A VICTORIAN "WILLIE STEEL."

Evening Star, Issue 3094, 18 January 1873, Page 3

A VICTORIAN "WILLIE STEEL."

An extraordinary and disreputable scene took place at the Kyneton Mechanic’s Inati- ' tute on Boxing Night. The fo'lovviug description of the proceedings is given by the Guardian “An individu d namely Riley, >’ho occupies the position of groom to a gentleman in Kyneton, had advertised an entertainment after the fashion of the Christy? Minstr.ls, and succeeded in attracting quite a large audience, many of whom wtre under the impression that the entertainment was for the benefit of the Kyneton Hospital. Before much progress was made, it became very ev dent that the whole affair was a sell. An individual managed to get through a song, in a very peculiar style, amidst many interruptions and symptoms of impatience from the audience. Mr Riley himself then made his appearance, attired in a female dress which reached t > about his knees, a pair of most elaborately-dressed drawers comp'e'iog his eo-tume. He commenced a most unearthly noise, partly a screech, and before the p ople had quite recovered from their astonishment he of the ojean large holes appeared, which made his exit. Presently ho came on again, this time attired as a swell, with a Scotch plaid suit and black belltoppcr. His appearance in this disguise was the signal for a storm of hisses and bootings, during which Riley stood the very picture of stolid stupidity in the centre of the stage. Some one obtained access to the hack of the stage, and marked his presence there by knocking off Riley’s hat. Then his hatbox was Hu- gon tne platform, and this was followed by variou- other articles of Ids wardrobe. A rush was next made for the stage, and in an indescibald ■ scene of fighting, screeching, hiding, a 1 d dancing, took place, in the midst of which the gas went almost completely out. This caused a general rush to the door, but a* the gas burned up again the ex dus were stayed, and the fun resumed here was a number of constables in the hall, and one of them at this juncture brought one of the leaders of the disturbance from the stage ; but beyond this no effort was made to quell the riot. At last Riley succeeded in getting away at the back, ami the secretary and some others of the institute got on the stage, and successively addressed the audience. This 1 aving been done, quiet was partially restored, au I by twenty minutes to ten the ha'l was cleared.

The Officer of the Day only.—A Kilkenny sentry challenged an intruder on the Irish encampment during the recent autumn manoeuvres.—“ Who are you?” said Pat. “ I’m the officer of the day,” was the reply. “Then, by the powers, what are you doing here at night at all, at all?” immediately asked Pat. It is said that the characteristic of the umbrella is its power of changing shapes. You may leave a brand new silk one, with an ivory or pimento handle, at any public gathering, and within three hours it will transform itself into light blue or faded brown cotton, somewhat less in size than a circus tent, with a handle like a telegraph pole, and five fractured ribs.