Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-07-15

str0llCd out, vainly ende0VorlnI
} to think Of some jokes wherewith I,
strengthen the part of my cOmi
miller, but beyond the reason whicI
tradition has decided on as explain
ing. the secret of his partially for a
suning a white hat, ! could flint
nothing, However, couple of day
hard work made sufficient altera
tiOns to please Delamere, the piec,
was put into rehearsal, and in the opil
ion of the company, would "gO".
l was making my way to the thea
trO on the Tuesday morning, wher
on passing the Grand Hotel, saw
on the steps in from. of the house
the person of all other | was leas
prepared to meet--mine ancient enc
my ThOaps, | should have passed
OH with a bow, but ho 6eCendcd the
steps and held ont his hand.
Gan unexpected pleasur" to mceI
here, Mr.. Thomas" / said.
lie smiled, and replied.
"NOt quite unexpected on my part
| saw some one pass the window
yerterday when l was at luncheon
and waiter told me it was q gentle.
man connected with the theatre.
was so convinced it was you that
went down to the theatre as soon as
had finished my meal, but you were
so busily engaged that did not like
to disturb you. l had so much to at
tend to that l contcnted myself with
the assurance that it was you, and
determined to find you to-day. l
just looked in, and saw You and a
great many people engaged in a tre-
mendOus fight. | gave a concert last
night, you know ;" and he pointed to
bill on a neighboring wall, which l
had not noticed, announcing that Mr..
Henry Thomas would give a concert
at the Town Hall, etc"
His tone was so cordial, and his
manner SO cOncilitory, that | began
to reproach myself for my distant be-
haviOr to him, and almost fancy that
| must have been mistaken in the
view that had taken of his atten-
tions to Alice; attributing the cold
ness which had existed between us
to my own conduct.
"And SO you are on the stage!' he
said, as VIC walked together down
the Parade and how do you like iii?
Hard work! Well but it is very
pleasant work! You'll be be aston
ishcd to hear that | always had a
great desire to be an actor; but so
few of us settle to the profession for
which we are suited"
"I'm sure that can't be said Of you,
Mr.. Thomas, and it would have been
serious loss to the musical profess
sion had you chosen any other"
"You are kind to say so," he repli-
ed IL always think there is such a
charm about an actors life. When |
was young there was prejudice
against the profession, but now ! am
told not only gentlemen, but ladies,
adopt it. OF course, | have frequent
ly appeared before large audiences
on the platform Of the concert room,
but behind the footlights is an un-
known region to NE, which | should
like to explore very much. have
heard of wings, and flies, and floats,
and traps, but have very indistinct
idea TO their natures"
"lf you care about exploring at our
theatre" | said, II shall be delighted
to afford you the opportunity. Our
stage is not large, but it is very COM
pletely finished. OF course you will
come to the theatre this evening? We
play drama of my own; am Mr..
Lindsay; dare say you have seen
some Of the advertisements"
81 proposed to return to Lon ion
this afternoon, but shall certainly
stay at such tempting treat. Could
you possibly permit me to he behind
the scenes with you're
ooh! certainly" | replied; 81 shall
be delighted, ! must hurry OF now,
| fear, or shall be late, and this is
our last rehearsal. | shall call for
you at your hotel, about halfpast six,
so now uu recoir." And with q COR
dial shake OF the hand he lett me at
the door of the theatre.
Rehearsal passed of well, and ev-
ening approached the evening on
which -was to make my first apper-
ance as actor and dramatist and my
state of anxiety can, l expect, only be
fully comprchended by those who
have been in a similar position.
l had called for Thomas, and left
that wort ny, when | went to dress,
wandering about with that unhappy
and helpless expression of countcn-
ance which usually characterizes
fish out of water and people out OF
place.
81 shall see you presently" said
to him, as l emerged from my room.
81 must apologize for leaving you,
but | have so much to attend to. All!
Miss Mervillc your dress is charm
ing-have you seen Miss Cavendish 7
Oh there she is. Miss Cavendish,
you won't forget that the whole CT
feet of the situation in the third scene
depends upon your entrance the mo-
ment the cue is givenI Thanks
DO Lacy, you remember the altcra.
ton VIC made this morning? You
are to die l., and then enter h.
You've got the cloges, sec, Harley ;
are they all right nOwS Smith you
quite understand about darkcning
the stage? by JOve, there's over
turep
The last bars were played, the bell
sounded, and the curtain Nscendetl-
my ship was launched!
Harley, our low comedian, who
play ed the miller, opened the scene
with Miss Stantly, the sOubrcttc, and
l never heard music so sweet as the
laughter which followed their dia-
loguc, and which gave me hopes that
my ship would float. | fear ! must
plead guilty to q queer feeling in the
throat, and tremulOusness in the
knees, as the moment approached fol
me to step on the stage; DelamerC
had literally advertised my first ap,
pearance, however, and the round o.
applause which greeted me at once
dispclled my nervousness, and lcfI
me on good terms with my audi
ence.
was called before the curtain a
the end of the first act, and the COM
pany all shook hand with me, an(