Year: 1872

The enterprisIng managers Of the Bowery Thea
tire hit on capital idea when they resolved on
mixing the drama and politics. 1t is not every
one VINO would think OF treating such a matter as
the election OF President as kind of entr'acte
to the ancient comedy "A New Way to Pay Old
Debts" However, there may have been something
particularly appropriate in the connection and it
certainly required the possession OF no ordinary
genius to enable a manager to invent such an ex-
cellent device for filling his house on night when
political excitement would in all probability have
drawn away his clientele. In spite OF the foresight
displayed on this occasion the patrons OF the in
tense drama were not to be won from the


DELIGHTS OF THE TAR BARRELS


and the bOntres which blazed in every direction.
Perhaps they failed to comprehend the Injuries
prepared for them. Neil Warner, as Sir Giles Over
reach, strutted his brief span on the classic stage
and brought all the resources OF his tremendous
wit to bear On the susceptbiities OF his audience.
They, however, were laborng under conflicting
q hearty manner the fine points OF the actor.
The truth was they were but little in
terested IN what WAS gon9 n, on before
rival candidates. This visible rather In the
universal quiet o the audience than in any demon
strativeness. The boys in the gallery who usually
insist having the full value OF their fteen cents
OF unrestrained fun were especially subdued. One
was almost impressed looking up at the g0ds see





sHADOwY FACES


suggestive OF remedial soap measures, peefing
they may have thought il the gods ever .ronole
themselves with thinking, they said nothing but
looked over the distant rim like fi0ck OF grim Vera
Cruz scavenger birds perched on the ledge OF q
house curiously regarding the passengers In their
silence the gods were awful but now and then Neil
Warner in one Of his savage moods, would elicit
from their highnesses expressions OF human sym-
pathy that were quite reassuring.


Some OF the assistants, however, were made Of
less stern stun. middle-aged respectab look
ing citizen OF the Industrious classes had taken his
seat beside the HERALD reporter, and as he had a
good deal OF ooahomnaae In his face, and knd-
in the expression OF the eye that invited COM
munication, the. HERALD reporter, being OF
an inquiring disposition, soon struck up
an a. Te Me, citizen proved TO be
upon that gentleman as the most intelligent
interpreter OF the drama that America had seen
natured, and therefore obstinate, the HERALD re.
porter did not attempt to shake his convictions,
thinking it pity to disturb anybodys belief in an
age SO cynically incredul0us It was quiet delight
ful to find person who believed In something
but as the acquaintance progressed il became
evident that the genial face upon which the reporter


MORALLY HoNEYcoMBEp


with the vice Of the period. The man was a citi-
and though still In the maturity OF his powers had
seen somewhat OF the world. His experience,
however led to rather tn melancholy conclusions, but
green spots whose verdure had never faded. He
admired Warner and believed In Greeley Thought
but did not vote for him. This he
fastened TO say was on principle, as for eight
account OF what he considered an unwarrantsble
interference with his rights as free and inde-
pendent citizen. After residence of fourteen
years In one 0f the city districts his identity was
questioned by men who knew him well, but forgot
him suddenly because be did not vote the right
ticket AS ne had no protection that The
memory OF the politicians would not cause them to
mistake him for some one else, he thought It more
prudent 70 retire from the cares Of state and leave
however, to make an experiment with Greeley.
Like desperate gambler, though he held on to
faith in humanity, by the skirts Of the old Philoso
pher's coat he would cast his idol on the political
green cloth just to try II he could go TO
Washington and remain an honest man. II should