The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-05
A SCANDAL in BOHEMIA
ACTOR FOLKS WHO "STAY UP" TILL
O'CLOCK In THE MORNING.
But They Have Pleasant Times and
Saturday Nights Event Was No
Exception to the Rule.

Wherever a number of actors are gath
cred together Bohemia is to be found
There is no varying from this, for stage
people are Bohemian by instinct. Among
them great freedom in all the relations of
life is characteristic. The spirit of perfect
cameraderie or bonhommie, as the French
euphemistically express it. that prevails
with them makes unnecessary many Of the
conventionalities that strictly observed
elsewhere. For some time small munich
pality Of the we'll known. but nevertheless
somewhat shadowy. country of Bohemia
has existed In Indianapolis without at
tracing a great deal of attention from
either the authorities or the general public
The members of the stock company have,
by easy and natural gradations, drifted to-
gether into a sort of fellowship fra
ternity that is nothing if not truly Bohe-
milan in its nature. Every three or four
weeks the men of the company meet to-
gether-usually in the roomy apartments of
Carleton Macy-and, while enjoying the Sc
ductive accomplishments of a Dutch
lunch, tell humorous stories, sing love
ballads, relate past experiences and other
wise have thoroughly good time.
Last Saturday night after the curtain had
fallen on the closing performance of "Frou
Frou" the men of the company quickly
scurried- over to their usual gathering
place, which Is close enough to the State
Capitol for the night Waterman in that big
structure to hear the sounds of festivity
enlivening the midnight air. newspaper
man knocked on 1.-The door Of the room in
a certain building in which he heard the
greatest amount of noise" according to
previous instructions. and soon found him
self in the midst of very hilarious lot of
jewellers. Herman Sheldon had provided
the feast and was apparently in all parts
OF the room at the same time, saying in his
voice which fairly reeks with goodnature
Help yourselves, boys. There's plenty of
everything. If you don't see what you
want, look in the sideboard."
While the eating progressed conversa-
ton was carried on only in groups and
then In a merely desultory fashion. When
the quantity of deviled eggs, liverwurst,
sardines, chow-chow, stuffed herring. ham,
rye bread, cheese and amber fluid that had
been supplied so lavishly, was appreciably
diminished, Papa Brigard (Thomas b.
Reynolds) starte, the evenings entertain
ment by calling Ior Riley recitation from
Mr.. Charles Mcclure. of the Hotel Topsy
Turvy Company, who was guest of
| nonor, togetner with others from the same
company, of the Stock Company Bohemian
Society. ar. Mcclure created considerable
laughter and enthusiasm by his clever re-
citai of the poem in which group of far
mers at CROSSROADS grocery discuss the
best form of food known to man. winding
| up with the statement by the narrator that
ne lowed terbakker was the best. when
| Mcclure rendered two pathetic poems by
James Wnitcomb Riley later In the pro-
ceedings, Jim and Down at Old Aunt
Mary $, and was voted prince of enter
Ia Norln 4.
guests of honor, told quite a string of
Irish character stories that kept his listen
ers laughing themselves sore for full
half-hour. Occasionally. Sheldon would
rise to his feet and in his own inimtable
style without the slightest facial warning,
perpetrate joke or humorous tale that
gave fresh impetus to the current of
merlin mt that was flowing with consider
able rapidlty. Anecdotes of varying de-
grees of laugh power were also relea sed
by Thomas Reynolds. ourrell Barbaretto.
last three belonging to the Hotel Topsy
| Turvy.''
NEW GUEST ARRIVES.
When the fun had reached its highest
point Oliver Willard Pierce knocked at the
door and was ushered in, rubbing his eyes
and jerking out: Boys, L am awfully sor-
| ~ to be so late, but, don't you know, /
| took Turkish bath this evening and
thought l would have nice little nap
| afterwards. leaving orders to be Weakened
| at half past TO-" 1t being then close to
a. m, the boys" decided to punish Mr..
Pierce for his hardness by making him
sing something. He and Phil Ryley went
into an adjoining room where there was a
piano. from which very shortly issued the
| inspiring tune mingled with the stirring
words of Jerusalem, the Holy City"
| rms was the signal for speedy exodus
a fhea
TO the acting fraternity were sung, as
solos, duets, quartets and by the entire
crowd, until some> one suggested he felt
hungry again and that a little of the feast
remained untouched, when the entire as
sembly well-nigh damaged the narrow
| hallway leading TO the banquet room I'm a
mad haste to reach 1t simultaneously
After the edibles had been further
| shrunken TO the size of a tolerable repast
| for Mr.. Mays handsome canine friend
| Rey ell Rey the next order of business was
the narrating of first experiences on the
stage. MIR. Mortimer said the first time
he ever set foot 1.-The boards was in
| the capacity OF a supernumerary in a large
| production that had TO do with the strug-
giles of England with her subjects in India
| On account of his lack of height and
breadth he was converted into a native of
| India attired in turban and flowing yellow
| robes. As he had not enjoyed the advan-
| tage OF previous rehearsals the stage di-
| rector was particularly emphatic in giving
him his instructions. You and the rest
or your crowd of Indians" he explained,
| are TO surge up To the walls of the fort
| twice and be driven back many times.
| The third time, however, you will go over
/ the parapets and engage in fierce combat
with the British soldiers within the fort.
| There will be a soldier there 10 fight you
III be your opponent myself if possible
and you must hack away at him with your
cutlass until you get signal, and then
drop TO the stage as IL dead"
| We'll, continued Mortimer. 1--WE got
| along all right. Everything went off ac-
cording TO programme We rushed up TO
the fortress twice and were sent back Yell
| ing and brandishing our weapons The
| third time We tumbled over into the in
| closure and fell TO without delay battling
| fercely with the British. I fought my
| man clear down to the footlights not hear
| ing the signal he all the time kissing I'm
my ear, Drop, you idiot! Drop, you fooll'
until suddenly felt myself being dragged
back and then hearty kick was admin
/ istered To my anatomy which sent me
| whirsing through the rear door out into
] the alley and l heard an angry voice