The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-04-09
MISCELLANY.
A Touching Incident.

went one night to see comedy. The
chief actor was favorite one, aud the thea
ter was very crowded. The curtain drew up,
and amid burst Of applause, the hero OF the
piece made his appearance. He had hardly
uttered twenty words when it struck me that
something strange was the matter with him.
The play was 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 dream; his best
points he passed over without appearing TO
perceive them; and altogether he appeared
quite untitled for his part. His smile was
CHASTITY, his laugh hollow and unnatural; and
frequently he would stop suddenly in his
speech and let his eye wander vacantly over
the audience.
Even when, in his character Of silly hus-
band, he had to suffer himself TO be kicked
about the stage by the young rake Of the
comedy, and afterwards to behold that care
less individual making love TO his wife and
eating his supper while he was shut up in
closet from whence he could not emerge, his
contortions of ludicrous wrath, which had
never before failed to call down plenty of APP
pIause, were now such dismal attempts to
portray the passion, that Kisses were audible
in various parts of the theater. The audience
were fairly out of temper, and several inquis-
tive individuals were particular in their in
iquiries as 10 the extent OF the potations he
had INDUCED in that evening. storm of
sibilation and abuse now fell round the ears of
the devoted actor; and not content with YER
bal insult, orange peel 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-I saw his bosom heave with
commissions of suppressed emotion, and his
whole mein betokened such depth of anguish
and distress, that the most ruthless heart
must have throbbed with pity. The audience
was moved, and by degrees the clamor of in
yective subsidized into a solemn silence, while
he stood near the footlights, picture of de-
lection. When all was calm he spoke, and in
a voice broken with the sobs that seemed to
rend his bosom, proceeded to offer an explana-
ton.
Ladies' and gentlemen said he, though
In my acting to night / am conscious of merit
Ing your displeasure, in one thing you do me
wrong. am not Intoxicated. Emotion a.
lone, and that of the most painful kind has
caused me to fulfil my allotted part SO badly
my wife died but u few short hours ago,
and left her side to fulfil my unavoidable
engagement here. II l have not pleased you,
! implore OF you to forgive me. 1 loved her,
grieve for her, and If misery and anguish can
excuse fault, bear my apology-herer
He placed his hand upon his heart, and
stopped, and burst of tears relieved his mo-
mentary paroxysm of grief
The audience was thoroughly affected, and
an honest burst OF sympathy made the walls
tremble. Women wept loudly, and strong
men silently; and during the remainder Of
the evening his performance was scarcely au-
dible, through the storm of applause by
which the crowd sought to soothe the poor
fellows wounded feelings.
There was something very melancholy in
the thought Of this wretched mans coming
from the bed OF death to don gay attire, and
utter studied witticisms for the amusement of
crowd, not one OF whom dreamed OF the
anguish that lay fostering under the painted
cheek and the stage smile. And in the great
theater of life how many are there around us
like that poor actor, smiling gaily at the null
titude, while at home lies sorrow, whose shad-
ow Is ever present with them in busy places