Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-28
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

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atre was very crowded. The curtain drs,
up, and amid burst of applause. the bo,
of the piece made his appearance. He b,, }
hardly uttered twenty words when it strp.s
me that something strange was the matts,
with him. The play was boisterous con
edy of the old school, and required cOnsi
cradle spirit and vivacity in the actors ;,
sustain it properly; but in this man tbe,.
was none; he walked and talked like no,
son in dream; his best points he passs,
over without appearing to perceive them
and altogether he appeared quite un6ttai
for his part. His smile was CHASTITY, bis
laugh hollow and unnatural; and Frequent
ne would stop suddenly in his speech an
let his eye wander vacantly over the and;
ence
Even when, in his character of silly bps.
band, he had to suffer himself to be kieka,
about the stage by the young rake of The
comedy, and afterwards to behold that care.
less individual making love to his wife. AMI
eating his supper while he was shut up in
closet, from whence he could not emercs
his contortions of ludicrous wrath. which
had never before failed to call down plep,y
Of applause, were now such dismal attenrts
to portray the passion, that Kisses were aud.
BILE in various parts of the theatre. TIE
audience were fairly out of temper. ana
several inquisitive individuals were particu.
lar in their inquiries as to the extent of tie
potations he had INDUCED in that evenipg
A storm of sibilation and abuse now frr
round the ears Of the devoted actor; All
not content with verbal insult, orange pee,
and apples flew upon the stage.
He stopped and turned to the shouting
crowd. | never saw such misery in human
| countenance. His face was worn and hag.
gard, and large tears rolled down over bis
painted cheeks. 1 saw his lips quivering
with inward agony-I saw his bosom heaye
with commissions of suppressed emotion, AMI
his whole mein betokened such depth of an.
guish and distress, that the most ruthless
heart must have throbbed with pity. The
audience was moved, and by degrees the
clamor Of invective subsidized into solemn
silence, while he stood near the footlights,
picture of detection. When all was calm he
spoke, and in a voice broken with the sobs
that seemed to rend his bosom, proceeded
to offer his explanation:
eLadies and gentleman, said he, "though
in my acting tonight l am conscious Of
meriting your displeasure in one thing
you do me wrong. | am not intoxicated
Emotion alone, and that of the most painful
kind, has caused me to fulfil my allotted
part SO badly-my wife died but few short
hours ago, and left her side to fulfil my
unavoidable engagement here. If have
not pleased you, implore of you to forgive
ME. loved her, grieve for her, and if
misery and anguish can excuse a fault,
bear my apology-here %
He placed his hand upon his heart, and
stopped, and burst of tears relieved bis
momentary paroxysm of grief
The audience was thoroughly affected,
and an honest burst of sympathy made the
walls tremble. Women wept Loudly, and
strong men silently; and during the remain
der of the evening his performance was
scarcely audible, through the storm of ap-
plause by which the crowd sought to sOothe
the poor fellows wounded feelings.
There was something very melancholy IN
the thought of that wretched mans coming
from the bed of death, to don gay attire,
and utter studied witticisms for the amuse