The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
PREACHERS AT THE THEATER.
How Hall Caine Played a Confidence
Game ON the Clergy.

New York Evening Sun.
If Mr.. Music Hall Game really possesses
sense Of humor, what jolly good laugh he
must have had with himself last night. AS
an example of the gold brick game, nothing
finer than the clever little ruse by which he
enticed some hundred odd contiding and all
too unsuspicious clergymen to witness a
morning performance of THE Christian,
was delicious And his bait was such sim
From Paterson to Patchogue and from
Mount Vernon to Perth Amboy they came
trooping to the theaLer by every ferrybOat
and suburban train. OF New York clergy
men there were five or six, and more than
one of them was seen to wriggie perceptibly
scene in Giory's nat. At the end of the
fourth act Mr.. Game had a lovely time. The
curtain was raised on the scene of Glorys
nat again, the cards with which the music
hall women had been adding to their small
Income and the empty champagne bottles
which had assisted them in assuaging their
thirsts, were still on the table, but Mr..
Game, with large roll of manuscript in his
hand, walked down the stage seriously, just
as though he were safe at home In the dear
old ManX meeting house and was about to
lead in prayer Well, he talked and he
talked and he talked, and, among other
things, he informed the clergymen that all
the actors in the company had told him that
this audience was the lovelieSt and most APP
preciatiye audience that they mad ever
played to. authors note. Later in the
morning every man in the company took
pains to say that this statement was -
mind; they denied the statement) And
after Mr. Game had talked till his lungs
gave out a clergyman in the balcony moved
that vote of thanks thoud be given to
Mr.. Game and all in favor should say aye.
Seventeen clergymen shouted Aver Tie
rest were too busy thinking of how they
were going to explain their presence to their
OF course. there were some little Earring
notes in the affair. The fact that Bishop
Potter Dr. Rainsford, DR.. Van Dyke and
nearly all the other Episcopalian and Pres
byterian clergymen had turned him down
in short order was not a pleasant reflection
for Mr.. Game. and the letter of refusal
which he received from Archbishop Corri-
gan is likely to stick even in his cast-iron
crop for some time to come
1T have read one chapter of your novel,
The Christian. wrote Archbishop Corri-
gan land it was sufficient ] refuse to in
dorse your play in any manner or shape.
1t is only fair to Miss Allen and the men,
bers of the company 10 say that they Were
bitterly opposed to this matinee from the
first Even if Mr.. Game does not. they real
storm and Glory. The whole affair was ar
ranged by Mr.. Game to satisfy his own over
weening vanity and cant.
1t may surprise some of the clergymen
who attended this performance to hear that
In '"The Christian" and also in 1.-THE Sign
of the Cross" a play which so many or
them indorsed two years aeo under similar
circumstances. there are two scenes which
are as broad as anything that has ever been
shown on the New York stage outside OF
the production Of 1.-The Conquerors" Spd
some of the exhibitions at the Dewey The
alter