New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
AN ANARCHIST AUDIENCE.
MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE ANAR-
CHIST PLAY WHICH 1T CAME TO SEE
HERR MOST PERFORM.

sized theatre to the doors with of the most |
interesting audiences to be in the city.
Der Strike the title of the drama given
by the anarchists at the Windsor Theatre
BoWery. near Canal-st., last Monday. Herr Most
shared with his stage son the honors of the oc-
casion. and the wild plaudits of the spectators
followed his every act. The plot of the play
vas not the easiest in the world to follow, for
the actors were amateurs of the most amateur
ish kind and their German at no time re-
marhable for the clearness of its enuncation
did not travel far the footlghts. But
thing obvious. The Herr Baron" a large
employer Of labor, was capitalist villain of |
the deepest dye. and Herr Most 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 |
far more entertaining than the drama
Everybody was thcre-that is, everybody in |
the local anarchistic world-and that seemed a |
good!y number. The majority men, with |
liberal sprinllinS OF women. and not few |
children. AS usual in Bowery theatres. the |
upper gallery only was noisy; whether the dis |
turbance anarchistic in character merely |
Of the ordinary Bowery variety could not be |
determined At any rate. they sang songs be-
tween the acts and made themselves quite at
home The rest of the audience was discreet |
enough for prayer meeting. The anarchist |
type is hard to define 1t does not easily lend |
itself TO description. but is not to be forgotten
when once recognized. 1t is the expression OF
the eyes and mouth that marks anarchist |
and certain tricks of dress. Within the brother
hood included of all degrees of per- |
sonal attractveness and unattra actveness, of all |
oompeNions and all conceivable casts OF coun-
tenance. but they look strangely alike There |
is a firm set to the mouth and an intentness to
the eyes which mark them for any who has
met the type frequently. \ minor of
identification is the way of brushing the hair, |
which is almost invariably worn brushed |
straight back from the forehead. in the pom
padour" Parting Of the hair is more or less |
degeneracy with anarchist
The women even more distinctive than |
the men They affect extreme simplicity of at
tire and are more universally clever looking |
than the men one woman, with Il face of the
Madonna shape. but vastly different in ex-
preston was typical Deep melancholy was
marked every feature-the forehead with its
lines OF thought. the shortslghted eyes full OF
sadness the well shape. rather prominent nose.
the sensitive mouth and the firm chin. 1t
the face Of woman who for conscience sake
would commit any sort OF crime and think her
life OF small value. But far from her sat
woman "a prominent anarchisU whose homely
face radiated good nature. whose eyes twinked
with of humor. and whose mouth
always ready for a smile. Common sense was
her distinguishing characteristics, and
chist with sense of humor is not very dan
gerous to the community. Her type however, Is .
far from being common. for melancholy rather .
than humor Is the hallmark OF the woman rev
outionst.
A girl about eighteen years old was typical
OF her class. She full of life and high
spirits and suspected that the revolutionary
movement attracted her much because of its
possibilities for excitement for any other
reason. when the orchestra played the Mar
seillaisc" she hummed the tune with smile and
beat time with her programme She saw her
self in fancy in a picturesque red dress leading
a mob, and she enjoyed the vision. Not that
vanity alone lies beneath the social order Of
herself and her fellows There is too much
the i'll fortune of their brothers. but they
glad to find spectacular remedy.
1t might be suspected that many of those who
had bought tickets for the play had done so
from sense Of duty and good fellowship rather
than for any desire to Herr Most lead a mob
gent many of them and when the lights
turned up after each many smiling
suspiciOusy. They applauded discreetly leav-
Ing most of the task to the gallery which
quilted itself il usually does The gods
on this occasion the lowest of the hangers
of the anarchistic camp. That they should
be Interested in strike play remarkable.