Show WIT AVERTED AVERT RIOT How John Brougham Restored Peace With a Well-Timed Well Joke There have been a good many stories told told- of the q quick lck wit of actors who have turned an accident or a panic or a row into a joke said Tom Leigh the time old-time actor who has bas Just gone to Clevel Cleveland nd to raise a disturbance In Jo the G G. A. A R. R A good many of the stories are fakes Cakes I suppose sup suppose sup sup- pose he continued but some are are- true and there are lots that have never neveT found Cound their thelt way into print The press agent wasn't as numerous or as clever in the theold theold theold old days as he is now I remember an instance in wh which ch John Brougham carried off oft a most difficult situation situation situation sit sit- by a cl clever ver bit of improvisation and saved the old Winter garden from the disgrace of of- ofa f. f a riot It was the first night night- nighton on which he played his burlesque Columbus there and the house was filled tilled with his friends Among the most enthusiastic of these friends were a great crowd of headed by bv Mahoney 1 the man who wo had Just then been blen elected president of ot the Irish republic at the old Fenian hea quarters In Seventeenth street There was a jollification c Jn in honor of his election and as lA he was ni a e s Jt friend ie of ge Brougham It was natural that he and his followers should buy up nearly neaTly all the orchestra seats In the house for the opening night as did didI I was in the cast and so was Jack but If anybody else In the company company com corn pany is now alive I dont don't remember who it is I played the part of a It big Indian dlan who first appeared on the sta stage e as a messenger messenger messenger mes mes- bringing dispatches Washington Wash Wash- ington i Just as I came on a discussion that had hadi sprung up amons amon some o of the excited i S developed 8 i into t. t ta a quarrel The house was already disturbed and there was every prospects t of a fight in the in-the th the orchestra orchestra or or- chestra h t iK in E another minute f ute I delivered my message and Brougham replied to me In the words r of the piece t Confound n r you have done n Then turning from me to the footlights footlights footlights foot foot- lights he went on as if It was a part part part-of of his speech Or would you like a band of Fenian eplan brothers All fame abandon to lo defame me each other If with such sentiments I 1 sent out any Remember Im I'm Head Center here Mahoney Ma- Ma honey e T There was s a roar of la laughter from the whole house at this and the joined in tn it as heartilY as an any one else There was vas no further talk or Indication of trouble and the play went on without Interruption New New York Sun |