Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1875 — Adventures of a Sleepy Play-Goer. [ARTICLE]

Adventures of a Sleepy Play-Goer.

A gentleman who visited the Opera' House on Monday night to witness the firsf performance in this city of Jane Coombs was unconsciously an actor in a side drama of, his own making, in the following manner: He occupied a balcony seat quite aloof from others, where, in his retirement, he fell asleep, and slept quite as soundly, if not as long, as Rip Van Winkle on thei.*Catskills. Through all the clatter of the orchestra, the storm of plaudits and the usual jam and rush for a speedy exit after the final dropping of the curtain, even after chanticleer had proclaimed the coming in of another day, and the small hours had counted on until four, Mr. slumbered. He awoke with a sense of extreme chilliness and a decided impression of the surrounding chaotic gloom. He reached out for the pillow on which he supposed he had been lying, but found only a narrow seat on which he was sitting upright. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind. Perhaps he had been kidnaped or drugged, or waylaid and beaten, and left for dead. Searching his pocket he found a broken match (it was mare precious at this moment than a rare gem of the ocean) which he lighted with much caution lest it might prove a failure, when he discovered that he was in the Opera-House, 2nd that “ the lights had fled and all but him departed.” The question, “ How shall I get out?” was then all-absorbing, for the gentleman knew full well that the watchmen who were on duty would “ shoot him on the spot” for a burglar if he made a move. So he yelled “Fire! Fire!” at the top of his voice, and while the watchmen were endeavoring to ascertain whence came the alarm the gentleman “ rose up and desired to explain” the cause of his presence at the Opera-House. “ All’s well that ends well,” said the gentleman, as he left the' watchmen; but all did not end well, for he found on reaching the street-lamp that his new hat had been stolen and an (fid one Left in its stead.— Troy J Vkiff.