Year: 1872

The enterprising managers OF the Bowery Thea
tire hit on capital idea when they resolved on
mixing the drama and politics. Ii is not every
one VINO would think OF treating such a matter as
the election OF a President as a kind OF entr'dcte
to the ancient comedy. "A New Way to Pay Old
Debts.n However, there may have been something
particularly appropriate in the connection, and it
certainly required the possession OF no ordinary
genius to enable manager to invent such an ex-
cellent device for filling his house night when
political excitement would in all probability have
drawn away his clienteue 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 bonfires which bazed in every direction.
Perhaps they failed to comprehend the luxuries
prepared for them. Neil Warner as Sir Giles Over
reach, strutted his brief span the classic stage
and brought all the resources of his tremendous
wit to bear on the susceptibiities OF his audience
They, however, were laboring under conflicting
q hearty manner the fine points OF the actor.
The truth was they were but little in
them but nervousy waiting to learn the fate of the
rival candidates. This was visible rather In the
universal quiet oi the audience than in any demon.
strativeness. The boys in the gallery who usually
insist having the full value OF their fifteen cents
OF unrestrained fun were especially subdued. One
was almost impressed looking up at the gods, see
ing them hid away In the immense distance, with


sHADowY FACES,


suggestive OF remedial soap measures, peefing
down In grim Observation-Disclosures. But whatever
they may have thought, II the gods ever trouble
themselves with thinking, they said nothing, but
looked over the distant rim like flock OF grim Vera
Cruz scavenger birds perched on the ledge OF a
house curlously 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
stern gtun. A middle -ared. hlp-
ing citizen OF the Industrious classes had taken his
seat beside the HERALD reporter, and as he had
good deal OF bOnhOmDaie In his face, and kindli-
ness in the expression OF the eye that invited COM
munication, the HERALD reporter, being OF
an acauaIniance. The citizen on proved ~ hp up
q great admirer OF Neil Warner and looked
upon that gentleman as the most intelligent
interpreter OF the drama that America had seen
for ever so many years. As the man was good
natured and therefore obstinate, the HERALD re-
porter did not attempt to shake his convictions,
thinking IL pity to disturb anybodys belief in an
age SO cyncally ncredulous. 1t was quiet delight
iul to find person who believed In something,
evident that the genial face upon which the reporter


MORALLY HoHEYcoMBEp


with the vice OF the period The man was a citi-
zen, native born, az he somewhat proudly asserted,
and though still In the maturity OF his powers had
however led TO rather melancholy conclusions, but
in the waste OF his condolences there were two
green spots whose verdure had never faded. He
admired Warner and believed In Greeley thought
the white-coated Philosopher was an honest man,
but did not vote for him. This he
fastened to say was on principle, as for eight
account OF what he considered an unwarrantable
interference with his rights as q free and inde-
pendent citizen. After residence 81 fourteen
years In one OF 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 he had no protection that The
memory OF the politicians would not cause them to
mistake him for some one else, he thought 1t more
prudent 70 retire from the cares Of state and leave
voting to those who liked 1t. He was anxious,
however to make an experiment with Greeley.
Like q desperate gambler, though he held on to
faith In humanity, by the skirts Of the old Phil0s0-
pher's coat he would cast his idol on the political
green cloth just to try II he could 60 TO
Washington and remain an honest man. II should