Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-20
.IRoN1ON OHIO TUESDAY, JUNE ~, 1851 as.' .",

,r3leup iio uu .ssIs6O loIpnNTl
--alig ine usi,ai.nos sd AaAnV4SAS
,I.ig 4 Ts6ehleg lsei1sat., n ~ 1
Z! vent one night 70 ~ Z comedy The
chief actor Was . ,isyeJ.s one, end The
'hsatrs--a small provincial oAs, wss
very crowded. The cunsin drew up
and amid y ,buiss Of applause the hero
Of The piece made bic, sppsssancs. He
had hardly ssid twenty, words when !.
struck me that somsthing stfanga was
The matter with him. Tho plsy wss .
comsdy Of the old school, and
required eonsidsfabis spisit and vivsci.y
on the. part Of The actors 10, sustain 4,
properly; but ia this men there was
mons. 10 walked and talked likes pss.
son 10 dream: his best points hs pass.
Cd oyer without aPpsarins 10 perceive
them. and altogether appeared un6, 70,
the part. His smile was ghss,ly and
bis laugh hollow and unnatural, and frs,
ausnt!y he would stop suddenly in his
speech. and lot bic eyes wander vacant.
y ovsr the audience. Even when in bis
character Of ., silly husband he had to
allow himselfto be- kicked around the
stage BY the young rake Of the comedy.
and Afterwards 10 behold the careless
individual making love to his vile and
eating his supper while he was shu, up
in . closet from which he could not ..
merge, his contortions OF ludierous
wrath. which had never bsfors failed 70
call down plenty Of applause, were such
dismal attempts to portray tho passion.
that Kisses were audible 10 various parts
Of the house. -rl ...ig,,sr0 ...
The audience were fairly out Of tenn.
per. und several inquisitive individuals
were particular in ,hsir inquiries % to
the extent Of the pota.ions he had in.
dulssd 10 that evening. A storm Of 81.
bilstien and sbuse now fell around the
sars or the devoted actsr; and net con.
tent with verbal insult. orange peel and
sppls few upon the stage. He stoppe'l
and turned round to tho shouting crowd.
| never saw such misery in human coua.
tensncs. His face was worn and hss.
gard. and large .sars rolled down his
painted sheeks. l saw his lips quivsr
with inward sgony-I saw bis bosom
heave with convulsions and suppressed
emotion, and bis whole mien bs,ok on se
such depth Of anguish and distress, ,ha,
the most ruthless heart must have thfob
bed With pity. The audience was NOV
ed, aud BY degrees the clsmof ofinvec.
tive subsided into solemn silence, while
he stood nesr the ioo,lishts, q picture o
detection. ,....., y i.
When al was calm. he spoke.a il
q voice, broken with sobs that seemed Il
TEND his bosom. proceeded to offer ,hi,
little explanation: ...... ...,r.
'Ladies and gentlemen said he, tho
Ia my acting to. night, am conscious 0
merlting your displessure, in one thin
you do me wrong. | ON not intoxicat
cd. Emotion alone snd that Of tn
most painful kind. has caused me 4
6i6l my part 30 badly-my wife diet
but . Tow short hours sgo. ani l loft hs
side 10 ,fll my unavoidable engagement
here. l have rot pleased you; forgiv,
me. loved her, grievsd for her, and
misery and anguish can excuse . fault
bear my spology-here!' ,s., II h,,,i
| He placed his hanI upon his hear
aud stopped. and . burst oftears feIisv
ed his momsptafy paroxysu aud grie
The audience we're thoroughly afectst
and nm honest burst Of sympathy mad
the wall nsmble. Women wept loudl,
and strong men wspt silently; and duI
ing the remainder Of the evening his POI
fomance was scarcely audible throug
the sto,m7 Of applause by which th
crowd sought 10 soo,he the poor fellow
wounded feelings. There was somethin
very melancholy in the thought Of III,
wfstched man's coming from the bed {
desth 10 don gay attire and p.tsr studis
wiuicism ior She amusement Of crowt
not one Of whom dreamed Of The angus
thst lay festsrins upon the painte
cheek and stage smile. noon
i And in the great .heatrs Of life, hs,
many are there around us like that poe
actor. smilins gaily q. the multitul'
4 wnlie % nome '!es some mys:efy o. so
row :nose saadow" eve! Pte:ent ~,
mem IN pasy places. ana 90 so'1ude g
vels oPon nsstts IKE . snooi among 70
somps. :. - -. -. ID liz eou
A. a9. The Real Railway King a.a o
The Iondon TimAs max "A the follov