The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-06-15
A ToUcnrNe INolpENr-I went one niobt

A TOUCHING INciDENT-1 went one night
to see comedy. The chief actor was
favorite one and the theatre was very
crowded. The curtain drew up and a.
midst burst Of applause the hero of the
piece made his appearance. He had hard
ly uttered twenty words when it struck me
that something strange was the matter with
him. The play was a boisterous comedy
Of the old school, and required considerable
spirit and vivacity in the actors to sustain it
properly; but in this man there was none;
he walked and talked like person in a
dream; his best points he passed over with
out appearing to perceive them; and alto
gether he appeared quite untitled for the
part. His smile was ghastly, his laugh
hollow and unnatural; and frequently he
would stop suddenly in his speech and let
his eye wander vacantly over the audi
ence.
Even when, in his character Of silly
husband, he had to suffer himself to be
kicked about the stage by the young rake
of the comedy, and afterwards to behold
that careless individual making love to his
wife, and eating his supper while he was
shut up in a closet from whence 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 theatre. The audience were fairly out
of temper; and several inquisitive individ--
uals were particular in their inquiries as to
the extent of the of potations he had in
dulged in that evening. A storm of sivil-
alton and abuse now fell round the ears of
the devoted actor; and not content with
verbal insult, orange-pecl 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 his
painted cheeks. saw his lips quivering
with inward agony saw his bosom heave
with convulsions of suppressed emotion,
and his whole mien betokened such depth
of anguish and distress, that the most ruth
less heart must have throbbed with pity.
The audience was moved, and by degrees
the clamor of invectiye subsided into SOL
emn 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 bosom,
proceeded to offer his explanation.
Ladies and gentlemen" said he,
Though in my acting tonight l am con-
scious of meriting your displeasure,in one
thing you do me wrong. lam not intoxi-
Gated. Emotion alone, and that of the
most painful kind, has caused me to fulfil
my allotted part so badly-tmy wife died
but few short hours ago. and left her
Iside to fulfil my unavoidable engagement
here. If I have not pleased you, implore
of you to forgive me. loved her, grieve
for her, and if misery and anguish can ex-
cuse fault, bear my apology-hcre."
He placed his hand npon his heart, and
stopped, and burst of tears relieved his
momentary paroxysm of grief.
The audience was thoroughly affected,
and an honest burst of sympathy made the
walls trembe Women wept loudly, and
strong men silently; and during the re-
mafnder of the evening his performance
was scarcely audible, thro' the storm ofap-
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 den gay attire and
utter studied wittcisms for the amusement
of crowd, not one of whom dreamed o
the anguish that lay fostering under the
painted cheek and stage smile. And in thu
great theatre Of life, how many are there
around us like that poor actor, smiling gaily
at the multitude, while at home lies sorrow
whose shadow is ever present with then
in busy places.-Ex.