The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-22
THE FLAG IN THE PIT.
An Incident IN the Crowded Career Of
d. the Old BoWery Theatre.

To THE EDITOR OF THE srN-Sr: Ths
events OF the day are stirring Indeed
but really I gasped when In my last
SUNDAY SUN I read rs patriotism dead
In these United States Of American
The question brings to mind an anec-
dote Of civil var days. and although the
story does not answer the question ]
will retell II II only to ascertain II there
may happen TO be in these days any
old SuN readers who can vouch for the
truth OF the incident.
1t happened In the old Bowery Thea
tire M the performer who o the
leading part and was In fact the hero
OF the evening was an occupant Of the
Pit with a capital "P." Mr.. Typesetter,
II you please. for It was 4 capital part
OF the house and should be treated
capitally. let me tell your. An. that
great old Pit, with Its backlese. un.
painted benches: indeed. a place OF
places, and many an actor OF the old
days was swept on to great popularity
by those who sat there. You entered
Il by the present south doorway. It is
there to-day, and there was painted
over II "The Pit" Dante said Of hell.
placing It over tho entrance All
hope abandon. We who enter here"
There should have been painted over the
doors OF the Pit. Leave all cares be-
hind. We who enter here" I did.
But to return to our story. Being war
times. the management had engaged a
vocalist to sing between the acts Tho
Star %Spangled Banner: an audience OF
some $500 were on hand to listen 10
the song. The drop curtain was low
cred. The singer came on ostentatiously
carrying al American nag made fast
to a stan. He made his bow. rested the
stan on the stage. draped the nag about
the pole. posed himself carefully and
began TO sing.
In the centre OF the Pit a restless
bunch OF young American imps OF the
Bowery craned eagerly forward 20 hear
the strains of the ballad. bu, the voice
Of tho singer failed those high notes
caught him harshly and his voice broke
badly the bunch first cigRled a moment.
then laughed, then Missed the singer.
He got on his professional dignity AT
once. scUwled In wrath at the centre OF
the Pit. took n step forward and re-
sentfully and vulgarly sneered
who va hisSin'. me or the fag?'
oh. poor mortal. why did he ask that
with the emblem OF American liberty
next his heart and on such an OCCASION
lie got his answer and he got IL a.
once, for there came hurtllng from that
bunch in the centre OF the Pit a boys
voice which screeched and screamed high
In contemptuous tones. YOU, You
You" and he ep!tomized the worst In
ult known to the Bowery. The audience
sat up electrically aghast then II seethed
In laughter at the singer; laughed In
scorn like a cyclone from the Italian
poets inferno; laughed ont ~nuously
with such a smashing roar that the
singers knees quaked, his face became
ashen gray. and he stood stunned. the
picture OF utter misery.
In his AFFECT bewilderment a sibilant
voice from the prompt side OF the stage
h.esed clearly Come on" lie turned
n faltered of. the flag dragging 81
tho floor. while that hailstorm OF scorn
pelted him at every step. I. has been
often said that. the old playhouse has
been rocked on it, foundations many
times n so, this was one OF the times,
for I was told that the house was SIM
ply frantic IN it's wrath with the refiec-
ton on the flag.
As for the entire OF the PIT. the
bunch was having a gay melee OF rs
own, hugg!ng and pounding It's hero and
tearing the clothing on him, every one
Of them wishing he had been the ono TO
say IL. and the occupants OF n.ggah
hebben had 10 hold hard 20 each other
to stop ;umbl!ng over the rail- down
into the PIT.
In after wears | asked IIo'ele about the
affair. He said
at all happened az YOU say I re-
member II a. - twas Yesterday hell
was loose Toy fair that time
When the house had resumed lis nor
NAL quiet the stage manager came on.
bowed very cour,eously and with a pc
culiar senten'ious curl at the corners OF
his mouth said quietly. Thank you
and hoHing again courteous!y retired,
evidently thinking the audience had done
It's duty thoroughly. even IL cruelty.
NEW YORK. May 90. T. W. W.