Year: 1875

When the Theatre opened last night there
was an immense throng, mostly young men
congregatcd In its front. So large and COM
pact was this crowd that it took the com,
bined efforts Of dozen policemen to keep 0
passage-way open on the sidewalk. There
was little said to Indicate the cause OF the
unusual turnout, but those who read the
morning papers can readily Imagine
that it was the apprehension, or perhaps the
suspicion, that the negroes would again
attempt to assert their neWly.acquired so.
called "ciYil rights" by entering the Theatre
and taking their seats in those places hereto.
fore rigidly reserved for the accommodation
of the whites exclusively. Up to s O'Clock
an inquiry by the Dispatch reporter revealed
the fact that no colored persons had applied
at the door on the right, which leads to the
parquet and dress-circle. Several negroes
came through the crowd, looked anxiously
into the Theatre, but seeing the great
crowd, evidently turned back afraid to
mske the venture of asking or demanding
the admittance that would at once be accord.
ed them by the management. That either
"civi rights" or "Davy Crockett" drew
we'll was manifest from the crowded state Of
all portions Of the Theatre. The house was
full, and it was remarked that numbers of
gentlemen who bad not been seen in the
Theatre for years were present last night.
The Dispatch reporter visited the family.
circle, Immediately abeve the dress.circle,
to see if any Of the colored people
had taken advantage of Manager Powell's
liberal proposition to accommodate them
there. Strange 10 say, there were only q
few; but to their credit be it said they
were the most respectable and decent
of the race in the city. One "a barbcr) WIS
there with his wife and two of her female
relatives; whose name we endeavored to
ind out for the purpose of holding him
up as an example to his race in
Richmond. In the upper tier a good
many negroes made their appearance, though
not so many as have been in the habit Of as
sembIng there.


On the outside large crowd Of whites re-
maincd masSed in front Of the Theatre, while
diagonally opposite were probably seventy
five or one hundred negroes scatt cred over
the street, keeping up evidently menaciDg
attitude.


About o'clock two burly-looking negroes
pushed their way through the crowd Of
whites on the street in front and went into
the entrance to the Theatre, looking at the
box. .Ctiice, and feeling in their pockets as if
it vas their intention to purchase tickets.
They continued this performance for some
time, when policeman Notified them that
il they were gong IN they must so at once,
or, if not, to leave. Reluctantly they chose
the latter and disappeared through the crowd.
Soon afterwards 4 gang OF about twelve
negroes rushed past the Theatre in an inso-
lent and brayado manner, but no notice was
taken OF them.


Nothing occurred within the Theatre to
mar the pleasure Of the evening, and MIR.
Mayo in bis charming rendition of "Dary
Crockett" afforded entertainment such as is
not often enjoyed in this city. The bouse
was very well filed with ladies and gentle
men, who eyinced their delight on every pos
sble occasion by the most rapturous ap-
pIause. There never was a drama better
presented on our boards than that which we
witnessed last evening, and the management
deserves the thanks of bis many patrons.
The play is rich with beautiful passages, and
its simplicity adds in no small degree to its
great attractiveneSs.