Puck — July 18, 1877 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Io PUCK. GILMORE'S. Dear Puck: “Bapy” has been brought out at the Park Theatre, but as I haven't been to see it yet, I cannot consistently give you that impartial and unbiased review of its merits and demerits which you have a right to expect. On the opening night, Araminta, with her usual eccentricity, wanted to be taken to Gil- more’s Garden. And I took her. I have no reason to complain of the visit; for, having met a number of male acquaint- ances who were willing to relieve me of Ara- minta during the greater part of the evening, and having fallen in with other male acquaint- ances, with whom I passed the rest of the even- ing discussing matters of great social weight over the beer counter, I enjoyed the music of, the band to no small extent. 1 like Gilmore’s Garden. a I am told, on very good authority, that the music is excellent. I don’t doubt it; but as. I personally am but a very indifferent judge of, those charms that soothe the savage breast, thé, authority aforesaid will not be materially strengthened by my support. ‘There are, how- ever, other attractions that commend them- selves, which are as potent as the brass-band. There’s the shooting-gallery, for’ instance— not that I shoot, but I know people that do. I ran across one of that kind, and in. spite of my most earnest protestations that'I never handled fire-arms in my life, I was dragged’in front of the man who winds the guns up and compelled to take aim. I don’t know what I hit, but a small boy, whom I had thought I killed several times, continued calling “ outside” until I became convinced that I must have struck something outside of the shooting-gallery. Some one came in and said that Mr. Gilmore | had dropped his baton in the midst.of an overture, and exclaimed: ‘What in thunder struck me then?” But I am inclined to disbe- lieve this, as the person who stated it was of a facetious turn of mind and a newspaper para- grapher, whose word you are always safe in doubting. _ And when you are through with the shoot- ing-gallery, there's the cataract at the rear end in all its magnificent dampness. It’s a beauti- ful sight, and goes well with the music. It goes better without it, though, as it isn’t let loose in its full force until the band has stopped play- ing. ‘These are important points, and worth noting, as I am anxious that you should get eed full money’s worth when you visit the Gar- jen. ‘There is one great advantage Gilmore's has over all other places of amusement—you're not bound to wait until the curtain falls before you can.go out and eat a clove. You can walk about all the time, and get as tired as you choose, to slow music. And you can sit down and eat ice-cream when it suits your purpose. And if you're not a married man you can flirt; and if you are a married man, you can flirt when your wife isn’t looking. You can see notables without num- ber, and be correspondingly refreshed. Dion Boucicault walks around planning new situations for new plays, utterly oblivious of the existence of the band whose leader gives the Brignoli stumbles among the shrubbery and the statuary, evidently impressed with a firm conviction that the tenor who has just - been wrestling with a top-note is a very much-mis- au led young man, who has mistaken his pro- fession. And Cazauran, with his stealthy tread and gloomy air, haunts the benches like a shadow, but picturesque in his sombreness, and spasmodically flashing with those keen eyes that dive deep into the souls about him. He is at work on several dozen plays for the Union Square Theatre, and couldn't smile, if he tried, without dispelling one or the other of the thousand weird effects he is always conjuring up in his mind. Then there is Colonel Sellers, flitting cheerily about, or button-holing somebody to remark, with an impressive and graceful wave of his right hand, that there’s millions of refrigerant blessings in a glass of Gilmore's lemonade with a stick in it. ‘The other man generally agrees with him Then, if your own particular Araminta isn’t turning her soulful orbs upon you, you can glance furtively up to the boxes and revel in the galaxy of pretty faces and tasteful costumes. Pretty Minnie Palmer sits up aloft likeva sweet little histrionic cherub. She looks happy, for.she knows that from the bosom of geflius— ‘of two collaborating geniuses—is being evolved a Play—a play ‘through which her wiksome Personality is to flit like a butterfly through a thicket of roses, And she thinks of next season,* and smiles. : ‘Talking of ‘plays, ‘there comes swandering. down. the gravel-walk a:stalwart ‘figtre accom- panied. by a figure of'which stalwartness is not the-distinguishing characteristic: “The stalwart figure has black whiskers and a’white’vest, and its namé\is Magnus, part jauthor’of <*Con- science,” And also part author o! ew