Puck — April 24, 1878 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

5) He had vanquished the tiger in 6) But he married, and that settled him. THE AGED ORPHAN. his lai E was left an orphan at 85, and realized then for the first time his unprotected po- sition, The word “Jr.” which for three- quarters of a century he had been wont to flourish at the end of his name was there no longer to aid him. So, helpless and alone, he shambled into the cold, unsympethetic world. The case of this orphan was peculiar. To use a metaphor, he had got blind drunk from the fountain of everlasting youth. The real trouble, however, was not with him, but with his re- spected and now lamented father. The “old man" was responsible for the peculiarity of his position. In early life this husky progenitor had been blessed with a son—an only son. ‘The circumstance was not unprecedented. It provoked a sensation new to the old man, When his son became of age he took him aside and said tenderly: ‘See here. You are now young. Remain so. Iam going to get no older | Please remember that { am but twenty Bear that in mind, and we will live happily together.” He never said any- thing further to the son on the subject. The son lived up to these teachings, and that is why he is now an orphan at 85. Jn fact, he lived a little way beyond them, for he affected a jaunti- ness and juvenility to which his father could never lay claim. ‘To see that elderly orphan, leaning heavily on his brier-wood cane, ap- proach the centre of attraction at a candy-pull, ‘was a sight to remember. myself. years your elder. His life was a constant yearning for church | fairs and midnight serenades, and at 7o he would plan games of base-ball and cricket. As a marble player he was unparalleled, and woe betide the youth who mixed his alleys with Ais migs. As he grew older in years the orphan grew younger in spirits, and betook himself to a Japanese kite and a dignum vite top. His dexterity with this was remarkable, and it was a pleasure to hear him call out “fen rubs.” He was an adept at all boyish games, and played “ Follow-the-master,” “I spy” and ‘Prisoner’s Base” with extreme sang frotd. It was hard to restrain this orphan. The frivolities of youth lured him to many an inconvenience. But he paused in his mad career at times and would murmer: “ What will Papa say?” or “ Inexpe- rience will be my ruination.” ‘The orphan was passionately fond of the circus. He attended ‘the menagerie, too, while not employed in some other boyish dis- sipation. He bought candy and got weighed, and generally indulged in juvenile freaks and pleasures. At last the end came. His father died. At the time of the occurrence the youth was play- fully ringing door-bells in a neighboring street. He awakened to a sense of the circumstance that he was alone in the world. No man could be found young enough to be appointed his guardian, and thus to-day is the orphan left -cheerless and unprotected. DRAMATIC NOTES. “Diptomacy" has proved a diplomatic pro- duction, indeed, at Wallack’s Theatre. “UncLE Tom’s Canin’ against breasts the tide of public indignation at the Olympic. “ Nia-for-li-ca” at Niblo’s, with Miss Lillian Cleves-Clark in an important réle, is a pleasur- able announcement. Jos. Emmet, the original Fritz, is at the Standard this week. Maggie Mitchell, the sprightly ingenue, having departed thence, “Tue Exives” are exiled from the Broadway, and George C. Boniface plays Corporal Antoine there this week. The number of Mr. Boni- face's admirers increases as he plays this part. Joun McCuttoveu is playing the Gladiator” at the Grand Opera House this week to many plaudits, with the assistance of Miss Stella Boni- face, Miss Mary Prescott and a strong male cast. Tue “Big Bonanza" is announced for | production at the Park Theatre this evening, with James Lewis as the irrepressible Professor, | and a cast to match the exigencies of Mr. Ab- bey’s cosy comedy-house. Tue difference between an actor and a ‘Boston favorite” is being shown at Booth’s, | where “The Exiles,” with a cultured cast, com- posed partly of reindeer and goats, has evoked comment and commands consideration. Tue Lingards come to the Park for the summer, in May. William Horace’s beauty and Alice Dunning’s cleverness and costumes will fill the local theatre-goer with rejoicing, and the Park with crowds (it nay be hoped). “Tue Betts, or the Murder of the Polish Jew,” is the psychological romance now pre- valent at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Mr. Stud- ley plays the leading part— that of the Murderer. The victim’s name—Puck breathes it confiden- tially —was Baruch Koweski. This was the cause of his sudden taking-off. ‘THE sonnet writer should, as a rule, shroud his identity. A Cauirornian has been found who tells the truth. He was not found telling it, however. He tells it when he sees it, Mr. J. K, Emmet points with pride to the fact that he was the original ‘‘German dialect comedian.” But, stranger still, he lives to tell | the tale. Sixty Chicago communists left the Garden City one day last week, and repaired to an ad- | jacent prairie, where they had a drill. After arraigning the municipal authorities, they re- turned to Chicago. . The cause is progressing.