THEATRICAL SLANG.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3229, 25 June 1879, Page 2

THEATRICAL SLANG.

Very; few Frenchmen, we fancy, however mm, up in^EngUstfj alESiVtafc ilahg of, their own ; coulisses, O cou,l4< ffiß^ o ou' the intention of the advertisements contained inthe pastes -'it bur chief theatrical newspaper—the Era. What; foy.'iQs|iMe, can be the meaning Qf this :—"^^tnj;|d, immediately, two or three useful,^ ge'ntiemen (single); also;one to sing between?? " What are useful geDtlemeii,, and)what is the meaning of the mysterious; qualificatien in brackets?. And, supposing -the " one to sing between " wefe; found, hdw could he sing between * three gentlemen, however useful and however single P Here is another notice, wijich^ fayfiu more startling :^'A Ranted, a novelty, a big, man, ' woman,.jt)^ dwirt,",W"others." The miha, if nbt the will, of a person on■versed in these mysteries is completely puzzled by such au announcement as this. Why should, a big man. or .womanJie.,a novelty? What is a big dwarf ? What [can; be/ the; " others "| who,rare(jhurin,. vited to compete with bigness? jfllie answering of these questions may afford a pleasant relief,to people who are tired of double acrostics, but we defy, any of the acrostic-solving craft to make anything ■*% Ohft Herculanian (sic) performer; one who can fire either from the shoulder or the t 'j&hesti3 a)p|o;.jig«!«d skaters, gymnasts, singing and knockabout clowns. or any great novelty ;mavffend dates and lowest terms." This advertisement is so completely amazing that we cannot even pat into shape <onrdiai:ispe66l»tjim) regarding it, and must leave it to speak for itself, passing on to one which seems at lctut-U)Lare<the merit!ofoommbAi«se. " Wated, talent in all branches for present and future dates, stars, novelties, apecialities, Ac. Write at once,,; ffottd;niggers who can dance; serio-comic ladies. Outsiders, please don't waste time and stamps." About-the end of< ibis ntftice there is a business-like air of which the plainness is refreshing after the vague awe inspired by the • ridtidta of l4tf! Herculauian who can fire either from the shoulder or the chest. "Perhaps, how ever, the mystery ofithß.H!?HeiftWßilian is rivalled by this :—" Wanted theaddreßS of Biven'a Wooden-headed family." One wonders this) fhasany 1 dbaiWeiion with the "heavy men," who seems to be in some request, and one is disposed to wonder still more at a respectable: young man announcing that he wants "a situation as pianist for the .free-and-easy business." It is easy to believe,that a person combining such apparently opposite tastes is a " good vamper for song art dance music." —Saturday .Review. ' >