The Portland daily press., 1865-05-19


| went one night % see comedy. The
chief actor was favorite one, and the house
was very crowded. The curtain rose, and
/ amidst q burst OF applause the hero of the
| piece made his appearance. he had hardly
uttered twenty words when 1t struck me
/ something was the matter with him. ata0
| The play was b isterous comedy of the
old school, and required considerable spirit
and Vivacity in the actors to sustain it proper
~; but In this man there was none; he walk
ed and talked like person in dream his
best points he passed over without appearing
to perceive them; and altogether he was
quite unfit for his part. His smile was ghast
iy, and his laugh hollow and unnatural: he
frequently would stop off suddenly In his
speech, and let his eyes wander vacantly over
the audience. y las4 ag lisgA ns Oh e
Even when in the character Of silly hus-
band, he had to suffer himself to be kicke
about the stage by young rake of the come
dy, and afterwards to behold that careless in
dividual making love to his wife and eating
his supper while he was shut up In a closet.
from which he could not emerge, his eontor.
tlons OF ludicrous wrath, which had never he
I fore failed to call down plenty OF applause.
were now such dismal attempts to portray the
passions, that Kisses were audible in various
parts OF the theatre.l The audience were fair
ly out ftemper, and several inquisitive in
. NtuudAb WplC 1IblCQldIa LII tbu6lI enquiries as
to the extent of the potations he had that,day
INDUCED in. A storm of sibilation and abuse
now tell around the ears OF the devoted &C.
tor, and not content with verbal insult, or
ange peel and apples few upon the stage.
He stopped and turned to the shouting
crowd. 1 never saw such misery In d human
countenance. His face was worn and hag-
gard, and tears rolled down his painted
cheeks: saw his lips quiyering With mental
agony saw his bosom heave with convulsion
and suppressed emotion, and his whole mien
betokened such depth OF anguish and distress
that the most relentless heart must have throb-
bed with pity.
The audience was moved, and by degrees
the clamor OF invectives subsided into solemn
stiffness. while he stood near the footlights a
picture of detection. When all was calm he
spoke, and in a voice broken with sobs which
seemed to rend his heart, he offered bis ex-
planation. 8 .4a1oH 1ia4i8i6 4 * asa
"Ladies and gentlemen" !" said he. athough
IN my acting tonight am confident Of merit
ing your displeasure, in one thing you do me
wrong. am not intoxicateda Emotion alone,
and that of the most painful kind, has caused
me to fill my allotted part so badly; my wife
died but few short hours ago, aud left her
sideto fuldl my unavoidable engagement here.
II 1 have not pleased you, i implore YOU to
forgive. ! loved her, grieved for her., and ii
my anguish can excuse fault, / bear my
apology herew
He placed his hand upon his heart and a
burst of tears relieved bis momen .ary parox
ysm Of grief A4 ~ 4i'a .a75s'.'t ~
The audience were thoroughly affected, and
an honest burst of sympathy made the walls
tremble. d Women wept loudly, and strong
men silently, and during the remainder of the
evening his performance asscarcely audible,
through the storm OF applause by which the
crowd sought to soothe the poor mans wound
ed feelings. rraM sies .disl zsssssueia y "a
There was something very melancholy 10
the thought of that wretched mans coming
from the bed of death to don the gay attire
and utter studied witticism, for the amuse-
ment of crowd not one of whom dreamed
of the anguish that festered under his painted
cheek and stage smile. And in the great the
atres of life how many there are around us
like thatpoor actor, smiling gaily at the mul.
titude, while at home lies sorrow, whose shad-
ow is ever present with them in. busy places.