han't been doing"
All, shut up" said one Of the underling 70 au-
thoritAtiyelyi Dye want a soak In th'1awy'
This realistic query put an end TO conyersa-
tlon for the time being. Meantime Cora Roptt
had departed from the stage. and was weeping
in the wings. Her last experience with Capt.
Chapman had not been n Joyous one.
One OF you men stay here came the order.
and see that that girl doesn't get away. Tho
rest of you bring along the officers and follow
me-"
Down stairs went the prisoners until. wonder
dering more and more at each step. they reached
the cellar. There tho mmandero OF the raiding
forces gave himself . clean shave with n mere
one OF the Entertainment committee.
You fellows are invited TO set up the wine.
Whew Those vhlskers were hot. Peel your
uniforms. boys"
At the nrst there was some language unsuita-
BILE TO the beginning Of any new year. but the
gulls soon ouieted down ana bought wine In ex-
teastve quantities. One bottle was sent up TO
Cora Routt TO augment the ENCOURAGING effect
OF this message:
The Captain has been squared. and you're
oil right. You may 90 on"
IL was sons time before she would continue,
however. and when the scheme was revealed to
the mem bers there was a great howl for blood.
which subsequently softened down to q mild-r
howl for drinks. II Is said. however. that tho
entertainment committee will never have an
opportunity to give an encore