Puck — October 31, 1877 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

PUCK. A THEATRICAL FISHING-PARTY, New York, Oct. 3oth, '77. A party of six misguided mortals, nearly all belonging to the theatrical profession, went to Staten Tsland last Sunday to catch fish. Arrived at Prince's Bay, the party, after having been made welcome by young Strakosh, imme- diately: prepared for work. George Holland ‘flaunted a salmon-rod worth $125 and said that “only Sothern and Florence could boast of rods \ equally magnificent. When George Holland * returned from his fishing-tour in the evening he hhad only caught a yellowish-greenish thing that like a cross between a di tic bull- and a diminutive devil-fish. jat was putting a hundred and twenty-five dollar rod to base uses. Harry Beckett bobbed for eels and caught fifty. Eben Plympton quoted Shakspere and kept the fish from biting. There were two boats, each one holding three of the fishermen. One had Harry Beckett at the head, bobbing for eels; the other had George Holland with his salmon-rod. Holland's party had the provi- sions and the drink. They went out of sight and left the other party to shiver, starve, and catch eels. When we all got home there were only Beckett's eels and Holland's reptile to show. ‘The party pelted one another with the eels, and the reptile was put on exhibition in a case. = They called this pleasure. They had staid up all the previous night to be early enough to catch the train. They had caught it. All six had been driven downto the Staten Island ferry in one'cab.' I can’t describe the events that led -up' to the mishap of there being only one cab for six people. It is sufficient to know that the party was packed in regardless of phy- sical anatomy, and rolled along down to the ferry. All these facts, however, would scarcely need mentioning, were it not that they preceded a climax; which came as the party was about getting on to the boat on the journey home. This letter, published in Monday’s Suz, will save further narrative: To tue Epror or Tue Suy—Sir: We were com- ing home from an excursion to Staten Island this even- ing, and one of our number held in his hand a covered parlor riffe, which had" been taken along for sport, but which, on our learning of a law prohibiting its use, was Dear Puck: not removed out of its cover. As we were about to step on the boat a hand was roughly laid on the shoulder of the gentleman carrying the rifle, and a rowdyish-looking chap, who flaunted a badge, seized violently upon the rifle, and without asking of giving any explanaton, hur- ried the gentleman carrying it over to a liquor, saloon, where he was met by a thick-heaged, unkempt-looking fellow who was addressed as the Judge. (His name we subsequently learned to be Doyle.) Without stopping to inquire into the case, the Judge observed: “It'll cost you ten dollars fine.” Heedless of all appeal, he finally added: “You can settle it with the constable, He can do what he pleases in the matter.” The alleged constable— named Peter Golden—pleased to demand the ten-dollar fine or lock one of our party up in jail. The only explanation of- fered was that it was against the law to carry a gun on Sunday. Now, we appeal to you whether peaceable ex- cursiovists returning with a covered parlor rifle from Staten Island can be seized upon with impunity by any ‘There is going to be trouble with that judge and that constable. The whole party has been worked into great ire over the indignity, and the minions of the Staten Island law have cause to quail. ‘This brings it rather outside of the pale of fishing pleasure; but you can never tell, when you go fishing, what you are going to catch. Unexcursively yours, Stras Dirt. , 1st P. S.—But what fun is there in fishing, after all? S. D. ad P, S.