Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-08
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

actor was favorite, and the theatre, small pro-
vinclal one, was densely crowded The curtain
drew up, and amidst q burst Of applause, the he
ro of the piece made his appearance. He had
hardly said twenty words when it struck me
that something strange was the matter with
him. f'T "V iiIb t'' 'F't'lAit
The play was a boisterous comedy of the old
school, and required considerable spirit and Vi
vacity on the part of the actors to sustain it
properly; but in this man there was none, he
walked and talked like person in dream his
best points he passed over without appearing
to perceive them; and altogether he appeared
quite untitled for his part. His smile was
gbastly, his laugh hollow and unnatural, and
frequently he would stop suddenly in his speech,
and let his eyes wander yacantly over the audi.
ence. Even when in his character of a silly
husband, he had to suffer himself to be kicked
about the stage by the young rake of the com
edy, and afterwards to behold that individual
making love to his wife, and eating his supper,
while he was shut up in closet from which he
could not emerge his contortions Of ludicrOus
wrath, which had never before failed to call
down plenty of applause, were now such dismal
attempts to portray the passion that Kisses were
audible in various parts of the house.
The audience were fairly out of temper. and
several inquisitive individuals were particular in
their inquiries as to the extent of the potations
he had INDUCED in, that evening storm Of
sibiaton and abuse now fell around the ears of
the devoted actor, and not content with verbal
insult, orange peels and apples flew upon the
stage. He stopped and looked around at the
shouting crowd | never saw such misery in
human countenance. His face was worn and
haggard, and large tears rolled down his painted
cheeks | saw his lips quiyer with inward ag-
Iop hon vvif eli
of suppressed emotion, and his whole mien be-
tokened such depths Of anguish and distress,
that the most ruthless heart must have throbbed
with pity The audience were moved, and by
degrees the clamor of invective subsided into
solemn silence, while he stood near the foot
| lights picture Of detection.
| When all was calm he spoke, and in voice
broken with sobs that seemed to rend his bo-
som proceeded at once to offer his little expla-
nation.
"Lades and gentlemen" said he, "though
in my acting tonight am conscious of merit
| ing your displeasure, in one thing you do me
wrong-l 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 l, left her
side to fulfil my unavoidable engagement here.
If have not pleased you, forgive me. loved
her. grieve for her. and if misery and anguish
can excuse fault bear my apology here!"
He placed his hand upon his heart and stop
ped, and a burst of tears relieved his momentary
paroxysm of grief The audience were thor.
oughly affected and an honest burst Of sympa-
thy made the walls tremble. Women wept
loudly, and strong men silently and during the
remainder of the evening his performance was
scarcely audible, through the storm of applause
| by which the crowd sought to soothe the poor
fellows wounded feelings. There was some.
thing very melancholy in the thought of that
wretched mans coming from the bed of death
to don tho gay attire and utter studied witt
cisms for the amusement of a crowd, not one
of whom dreamed of the anguish that lay fes-
tering upon the painted cheek and stage smile.
And in the great theatre of life, how many
are there around us like that poor actor, smiling
gaily at the multitude, while at home lies some
mystery of sorrow, whose shadow is ever pres
ent with them in busy places, and in solitude
revels upon their hearts like a ghoul among the
tombs. 'Ai.7