Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-09-07
From the Family Journal.
First Appearance on Any Stage
By ONE OF THE SMITH FAMILY.

In former number of the Family
Journal I related "Why am bache-
lor." have now another confession to
make, and we're it not that my name, al
though an illustrious one, is rather COM
mon, and that there are more people in
the world by the name of John Smith
beside myself, might hesitate in
making the public my confdant.
Well, then, / will at once make clean
breast of the matter: have appeared
on the stage. Don't imagine, gentle
ireader, when T write these words that I
am unconscious of the enormity of my
ofense. Alas! I only know it too well.
When 1 think that I, John Smith,
ex-grocer, was ever blockhead enough
to appear before theatrical audience,
my cheeks blush with shame; and such
an appearancel but let me not anticipate.
My object, dear reader, in telling you
the whole matter, is to obtain your
sympathy, and I must beg beforehand
that you will not laugh at me. [ have
already gone through the ordeal of
laughter, and ought, by this time, to be
steeled against it; but it is tender, sore
point, and were I not certain the read
ers of the Journal are kindly disposed,
and will not make light of my misfor
tunes, would proceed no further.
After my want of success in love, as pre-
viously told, grew unsettled, and wan
dered about the city for days, without
any particular end in view. I verify
believe I knew every clerk in the Broad
way stores, for | was accustomed to go
and price articles in every establishment
not with the intention of buying any
thing, but simply to kill time. One day,
in the course of my peregrinations, l
was attracted by large bill outside the
Broadway Theater.
Inever had been inside theater in my
life. I had always despised actors and
plays. I was now, however, attracted
by the large capitals, and stopped to
read the bills. l learned by them that
the play of Richard III was to be per-
formed that night. do not know what
evil genius possessed me, but I deter
mined that l would see it.
I went and was delighted. It was a
new world to me; the lights, the music,
the company all served to intoxicate me,
even before the play commenced. But
when the curtain rose, my enthusiasm
was worked up to the highest pitch. I
did not understand the language, but I
understood the fighting; that was glori-
Gus. The great American actor per-
formed the part of Richard, and it did
my heart good to see him rant and roar,
and foam, and fret. Now, that is my idea
of good acting; he exercised his lungs
and made the whole house ring with his
stentorian tone. At last Richmond
came on the field, and then my delight
reached it's climax. Oh! how Rich
mond and Richard fought! How they
ran about the parried here and
thrust there - and then when the
hunchbacked tyrant received his mortal
wound, and "Went into his furry as
your contributor, Dick Spurn- Yarn,
would say, what shout shook the
house! It was a glorious triumph!
| went home that night an unhappy
man. l felt I must distinguish myself.
1 was not content to remain j ohm Smith.
l pined to be Richmond. felt blood
thirsty. I wanted to receive the plau-
dts Of the audience. I could not sleep
that night. l rehearsed over and over
again that combat-that glorious COM
bat! / rose in the morning unrefreshed,
and 1onged for night to come, that I
might again visit the theater. It CAME
at last, and saw me in the place l had
occupied the previous evening. My ex-
citement was as great as on the first
night, and L returned home detected
and low spirited. Come what might, I
was determined to perform the part of
Richmond. 1.
The next night summoned up cour-
age enough to call on the manager
and lay my case before him. When [
stated my wish he stared at me, and then
burst into a fit of laughter. When,
however, 1 limited to him about paying
for the privilege, he Immediately stopped
laughing and shook me by the hand
1t was finally agreed that for fifty dol
lars 1 was to perform Richmond that
week. H.-''
That very night I set about studying
the part. 1t was not very long one,
and | soon succeeded in committing it
to memory. The rehearsals followed,
and the manager said I acquitted my
self admirably. I became quite prof.
cient in my fencing, and had not doubt
whatever as to my success.
At last the eventful day dawned, and
I had the satisfaction of seeing in the
morning papers statement TO the effect
that the part of Richmond would be un-
dertaken by an amateur-his Arst ap-
} pearance on any stage. How [ passed
through that day I know not. | kept
t repeating my part to myself the whole
time until I became what is called "word
perfect" [ was at the theater at five
! clock, and found that the doors were
not yet open. At last the call-boy un-
locked the charmed entrance, and l was
behind the scenes. l had scarcely en-
tered when l was accosted by the cos
tuner:
Chow about your dress, sir?" said he.
"What dress?'' replied. .....
"Why, the dress for Richmond"
81 suppose [ can get the dress from
the theatrical wardrobe"
"Certainly, sir, but [ don't know that
we have got one that will fit youS you
know you are rather stout, sir"
Well, that was a fact. l am rather
stout; in truth, [ may say exclusively
stout. "
"But you must find me dress"
"Well, will see what 1 can do, sir.
Come this way
followed him to the dressing room,
and he hunted up the largest clothes he
) could find. L put them on, and with
the exception that they felt rather tight,