Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1876 — Several Glasses Too Much. [ARTICLE]

Several Glasses Too Much.

During Mr. Charles Pope’s management of a Southern theater, one night when some high-toned star was holding forth, a great sensation was produced by a nauticallooking old gentleman, who, with all dignity, produced a spy-glass, and when the lorgnettes were directed at the stage, with a report like a young pistol, pulled the critter out to its full proportions and leveled it at the performer. This novelty in the way of an operaglass created so much diversion that word was sent to tlie offending old sailor that he must put it up, which he wouldn’t, as he said it was his style of glass, and he was going to use it. Further remonstrance resulted in the spy-glass shutting up, and the old gentleman indignantly walking out as the curtain fell on the first act. Before it rose again in walked the seafaring man in company with eight others of the same brand as himself. Solemnly they were escorted to seats, all near together. The play proceeded; of a sudden, crack, fizz, squeak, went nine spy-glasses, some of them a yard long. Simultaneously the whole nine were pulled out to their extremest length, and the weather-beaten old countenances brought to bear on the end of them. The audience howled, the players struggled on, but the instant an exciting passage was reached; whang want the nine spy-glasses, and the audience yelled with delight. In this way the performance dragged along, till, as actors and audience could stand it no longer, the piece was brought to an untimely end; the eight old seadogs who had been summoned off the levee to assist the original offender unsmilingly filed out behind him, fully avenged for all interference, with the triumphant spy-glasses under their arms.— Illustrated Weekly.