A DUDE'S DISCOMFITURE

Dunstan Times, Issue 1204, 27 March 1885, Page 3

A DUDE'S DISCOMFITURE

Among th> disadvantages of the poit'on of pr ma donna of the It/lit oper.t are the innnmerah'e'rnis-dves from masculine ad inirers, sometimes tender anil aunlogetio, but of en grossly impertinent. The other »verii'i despite the watchful owe of the stage doorkeeper at Haverly's Theatre, a note was deliverel to Mias Ldlv Post, who was singing the tit'e ro'e m “ D-sirce.” It read as follows :—“ My dear Miss Post,— 1 have seen your, charming impersonation of Desiree, and am desirous of Ivc ming ao qi tinted .with you, and for that purpose invite you to enp with me after the performance. I am aware that I have more cheek than brains, but 1 have plenty nf mmev an tan a New Yorker. I shall he sailed oh thesjxth row left, third seit from ihe centre aWe. If you accept my invita tion, when yon come forward for yonr eolo in the second act please wink with yonr right eve. I will hj ive a carriage at the stage doo-.” Amused, in spite of her v xa t'on, at the insafForih'y coot impertinence of the letter. Miss Post exhibited it to various members.of the company. It was resolved that the conceited N-w Yorker shou d he punished and in as open a manner as possible. So when the curtain rose on the second ao" and the whole company was on the * f age Mr He Wolf Hopper, who, as Pommorct. ehnn'd ho the first to speak, walked deliberately to th footli-ht with the letter in his hands and putting on his eyeglasses began to count, in a manner which attracted the attention of the enrire andienc, until he singled out the N> w Yorker, who was beginning to squirm under such close scrutiny, Mr Hopper then removed his glasses, and, after once more glancing at the letter, slowly and solemnly winked his right eye and pointed over his shoulder toward the back door. The audience by this time began to suspect the position of aflf its, and all eyes were fixed upon the sixth row. Then Mark Smith s'epp'd to the fron , and in the same man ne as M- Hopper, wh k>d and points 1 over his sh mlder. while the unhickydu le seem id trying to sink out of sight behind his neighbours But the end was not yet for, as though at a concerted signal, the entire company, principals and chorus, fasTne 1 their gaz l upon the now ihoronghlv uncom fortabie voung man. and each deliberately w nke 1 the right eye. This was *oi much for his dudes'dp. an I. rising in his seat, ho b -at a ha>ty an I inglorious re teat amid shouts nf laughter.— Pei'a lehihia P,ess.