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A Sunday Night Entertainment at New York. THE BEAUTIES OF BODY SNATCHING Advice to Those Who Are Thinking of Shuffling Off This Mortal Call—Utiliza tion of the Corpse w Duty to Society —A Complaint at the Low Price of “Stiffe’’—Graphic Illustration of the Work of the Resurrections as New York, Oct. 25.—When the curtain went up at the Standard theatre last night I disclosed a small upright piano, table on which were a pitcher and glass, and a set scene that purported to repre sent a graveyard at midnight. There were half a dozen solemn looking trees in the background, and in the center of the stage were two green mounds. About 150 people watched the curtain go up and wondered what was going to happen. There were a number of women present, and not a few physicians and druggists. Each one in the audience had received by postal card an invitation and the pro gramme, the whole business being con ducted by Professor Charles W. Belden, A. M., M. D. Segan with an Old Song, Professor Charles W. Selden, A. M., M D., is not known to fame under that name. He is a tall, athletic looking man with a red face and mustache and hair that are quite gray. An elderly man in evening dress glided out from the wings and seated himself at the piano He played a few bars and then broke loose in a song called “The Old Sexton,” in a voice so well developed that the leavea on the trees in the background rustled. Then “an eminent clergyman, who was down on the programme for a lecture on modes of burial, appeared, and after pouring out a little water from the pitcher and clear ing his throat, began his lecture. The clergyman was a round-faced, earnest looking young man. Approved of Body Snatching. He recited a piece about death and dif ferent modes of burial, and whenever he forgot his lines he deliberately took a drink of water and a man in the wings prompted him. The supply of water was exhausted before he wound up his speech. The eminent clergyman approved of body snatching because it was necessary for the advancement of science. He advised his listeners to leave their bodies to the dis secting room when they died. Talked of Carving People. The gray-haired man in evening dream then came out and sang “I Would Not Live Alway. ” By this time the audience was wondering what it was all about. Then “a distinguised professor of surgery” appeared. He was to talk on surgery and dissection, so the programme said. His bogey black trousers and white stockings that showed above low shoes strongly re sembled those of the “eminent clergy man.” The audience knew that it wasn't the clergyman, however, for he wore a stiff, white waistcoat and his hair was long and gray. The audience also knew that he was a Frenchman, for he said “ze” instead of “the” and his gestures were dif ferent. He gave a history of surgery with the aid of the water pitcher and the man in the wings. The French scentist also approved of body-anatching, ENTER THE STAR PERFORMER. He Defends the Business of “Resurrec tion’’—A Realistic Scans. Then came the elderly man in evening dress with the “Song of the Cremationist.” The use of the cemetery scene was appar ent in that part of the exercises. The “champion resurrectionist of the world walked out upon the stage in a Little Lord Fauntleroy costume with polleried leather leggings. He twirled a little English fore-and-aft cap in his hand. He told the audience that night doctors, cadaver cachers, body snatchers, stiff raisers, vampires and overtakers were simply pet names for grave robbers. An Iijustration from Life. After the professional resurrectionist had defended his business as the safe guard of science and complained bitterly of the low prices that the Georgetown Medical college paid for assistance in his line, he demonstrated the way in which a body is stolen from a grave. A tall man walked out from the wings and concealed himself behind one of the mounds that represented a grave. He was the corpse. Then Professor Selden in his shirt sleeves came on with a long rope to which was attached an iron hook, Delighted the Audience. He explained Its use to the resurrection ist and the resurrectionist told the audi ence all about it. Professor Selden and the lecturer then shoveled maginary dirt from the grave for a few minutes. The resurrectionist’s muffled cry of glee in formed the audience that the coffin had been uncovered. The long rope with the book was lowered and the coffin lid was pulled up to the geat relief and delight of the audience. Then Professor Selden got to the grave and pulled up the corpse, Close of the Performance. The resurrectionist brought out a bag and the corpse put his feet in it. A car riage, drawn by a horse with irregular footsteps, rolled up off the stage. Pro fessor Selden and the resurrectionist caught the corpse by the army and pulled him off the stage, and the corpse aided them by kicking. This delighted the au dience again, and there was tumultuous applause. The elderly man in evening dress glided out, and immediately played “Home, Sweet Home,” and the audience won the hint, The “Good Gray Pout Parabeed. Campen, N. J., Oct. 4 —Walt Whitman, the “good gray post,” is so completely par alyzed at this little cottage on Mickle treet that he is unable to leave his bed without assistunos. He is wasted away to a were shadow and is doing no writing. His doctors say that though there is a pos sibility of life fiving some years in this condition he may drop off suddenly any day, as there is danger of paralysis reach ing his beere
Newspaper Details
Huntington Herald
Huntington, Indiana, US
Tue, Oct 27, 1891
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Leah G.
USA 08 Feb 2026
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