Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-09-11
atllstsIlantous Geaoinn.
AFFECTING INCIDENT.

nc pay was Il COutuy Inc CuICl
actor was favorite one, and the theatre
vas very crowded. The curtain drew up,
and, amidst 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 bolster.
GUS comedy of the old school, and requir-
ed considerable spirit and vivacity in the
actors to sustain it properly; but in this
man there was none; he walked and talk
ed like person IN a dream; his best
points he passed over without appearing
to notice them; and, altogether, he ap-
peared quite untitled for his part. His
smile was ghastly, laugh hollow and un-
natural: 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
husband, he had to suffer himself to be
kicked about by the young rake of the
comedy, and afterwards to behold that
careless individual making love to his
wife, and eating his supper while he was
shut up in closet, from whence be
could not emerge, his contoI,iors of lu-
dicrous wrath, which had never before
failed TO call down plenty of applause,
were now such dismal attempts to portray
the passion, that Misses were audible in
various parts of the theatre. The audi,
ence were fairly out of temper, and sew
eral inquisitive individuals INDUCED in
inquiries as to the extent of the potations
he had INDUCED in that evening. a
storm of sibilation and abuse now fell
around the ears of the devoted actor and
not content with verbal insult, orange
peel and apples flew upon the stage.
He stopped, and turned to the shouting
crowd. l never saw such misery in a
human countenance. His face was worn
and haggafd, and large tears rolled down
his painted cheeks. saw his lips quiver
with inward agony, l saw his bosom heave
with convulsions of suppressed emotion,
and his whole mien betoken such depth of
anguish and distress that the most ruth
less heart must have throbbed with pity
The audience was moved, and by degrees
the clamor OF invective subsided into a
solemn silence, while he stood near the
footlights, spirit of detection. When
all was calm, he spoke, and in voice
broken with sobs that seemed to rend his
bosom, proceeded TO offer his explanation ::
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he,
though in my acting tonight l am con-
scious Of meriting your displeasure, in one
thing you do me wrong. | am not intox-
icated. Emotion alone, and that Of the
most painful kind, has caused me to full
fiji my allotted part so badly. My wife
died but few short hours ago, and l
left her side to fulfil my unavoidable en-
gagement here. If l have not pleased
you, l implore Of you to forgive me. l
loved her, grieved for her; and if misery
and anguish can excuse fault, 1 bear
my apology-here y
He placed his hand upon his heart and
stopped, and burst of tears relieved his
momeutary paroxysm of grief.
The audience was thoroughly affected,
and an honest burst Of sympathy made
the walls tremble. Women wept aloud,
aud strong men silently; and, during the
remainder of the evening, his perform
! ancc was scarcely audible, through the