—I’d like to cowhide that Staten Is- land justice—just for luck, anyway. S. D. DRAMATIC NOTES. Joszru JErFERson opened on Monday to an immense house. In a future issue Puck will do Mr, ‘Jefferson justice, critically and_pictorially. Tue McKee RANKINS are wandering through | New England with “The Danites,” and the boundless Joaquin is happy. “Tue Cmaes or NormManpy”’ has given way, at the Fifth Avenue, to that deathless damsél known as the “ Bohemian Girl.” Miss Mary ANDERSON made a marked suc- cess in Boston. In spite of this fact, she is re- ported to possess a great deal of talent. Miss Buancue Mepa is the latest amateur débutante. She is going.to Meda deserts at the Theatre. Frangais, 23d Street, on Novem- ber sth. Txos. WuirFin will support Miss Blanche Meda in her approaching venture at the 23rd Street Theatre. His recent experience in “« Married and not Married ” will stand him in good stead. . WHEN you see a man with a soft-felt hat sit- ting in the fifty-cent seats at the Great London Circus, and inquiring ‘‘ When is Leyy goin’ to play?” you are tolerably safe in’ saying that he is not a regular resident of this city. “Tre Motuer's Secret” (‘ Séraphine”) is finally announced for production at the Union Square on November rath, an unsatisfied and enthusiastic public having, the manage- ment states, arisen in its might, and howled madly for a revival of ‘‘ Pink Dominos,” which idyllic drama has accordingly been revived for two weeks only. Ir is definitely settled that the ‘‘ House of Darnley” will not be produced at Wallack’s. How would the “ School for Scandal” do, with the following cast? Sir Peter Teazle. “John Gilbert. Lester Wallack. ruffian calling himself a constable, and whether a citizen | Maria. is com) to submit to theextortion of a ten-dollar fine under the pretest of an ordinance of whose existence he did not dream. . Is there not some direct mode of redress or punishment for what is so clearly an 2 ‘Harry BECKETT, ORGK HOLLAND, Eben PLyMPTon, SYDNEY ROSENFELD, A. FoLun, : Rosert New York, Oct. 28, 1877. Now is the time when. the ambitious amateur society-man who ‘ae comedy, young tragedy, and“ baby jue, is again annot to make his Bppcarance at the amateur E-Pluribus-Unum eatre for the | season, ‘Have had several offers of engage- ments; know, but I mustn’t.go on the stage; it lowers a fellow in the socket acale 2 A TALE OF TO-DAY; OR BLESSINGS BRIGHTEN AS THEY SAY NO. si was night. It might have been dinner-time, or early candle-light, had it not been in aromance, It was also a drug-store, and a clerk. He was known as Paul Flump. Which was his name It was not P. K. Fiump. Heroes never have initials, The scene of this story is laid out in November—well on into the centre of it. So Paul went to the door, and looked out upon the bleak November sky. Which is to say, he would have looked upon it, had it not been too dark. He looked up that way, anyhow. Then he drew a long breath, He also drew out a lengthy sigh, and ex- claimed: 2 “T'll do it!” If you could have heard the voice in which those words were uttered, you would not have required him to introduce further evidence that he would do it. He went back into the store, and locked the doors and windows. Then he deliberately took down from the | shelf a bottle filled with a certain dark liquid. After which he climbed the stairs to his little bed-room, He went and lit him a light, and stood before the mirror, and looked wistfully upon the image which it reflected. 2 His features were very pallid, but they were resolutely and firmly set, especially the bottom of them. The light of a fixed purpose bined steadily in his eyes (blue). He said once more: “Tl do itt” Then, with steady hand, he raised the bottle of dark liquid. He emptied a portion of its contents into his hands, rubbed them together, and applied the palms thereof to the capillary covering of his Read (hair). After which he did various other things, and exclaimed once more: “Tl do it!” . * * * * It was also night. an aside.] Two parties, male and female, were sitting on one sofa. This sofa was designed for that number of parties; but to-night there are, accidentally, on one end of it nine volumes of Patent Office Reports, Consequently the reports are somewhat press- ed for sitting-room. The occupants of the other end of the sofa are Paul Flump and Miss Mora McMinny- wink. Paul is saying, ‘‘ Miss Mora, pardon my bold- ness, but I must speak. Long ago you must have guessed’ the great feelings which—which I feel for you. Oh! cannot you return them— some of them, at least? I—I Jove you--/ do!” “Paul,” she answers softly, but firmly, “Paul, ou must not talk sol. Forget it, I pray you! e are both poor, and would have no fine house, nor pretty. furniture, ‘nor sweet car- riages, nor good things to and—and—all that. Forgive me, Faal, but TI’ must “have all those when T marry; and you cannot. furnish “Yes, I forgive you! Fact was, I—I was under a false impressi I—ey—thought you could supply all them ’ere things!” The same one. [This is comichooks.com