Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-29

/ Tvs blood, and there is inspiration in
the thought. Hush! there goes the
call boy--I shall soon have the word.
Vow, go.
( [ left him, and, ascending the stage,
cautioned all l met to keep sharp
eye upon him, as there was no telling
what desperate thing he might do
then, passing through the proscenium
box, took a seat i'll the parquet.
/ The music ceased the curtain bell
/ tinkled the curtain rose; and at the
right time, Elmer Percy appeared.
! With firm and solemn step he advanc-
/ ed to the centre, where he paused in
the attitude of one in deep thought.
1 The sable hue of his costume increas-
ed, by contrast, the fearful wanness of
his face he stood perfectly erect, his
arms folded across his breast; his eyes
glistened with an unnatural fire, and
| he kept them firmly fixed upon the
gallery.
As l expected, his appearance was
the signal for the most stormy reception
! Ca favorite phrase with the profession)
1 ever heard and was glad to see him
bow to it with all the composure of a
stole. The storm continued to shake
the building &C from turret to founda-
/ ton stone, until he came down to the
footlights, and extended his hand in
token of desired silence. Instantly the
most profound silence prevailed, and
he went on with his part. Hisrendition
of The Stranger was perfect up to
the first meeting scene !" but from
that to the end, hisacting was cold and
unnatural At times his gaze was fixed
upon the left center, and at such times
he trembled violently, then, starting
/ wildly away, as if trying to tear him
self from some dark horrid spell, he
would burst forth in the most impas
| stoned strains of woe that ever smote
the ear of man.
Many of those present knew that he
wandered wildly from the author; and
some attributed these flights to the
right cause, though he made no allu-
sion to the awful scene which | knew
was constantly before him.
At the conclusion of "The Stranger,
he was loudly called for, and at last APP
peared before the curtains, his eyes
still fixed upon the gallery. Like a
statue, he stood there amid the thun-
der of applause, and the deafeuing cries
Of" speech syeech " and the show
er of bouquets that fell around him
thick as hail At last without moving
his eyes from the gallery, he gave his
head slow and mournful negative
movement, then turning he walked
with faltering steps to the spot where
Nelly had expired and, sinking on his
knees, stretched his hands heavenward
and looking up, broke forth in deep,
piteous wall.
ooh Nelly, thou angel of my hap
DIV past! If thou dost see me now,
and the deep anguish in my burning
4 heart, doth not the dew of holy SYM
pathy bedim thy glorions eyes? If |
| could feel one tear from heaven fall on
my aching heart, and know that it
fell from the angel eyes of my lost
! love, as she stood gazing down upon
me from the shining window III heaven,
not all the jeers and mockery of selfish
earth could chill the fervid glow of
greatful happiness that would pervade
my soul.
Every heart was thrilled, and almost
every eye was wet with tears, Maidens
buried their faces in their handker-
chiefs and sobbed aloud, while sturdy
men bowed down their heads to hide
- those messengers of sorrow from the
inmost depths of troubled soul, ~
those silent heralds of a weakness of
which, for some reason or other, men
are ashamed. have witnessed many
trying scenes, my life has been full of
them. but never, before or since, one
to compare with the present one.
To hear an actor-a man whom the
Rev. Mr.. Smith would tell us is a
heartless wretch--in such piteous
tones, bewail the loss of his wife-a
woman whom the Rev. Smith would
tell us was " iewd, vicious, and deprav
ed. To see the elite of a great metropo-
lis so deeply participate IN his sorrow
the Rev. Smith should have seen his
face, and heard his voice, as, turning
suddenly to the audienced, he said:
"And do We, also, weepf | thank
You for your tears. / knew not tlat
my sweet little Nelly was SO dear to
others than myself thought that |
stood alone in my grief, but now l see
the little song bird embalmed III tears
of sorrowing city, and my heart swells
with gratitude. But could you see the
ghastly apparition by which my gaze is
met on every hand, it would CONCEAL
your blood, freeze up your hearts, and
I paralyze your senses But enough of
this. still have work to do, For
( give whatever YOU may see IL me that
ill-becomes the actor-pardon the
wandenngs of my unsettled mind. In
dulge me in few brief rhapsodles
through which to vent my surcharged
soul of the wild unmanageable agony
tbat ranklas there