drama which may/or may not burstupoh the NewYork publie:nextiseason. The other part is his com- panion, Whoiis thin, and has the dyspeptic look of true genius. He is a quiet and less young man, although an American dramatist, and he meekly and unobtrusively hides himself in the shadow of his partner’s fame, and wraps himself up in the name of Bunner. Altogether the Garden bears a genial look, and. from the popular treasurer, Gouge, whose silver head ever and anon glimmers among the trees, down to the girl at the flower-stand, every- body seems cheerful and cheering. Excepting the escapéd.Fenian, who skir- mishes about lik: Jemented rhinoceros, striv- ing to be recognized. But he mustébe dealt with more in sorrow than in anger; fora ing as he does some employinent for the Sillyy season, they have turned him loose in the Garden, ¢ he can rave in comparative harmlessness. ‘The Gardenis pre-eminently a summer-resort, and as for me I’m going to let Aratainta take me there as often as she likes. Contentedly Yours, Sitas Drirt. P.S.—There are several soloists on the pro- gramme; and Mlle. Galimberti catches the largest crowd on her Spanish ebullitions. S. $.D. 2d P.S.—‘ Baby,” next week. How times change! ‘I'welve months ago he was a valorous Cuban patriot, and was tramp- ling the imperious Spanish tyrant in the dust. His mighty arm was raised in the defense of liberty and freedmen, and the broken shackles rattled round his haughty patriotic head. Now he is attending a cigar store in the Bowery at $1.75 a week. A CORRESPONDENT asks, *‘ Are you tired of me, darling?” We cannot say; you will have Garden its name. to see the editor personally. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. Hymen is unquestionably laying off for a midsummer vacation, and but little business is doing in the diamond-ring line. Still Puck has a few engagements to make note of—as witness the following list: PAaTTERSON-GELLILEFBEHYNDME.— It is whis- pered in fashionable circles that Mr. William Patterson, the struck-juror, is again courting, and expects a favorable decision from the fair arbiter of his fate. Mutpoon-Rosson.—We are overjoyed to hear that Mr. Muldoon, a gentleman well-known among the élite of this city for the exceptional solidity of his attainments, is soon to lead to the altar, as his blushing bride, Miss S. Robson, the charming contralto of Sandy Bar. Biaine-BuTLER.—Before the summer leaves have caught the hectic blush of autumn, it is confidently expected that Mr. James Blaine will induce the widow Butler to doff her weeds, and, in the congenial atmosphere of matrimonial felicity, bloom forth again in all her resplendent beauty, Au Linc-Macuire.—The engagement is an- noun of Mr. Ah Ling, the distinguished artis Wanchisseur of the B., and*Miss Brid- gitta ire. ‘There js-a beautiful harmony of tastes between the happy pair. Miss Maguire has for several years made a specialty of. the same elevated pursuit as her future husband. ~CHAMBERLAIN-TROUBETZKoI.—It is rumored thatrat'last the parents of ex-Gov. Chamberlain have given their consent to the marriage of gree arorites son to the Fringes Cine ey were for a long time greatly 0 to what they. thought . misalliance, Bie have finally decided»to ‘overlook: the bride’s inferior social standing, and receive-her.as a daughtery ‘The ‘Chamberlains _are.<connected , with ‘the Smith-Jones family; whence. their natural feel- ing of exclusiveness. SUMMER RESORT NOTES. Hauirax is always a good place to go to. Ripcerig_p Park, New, Jersey, is famous for its Coloquintida Springs. Gowanus is to have‘an Esplanade, anda Plaza, and a Trocadero; and then it ‘will defy Saratoga to knock a chip off its shoulder. Hosoxen retains this year-its proud position high on'the roll. of summer ‘resorts—a position itis well entitled to hold by virtue! of its chic— its Bbandon—its < haut ton—its” fromiage-de,brie - e its things. crane 4S the Summer Resoft of, the future. pointed it out as the resort of the élite of the New World in the gay and festive years to come, when business revives. ‘This we learn from the Jones Junction Journal, ‘To Make it a delightful summer watering- place, Yorkvitte needs only a change of loca- tion. If it were situated, for instance, some- where in the White Mountains, it would prob- ably attract many distinguished visitors this season. This hint should be acted upon at once. ‘Tits is the season of the year when the young dry-goods clerk dreams of a rural Elysium, and awakes to the degrading reality that the train for New York has been gone five minutes, and that, since the adoption of the new time-table, the afternoon special only runs twice a week. Ex-Gov. Titpen picks up a copy of the Sun regularly every morning, and mutters con- solingly to himself: “It’s a d—— shame I'm not President of the United States—isn't it, Chas. A.?” ‘The unerring hand of fate has — comicbooks.com