New-York tribune., 1911-12-19
ORPHANS MADE HAPPY
So Was Miss DreSSler, Who
Brought Forth Laughs.
SEE "TILLIE'S NIGHTMARE"
Thirty-fiv i've Hundred of Them
Entertained at Theatre-City
Officials There.

"Tillie's Nightmare is A dream OF JOY.
There are thjrty-fve hundred little orphans
I'm New York ready to testify to that to-
day Thirty-hve hundred little orphans had
the time OF their lives at the Manhattan
Opera House yesterday afternoon; II Marie
Dressler Is an orphan thirty-fve hundred
and one orphans had the time OF their
lives, for Miss Dressler told the children
from the stage, between two acts, that
never had she enjoyed herself half as
much
Tn dead, but I'm happy down TO the
soles of my feet" she said afterward in
her dressing room. Il worked hard 10
make those kids laugh. I'd have stood on
my head to make 'em laugh. When l saw
'em all sitting back in their seats In the
beginning, sort OF scared and strange !
lust had TO 80 down front and make faces
till the people who were with them had to
laugh. and then the kids thought, We'll, II
Miss Brown laughs or Tf Mr.. Jones
laughs guess we can; and they let loose,
poor little things"
II ever an audience needed laugh, that
one did. Wistful faced little children
whose only father aud mother is an insti-
who looked forward to hearing TITLES
Nightmare; little children who couldn't
hear, but looked forward to seeing; and,
most pathetic of all, tiny creatures with
twisted limbs and crooked backs. who were
carried in by the theatre attendants from
the wagons that brought them, and sat
down in the best seats in the house.
II was an old, old bit Of story that first
got the children's risibilities 1t was the
scene in Titles mothers boarding house
when poor, hard-worl1ed Tillie is trying TO
button her stylish sisters gown, and some
one calls, Get a hook!' That, accom-
panied by Miss Dressler's best grimace,
took a weazened little chap in the fourth
row right in his funny-bone.
"Ha! Ia, Ha" rang oUt his piping
treble, and from here and there came
other tentative little "Ha-has!" and before
long all over the house voices unused TO
that kind OF exercise were "Ha-ha-ing" as
hard as they could
Maybe the overworked Titles woes in
her boarding house recalled to some OF the
children some of their own experiences in
their own homes. Anyhow, they seemed TO
appreciate this part of the play. II wasn't
until Titles dream of being the million
aires wife began that they really 'let
loose" however. and the more bizarre Til
lies adventures were. the more the chill
dren loved II.
Titles champagne jag when Tinker
opened the cold bottle on her millionaire
husbands yacht TO cure her Of her sea-
sickness delighted one little cripple so that
he had to grab his crutch from the matron
who had it in charge and pound II for ap-
plause incidentally, he paid Miss Dressler
= compliment on the truth Of her imper-
sonation.
she acts just like my mudder did when
she'd been having beer" he informed the
matron.
The final disappearance Of Tillie and her
husband backward over the yacht railing
in an ecstasy of seasickness brought out
chorus of treble laughs. One tiny child
forgot her shyness and shreked, DO it
again" But this plea was lost in gem
eral demand Tor a speech from Miss Dress
Ter. a demand 10 which she speedily ac-
ceded
You're not indebted to me the least
little bit" she told the children. Il am
indebted TO you for the happiest Christmas
time ever had. For once in my life I'm
in good company, and I'm very grateful TO
you"
All too fast for the children the play
moved on through the extremely gay
scenes in Paris-which they loved: through
the voya &c in the airship-that awed then
rather. and to TITLES awakening TO the
realization that her gorgeous experiences
were all a dream. When this came the
tiny cripple who had appauded with his
crutch gave great start.
why, poor little Tillie" he said, gazing
AT the broad back Of the vanishing actress
Was it Just a dream? Didn't it never
happen?'
Among the persons who took boxes were
Mrs. Stuyvesaht Fish, Mrs. Orme Wilson,
Mrs. James Speyer, Mrs. George ]. Gould,
Mrs. F.. II. Hartman, Miss Helen Gould
and Thomas 3. Clark. The Woman Suf-
frage party, the Equal Franchise Society
and several other organizations had boxes.
Frederick Townsend Martin was there with
a party OF women. Mayor Gaynor was
represented by his secretary. Robert
Adamson. Monsignor Lavelle occupied
box. Commissioner Waldo of the Police
Department and Commissioner Johnson of
the Fire Department were there. They
both sent extra details Of men, but there
were no accidents, so these guardians had
an easy time.
Among the charitable institutions and
schools represented were the Mission OF the