every foot of standing room. Some were in their shirt-sleeves, others were
ragged and dirty, while all had their hats on. Such an audience had never
before been seen in the Opera House, and it boded no good. Still, this
heterogeneous mass was orderly, but it was noticed that at short intervals
telegraphic signals were made by those nearest the stage to those in the
wings of the amphitheatre, and answered, indicating a thoroughly arranged
plan. The time before the play was to commence passed slowly, but the
hard-looking crowd seemed very patient. Occasionally, to vary the
monotony, some joke would be passed around, and once a man who was above
called out to those below, imitating the English pronunciation: "I say,
Jim, come 'hup 'ere! 'ere's some of Macready's hangels--'haint they sweet
'uns?" If a lorgnette was levelled from one of the boxes, those noticing
it below would put their thumbs to their noses and gyrate with their
fingers in return. On the whole, however, the strange-looking crowd were
orderly, although the quiet had an ominous look.

But at half-past seven, the hour for the play to commence, that regular
stamping, common to most theatres, began. But in this case, it did not
continue for a little while and then die away, but beginning in a low
rumble, every moment gathered strength and grew louder, till it rolled
like thunder through the building, shaking the very walls, and making the
glasses in the great central chandelier jingle, as though knocked together
by invisible hands. As the mighty sound echoed through the recesses and
dressing-rooms behind the scenes, Niblo became agitated, and stepping
forward on the stage, peered behind the edge of the curtain, and surveyed
the strange scene. Turning to Mr. Bowyer, of the chief's bureau, who was
by his side, he said: "This looks rather dubious, Mr. Bowyer." "Yes," he
replied, "the 'Boy's' are here certainly. What made you sell so many
tickets? People are making a tremendous rush at the doors yet, and the
house is full; over full already." Niblo then turned to his partner, and