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Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 52, 3 February 1885, Page 4

One little incident which I have not yet seen recorded took place during the harlequinade, at the Theatre Royal pantomime, Melbourne. The mimic Salvation Army, which is part of the funny buisness of this scene, had just marched across the stage, the Hallelujah Lasses being led by some energetic captain, singing one of their well-known hymns. Then, to the astonishment of the audience, a gentleman sitting m the stage-box rose and protested against such an insult being offered to the religious feelings of those present. While making this statement- the gentleman was evidently controlling with great difficulty the most violent indignation, which', at the jeers of the gallery, burst forth into a blaze of invective. He stood up, repeatedly shook his two fists at the upper part of the house, and on turning to the stage defied the clown and pantaloon, who gazed at him with wonder and amazement. Then his wife, or at any rate, the lady who accompanied him, stood up, flung her arms about his neck, and besought of him to be quiet. But m vain, his temper was up, and nothing could restrain his apparently j ust anger. A t this stage several timid ladies left the circle, fearing that some terrible disturbance would ensue, and the prompter, book m hand, came fordward to try to quell the disturbance. Turning round, and bending low over the front of his seat, to attack or to argue with his new enemy, the insulted nne tried to strike the head of the clown, who was nearest to him, who immediately seized the occasion to catch hold of the disturber of the evening's amusement and to drag him, assisted by the pantaloon, down upon the stage. Here m a twinkle of an eye, m the struggle which ensued, he was divested of his coat,

and stood for a moment looking at the bewildered audience, before he leaped through a trap-door, wbo then realised that they had been deceived and that this little incident, which took place m a so much shorter time tliau it takes me to tell it, was all part of the evening's amusement.