The weekly union record., 1865-09-09
A Touching Incident.

| wen, one night to sge comedy. The
chief actor was tavorie one and the house
was very crowded The curtain rose and
amidst a bur-t of applause the hero Of the
piece made his appearance. He had hardly
uttered twenty words when it struck me some
thing strange was be matter with lin. The
play was bois,erous comedy Of The old school
ard required considerable spirit end vivacity
in the actor TO Sustain il properly bat in this
there was none he walked and talked like
person in dream his best points he passed
over without appearing 10 perceive them ; and
altogether he was qaiie nnft for The part.
Ills smile WAS ghasiiy. aud his laugh hollow
and'unnaiural and frequently be would stop
of sad1enly in his speech, and let his EYES
wander vacanily over the audience Even IN
the character OF a silly busbsnd, he bad 10
suffer himself To be kicked about the stage BY
u youns rake of the comedy and afterwards TO
behold that earelrs- in lividual making love to
his vile and eating bis supper while be was
shut up in a closet from whence he conl1 not
emerge. His conior'ians of ludicrous wrath.
Switch never before failed 10 call down plenty
OF applause were now such dismal attempt
10 portray the passions. that hi>sts we're audi
be Ia varinas parts OF the iheater. The audi
ence were fairly out of temper, and several ~
divdnals were particular Ia their inquiries as
to the extent Of the pnIalipns be had hat day
INDUCED in \ storm of sihila,aus and abuse
now tell around The ears of he devoted actor.
and no; content with verbal insult orange peel
aud apples few upon the stage.
Tie stopped and turned To the sh0niing
crowd. never saw such misery in u human
countenance. His lace worn aud haggard.
and Tears rolled down his cheeks | saw his
Z al 4
bo>om heave with cunvulsions and suppressed
emotion and his whole nlein bejusS, utd such
depth of anguish and di-irtss that he nus, re.
lenIlesS heart must have ihrobbed with pity.
I he audience was moved. and hy 5,grsrs
the clamor of inveciive subsidtd mo solemn
stilluess while be stood near the fooilirhis a
picture OF detection. When oil ~as calm be
spoke. in a voice broken with sabS which
seemed TO reud his heart, be offered his ex-
PLANTATION
Ladies and gentlemen said he. though
in my acting 10 night am confident o. merit.
ing your dSpleasure, 10 one thing ynn do me
wrong. am not in,oxictied Emotion
alone. and hat of the most painful kind. has
caused me To till my allotted part So badly !;
my wife died but few hours ago | Ieit her
side To fulfill my unavoidable engagement
here. II | have not pleased you, | implore
you to forgive. | loved her, grieSe for her.
aud il anguish caa excuse fault. bear my
apology hers?'
lie placed bis hand upon bis heart aud
burst OF Tears relieved his monentaIy par
uxysm of g,ief.
The audience were thoroughly affected. ard
an honest burst of sympathy made Tie walls
Iremble. Women wept loudly. and strong
men silently, aud during the remainder Of The
evening his performance was scarcely audible
through the storm of applause By which they
sought 10 assuag- The poor mans wounded
feelings.
There was something very melancholy in
the thought of that wretched man coming
from the bed of death to don the gay attire,
and utter studied willicisms. for the amuse-
meut of crowd not one Of whom dreamed Of
he anguish that feslered Under his paiuied
checks and stage smile.
la the great ihealer Of life how many there
are around u like that poor actor, smiling
gayly at the multitude. while at home lies sor.
row. whose shadow is ever present with them
iu busy places