Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-06-22
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

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The chief actor was favorite, and the
theatre was densely crowded. The cur
tain drew up amidst burst of applause,
and the hero of the piece made his ap-
pearance. He had hardly said twenty
words when it struck me that some.
thing strange was the matter with him
The play was boisterous comedy Of
the old school, and required considera-
BILE spirit and vivacity 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 ap-
peared quite untitled for his part. His
smile was ghastly, his laugh hollow and
unnatural, and frequently he would stop
suddenly in his speech, and let his eyes
wander vacantly over the audience
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 comedy, and afterwards to
behold this individual make love to his
wife and eat his supper, while he was
shut up in closet from which he could
not emerge his contortion of ludicrous
wrath which had never before failed to
call down plenty of applause, were now
such dismal attempts to portray the pas
sion, that Kisses were audible in various
parts of the house.
The audience were fairly out of tenn
per, and several inquisitive individuals
were particular in the inquiries as to the
extent of the potations he had indulged
in that evening. A storm of sibilation
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.
1 never saw such misery in a human
countenance. His face was worn and
haggard, and large tears rolled down
his painted checks. 1 saw his lips
quiver with inward agony--I saw his
bosom heave with convulsions of sup
pressed emotion, and his whole mien
betokened such depths of anguish and
distress that the most ruthless heart
must have throbbed with sympathy for
the unfortunate actor. The audience
were moved, and by degrees the clamor
of inYective subsided into solemn 81
lence, while he stood near the foot-lights,
a picture of detection.
When all was calm he spoke, and in
voice broken with sobs that seemed to
rend his bosom, proceeded at once to
offer his little explanation.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he,
"though in my acting tonight I am
conscious Of meriting your displeasure,
yet in one thing you do me Injustice
am not intoxicated Emotion alone,
and that of the most painful kind, has
caused me to fill my allotted part so
badly. My wife died but few short
hours ago, and left her side to fulfill
my unavoidable engagement here. If 1
have not pleased you, forgive me. 1
loved her, grieve for her, and if an
guish can excuse fault, l bear my
apology here?"
He placed his hand upon his heart,
and stopped; and burst of tears re-
lieved his momentary paroxysm of
grief. The audience were thoroughly
affected, and an honest burst of sympa-
thy made the walls tremble. Women
wept aloud and strong men silently; and
during the remainder of the evening his
performance was scarcely audible above
the storm of applause by which the
crowd sought to soothe the poor fellows
feelings.
There was something very melan-
choly in the thought of that wretched
mans coming from the bed of death to
don the gay attire, and utter studied
witticisms for the amusement of a
crowd, not one of whom dreamed Of
the anguish which lay fostering 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 sor-
row, whose shadow is ever present with
them in busy places, and in solitude
reyels upon their hearts like a ghost
among the tombs.