The times., 1899-04-16
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

Patriotism is a very good thing in its
way, but. to paraphrase Captain Basil
Hood. lit shouldn't be in ours" Orrin
johnson. whom regular theatregoers will
remember for his many admirable por-
trayals had all this proven to
him recently in New York in a manner
that admitted Of no dispute. The erldite
player had always been a great shouter
for his country, and very proud of The
nation that gave him birth. The COM
mencement of hcstiiities between this
Government and that OF Spain made his
love Of Uncle Sam positive bigotIy, and
when Mr. johnson was finally engaged with
the company presenting Her Atolement,'
he began TO develop decided ideas OF the
duties of stay-athomes. He refused 10
eat ices colored in red, white. and blue;
stopped his subscription to newspapers
that disagreed with the President. am did
many other things that excited the won
der and amusement of his colleagues.
None of these practices was calculated
to prove detrimental to the actors inter-
ests, and he might have been indu'ging n
all of them TO this day but for a third and
more commonplace plan. About the time
that the novelty had begun to wear off CT
his deeds. Mr.. Johnson had a period of
deep thought, and during the hour or so
thus consumed he decided that the Amer
ican flag and the American anthem were
worthy of great respect, and that when he
saw the one or heard the ether he would
remove his hat. This determined upJn
he sailed forth in his wonted array on :
raw spring morning and proceeded to car
ry his belief into execution. The war
fever was at its height in New York and
every good citizen was showing his co'ors.
Mr.. Johnson held his lid in his hand
from Courtland Street to Fortieth and
| two days later he was in bed with a fright
full cold and being visited by three doctors.
Despite this drawback the entertainer
was no sooner out of doors than he was
seized with another attack of patriotism,
and fell into a coal hole while looking
about for star-spangied banners. A week
after this accident Mr. Johnson met very
beautiful girl in Union Square. She wore
ether things. and rather large American
emblem. The comedian hesitated an in
| stant. and then doffed his hat. And the
next day he was fined S. by an unemotion-
al magistrate for insulting a lady.
But the climax to this series of mis-
fortunes came only last March. Mr.. Johnson
had been on an exploring expedition and
| had strayed into that region of pawn
brokers and clothing dealers known as the
Bowery, when he discovered a procession
heading his way. Some three hundred men
were in line and one of them carried "Old
Glory" MIR Johnson glanced about and not
ed that. far from showing any signs of
JOY. the crowd seemed dogged and threat
ening. He could not understand the
reason Previous troubles had made him
| wary. however. and he maintained silence
until bad band in the parade struck up
America" and then he drew himself up
to his full height and took off his hat.
To most Of the spectators around this
seemed to be preconcerted signal. Mr..
Johnson declares that sixty-eight of them
by actual count jumped en- his shirt bosom
and promenaded up and down his neck.
| They pummeled and pounded kicked and
| shook. tore and scratched ruthlessly.
Clothing was pulled away and the Offend
ing Knox battered. Strangest of all, when
policeman hove in sight and Mr. Johnson
called to him the officer walked quietly
on without paying heed to the suffering
actor.
When the mob had gone Mr.. johnson
picked himself up and dragged his bruised
body 10 the corner. man was standing
there engaged in smoking a pipe. He
looked at the victim with comprehending
eyes. Mr. Johnson giared back with eyes
that comprehended nothing why did
they do that?' he demanded.
The person addressed gave one or two
contented puffs before replying why did
you cheer at an orangemens parade?" he
asked And then Mr.. johnson remembered
| that it was St. Patricks day
Two Sundays ago the members of the
Frawley Company were rehearsing "Tril-
by at the Columbia Theatre and Santi-
nelli hypnotist, was giving an exhibi-
tion OF his power in order that Miss Van
| Buren might note how the subject was af-
fected. Down in the body of the house
Manager Dwyer. who is the most ardent OF
Bryans supporters. was arguing the 16 to
! ratio with Burr Mcintosh The big actor,
whose attention was more than half given
TO the proceedings on the stage, finally
turned to the monologist beside him and
remarked: Il wonder if that fellow could
mesmerize you and make you think you
were gold bug"
''If he did I'd knock his damned head off
when | came to-" remarked Mr.. Dwyer
belligerently.
/ And the orchestra began playing the song
made famous by Marguerite Cline.
The prominence attained by the sousa
marches during the late unpleasantness
| with Spain has inspired a Pittsburg poet
to the following metrical account of the
composers glories:
| sousa, gallant souss,
With the marches that you wrote,
Our warriors equipped themselves
And came ard saw and smote
No matter whom they had to fight,
In any foreign cline,
| To the music OF your two-steps
They could conquer every time.
When Dewey in Manila Bay
His awful sweep began.
| The band upon his flagship
Started mp '.El Captain
| And thus inspired our sailor lads
Got at and let 'er go.
| Till not n Spanish ship remained
To tell the tale of woe.
AT Santiago. when Toral
His arms was laying down.
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Stirred the echoes of the town.
| And when our oOnq'rng flag was raised
Drum, trumpet, aud bsssoon
Topped OF the ceremony
With a Tattling Sousa tune.
In forests where guerrillas lurked
| In trenches damp and drear,
The grim and seasoned regular
And homesck volunteer
Alike forget their troubles.
And no more were feeling glum
When somebody bethought himself
| A Sousa march to hum.
"a Hot Time figured also;
There are words to that, you know
Bat though the tune is warm, it lacks
The Sousa swing and 60
To stir lusy lads ashore,
| And gallant tars sAoat.
| There's nothing half jolly
The things that Sousa wrote.
Then here's to Hero Sousa
To that king of fighting men,
Who routs the Zoe completely
With his paper and his pen.
Bow down. We foreigners, bow down,