Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-01-14
A Touching Incident.

| , >-~
A Touching Incident.
went ore night to see comedy. The
chief actor was favorite one and thu
house was very crowded. The curtain
rose, and amidst burst of applause the
hero Of the peace made his appearance
He had hardly uttered twenty words. when
it struck me something strange was the
matter with him.
The play was boisterous comedy of
the old school, and required considerable
spirit and visacity in the actors to sustain
it properly; but in this man there was
none he walked and talked like a person
in dream his best points he passed over
without appearing to perceive them and
altogether he was quite unfit for the part.
His smile was ghastly, aud his laugh hol.
low and unnatural; aud frequently he
would stop off suddenly in his speech, and
let his eyes wander vacantly over the au-
diencc.
Even when, in the character Of silly
husband, he had TO suffer himself to be
kicked about the stake BY young rake Of
! the comedy and aiterward to behold that
careless individual making love to his
wife and eating his supper, while be was
shut up in a coset from whence he could
not emerge, his con,0rtions of !udicrOus
wrath. which had never before failed to
call down plenty of applause, were now
such dismal attempts 10 portray the pas
sUns, that hisses we're audible IN various
parts o: the theatre The audience were
fairly out Of temper, and several inquisi-
tive individuals were particular in their
inquiries as to the extent of the potations
lie had that day INDUCED in. A storm of
sibilation and abuse now fell around the
ears of the devoted actor, and not content
with verbal insult, orange peel aud apples
flew upon the stage.
He stopped and turned to the shouting
crowd. never saw such misery in a hu
man countenance. His face was worn
| and haggard, and tears rolled down bis
painted cheeks. saw his lips qaiver with
mental agony, saw his bosom heave with
convp|sons of suppressed emotion, and
his whole mein betoken ed such depth Of
anguish aud distress that the most relent.
less heart must have throbbed with pity.
The audience was moved and by de-
grees the clamor of iuvective subside1 into
solemn stiffness while he stood near the
foot lights, picture of detection. When
all was calm he spoke, and in a voice
| broken with sohs, which seemed to rend
bis heart, he offered his explanation:
Ladies and gentlemen" said be,
"though in my acting tonight, am con.
fdent Of meri.ing your dlspleasure, in
Que thing you do me wrong. | am not
| intoxicated. Emotion alone, and that Of
! the mos: painful kind, has caused me to
fill my allotted part SO badly my wife
died but a few short hours ago, and lea:
her side to fulfill my unavoidable engage
ment here. II | have not pleased you, |
implore You to forgive 1 loved her,
srieved Ior her, and il anguish can excuse
| Il fault, bear my apology here
| He placed his hand upon his heart, and
burs. OF tears relieved bis momcntary
| paroxism Of grief.
The audience were thoroughly affected,
and on honest burst of sympathy made
the walls ,remble. Women wept loudly,
and strong men silently; during the re.
mainder of the evening his performance
was scarcely audible through the storm Of
applause by which the crowd sought to
| soo,he the poor mans wounded feelings.
| There was something very melancholy
in the thought Of that wretched man 5
coming from the bed of death to don the
gay attire, and utter the studied With
cisms, for the amusement Of crowd not
one of whom dreamed Of the anguish tha,
fes:ered under his painted cheek and stage
smile. And in the great :heater Of life,
how many around us like that poor actor,
smiling gay at the multitude, while at
home lies sorrow, whose shadow is ever
present with them in busy places.
Rev. Mr. Burnhnm, Of Manchester, N.
L., recently enlisted in the army as pri.
vate, and was sent to the rendezvous at
New Haven. Next morning after his ar.
rival he was summoned before the com
manding officer Of the post, and addressed
Mr.. Burnham, see by your name here,
that you are reverend About dozen
reverends have enlisted and come here :;
and as you are the first that has ssaid over
night without asking for chaplancy.
guess we'll make you chaplain" so they
made him chaplain of the post.
| t.sE. - - >-~----S
The new fractional currency notes OF
the denomination of fifty cents are red
backed, with the metallic ring on the face,
which s printed in black. 1t is the same
width Of the old fifty cent issues, and is
twice as long, being full an inch longer
than it should be to be perfect in proper,
ton. II is nevertheless little more like
money than the old dumty issues The
twenty ives are to be little shorter, and
SO on down to the lowest denomination,
and all will be given out for circulation,
it is expected in a few days. '>.
$50 you are going to keep house are
you p said an elderly maiden to blush
ing bride.
L"Yes," Was the reply. -t .-E
"Going to have a girl suppose
The newly made wife colored, and the N
| nliatlr resnondad that abe ureallr didnt 4