The times., 1901-06-09
ANARCHISTS AT A THEATRE
Witnessing Performance in
Which Herr Most Is the Star.
A Remarkable Play With IA Curious
Audience-Types Among the At
tendants The Women Present
More Distinctive Than the Men.

Whatever the ability of Herr Most as an
actor in an emotional part rivaling in
tears that of "Zaza" or Camille" he
can pack good-sized theatre to the doors
with one of the most interesting audi
ences to be seen in the city. Der Strike"
was the title Of the drama given by the
Anarchists at the Windsor Theatre Bow
cry, near Canal Street, last Monday.
Herr Most shared with his stage son the
honors of the occasion, and the wild plau-
dts of the spectators followed his every
act. The plot of the play was not the
easiest in the world to follow for the ac-
tors were amateurs of the most amateur
ish kind, and their German. at no time
remarkable for the clearness Of its Cnun-
citation. did not travel far over the foot
lights But one thing was obvious. The
Herr Baron" a large employer Of labor,
was a capitalist villain of the deepest
dye, and Herr Most was the Moses of the
people. Having grasped these facts ones
attention might be turned from the stage
at Will and directed toward the audience,
which was far more entertaining than
the drama.
Everybody was there-that is, every
body in the local anarchistic world-and
that seemed a goodly number. The ma
jority were men, with a liberal sprinklng
of women, and not a few children. AS
usual in Bowery theatres, the upper gal
lery only was noisy; whether the disturb
ance was anarchistic in character or
merely of the ordinary Bowery variety
could not be determined. At any rate.
they sang songs between the acts and
made themselves quite at home. The rest
of the audience was discreet enough for
a prayer meeting. The anarchist type is
hard to define 1t does not easily lend
Itself to description, but is not to be for
gotten when once recognized. 1t is the
expression of the eyes and mouth that
marks an anarchist, and certain tricks
of dress. Within the brotherhood are in
cluded men of all degrees Of personal at
and unattractiveness. Of all
and all conceivable casts of
cOuntenance, but they look strangely
alike. There is a firm set to the mouth
and an intentness to the eyes which mark
them for anyone who has met the type
frequently. A minor means of identitica-
ton is the way of brushing the hair.
which is almost Invariably worn brushed
straight back from the forehead, in the
'pOmpadOur' Parting Of the hair is
more or less degeneracy with an anar-
chist.
The women are even more distinctive
than the men. They affect extreme sim
plicity Of attire and are more universally
clever looking than the men One woman
with a face of the Madonna shape, but
vastly different in expression, was typi-
cal. Deep melancholy was marked on
every feature-the forehead with it's lines
Of thought, the shOrtsighted eyes full of
sadness. the well-shaped rather promi-
neut nose, the sensitive m1lth and firm
chin. 1t was the face of a woman who
for conscience sake would commit any
sort of crime and think her life of
small value. But not far from her sat a
woman ca prominent Anarchist whose
homely face radiated good nature, whose
eyes twinkIed with sense of humor and
whose mouth was always ready for a
smile Common sense was her distin-
gushing characteristic, and an Anarchist |
with a sense OF humor is not very dan /
serous to the community. Her type.
however is far from being common, for !
melancholy rather than humor is the I
hallmark of the woman rcVOlutiOniSt
A girl about eighteen years old was |
typical of her class She was full of life /
and high spirits, and one suspected that !
he revolutionary movement attracted her /
As much because of its possibilities for |
excitement as for any other reason. When |
the orchestra played the "Marseillaise" |