Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-24
MORE THAN ACTING.

W nat am gong to tell you, gentle
men," said our second old man, Richard
Dashall, taking few hasty pulls ut his
meerschaum. and looking inquiringly al
his almost depleted pewter, ~ he sat one
evening among some old brother profess
ionals at The Abby, ''is as true Us Shakes.
peare."
Let US have it, by I'LL MEANS" said
Glum, our low comedian, arrestiEg I,
waiter in "rapid transet" to the bar
"Same," said Glum, in confidential
aside to the "polito and attentive" "Now
Dick, let's have it," continued Glun,, push
ing the rcplenished pewter to tho narrator
OF the following Renaissance: "And,''
said he, looking around The table, taking a
solemn pull at tic malt, pulling 1T his
yard o; clay. and after being assured that
it was we'll u. light by inserting his little
finger in the bowl, and bringing the red
wax-end of it solemnly to the table, after
the fashion ola Speakers gavel-" tand
while our commission from Romo Is being
read, let silence be commanded Go on.0
Well," said the I'D man, at was
many years ago: when ! was il dashiny
juvenile in old John Potter's company, in
California. Our company were among the
the dramatic pioneers OF the Golden State.
There was an old Dave Anderson, George
Rydor-who is now waking 'em un to the
fact that I'LL the old men didn't die with
Blakc-there was our leading man, J. IL.
Warwick, who aftcrward acquired fame
and popularity i'll the counsels Of the State
Legislature, with Honorable tackled t,
his name-not bad for u stock actor.
There were others acknowledgement act.
or's, who, after struttlng their brief hour,
arc heard no more, but have found their
rest, after life's titfuI fever all along the
Pacific slope, from the wilds of Oregon to
the vine.clad hills Of Los Angeles and San
Diego.
young and beautiful actress, who had
come to California iror England, after
playing very successful series OF eli
gagements in Australia. Shn vas our
loading lady, general f;.vorite with both
company and public, and, gentlemen, it is
all over now, but for the first and last time
in my life, l was seriously in love. Ade-
line--1 need not give you hcr full name
for
There's a chiel a,nang &c taken notes,
And, faith, hc'll prcnt 'cln.'
Adcliae was evidently u lady OF culture
and refinement. She was reserved to u
degree in regard to her early history, and
as most our company from @Ihe Stato.,'
as they still term them in California,
absolutely nothing was known of her an
tecedents. Amongt he rude population OF
tho mining towns Adeline was looked upon
as u sort Of dramatic divinity, and do
believe that that fragile girl might have
walked alone, amp unprotected, from Sac.
ramento to the jumping oh place of the
then unexplorel terra incogniti of Ari-
IONA,
" After taking i tour ofthe wild mining
towns, we were making our way back to
San Francisco, and comparative clviliza-
ton. l think it was the town of VALLEJO
our leading man was taken suddenly and
seriously i'll. The Stranger was on the
bill Of our next evening performance, and
1t became necessary to sohd Il special mes
senger to San Francisco to engage il pos
sible, another actor to supply his place.
1t 80 happened that by the steamer which
came into port ON the previous day from
the lsthmus young English t,ag cdian,
whose name, gentlemen, it Can do no pos
siblc good to mention. arrived to fulfill III
engagement Il, the Metropolitan on the
following week. I;y permission OF the
arranged that the young English stranger
should come up to Vallejo and help US
out Ut our difficulties on tho following
night.
As it was impossible for the stranger to
arrive in time for the rehearsal, tho niece
was rehearsed without him; and, :.s it was
almost dark before tho boat arrived from
San Francisco, not ono o1 tho company
over saw tho young English traIedian till
ho emerged from the room at night, dress.
ed, and, by Il singular coincidence Of cir
cums:ancos, as the Stranger. To those
who remember the incidents of the play,
need not say that the stranger and Mrs.
llaller did no meet till the end Of the
io"rty act. ! was playing the Baron in
The piece, and Us my part Was movt im-
portant in support of the Stranger, was
requested by the manager, after rcccivipg
u haety introduction in the dressing room
Of ,hc new arrival, to run through our
scenes and see that all was right before
the curtain rung upon the third act.
II may DO remembered by those vino
have even IL casual knowledge OF the play,
that IN the third act there is i. very beau
t'f"' and pathetic song introduced by /.
young. peasant grit song which che
says Mrs. llaller had taught her:
have silent sorrow lurc--t grief ~, uc,.r inn
part;
1t breathcs no sigh, it sheds IL, tears but IL cou
s'l'EcE my heart"
While this was being Aune to the
Stranger, could not help observing that
he was deeply moved, and 1T its conclu.
sion, when he rccitcd the lines,
81 have heard that air before, but it
was to other words"
"Francis, share your supper with YOUR
friends; need none."
lilo came almost t;.intinS off IL. the wing
where | was standing. thought never
SAW IL bet,cr piece Of acting.
"Ou my G"dl my God thy heart il
breaking" nc exclaimed, us he sank sob
hing on my shoulder.
WHAT'S tho malter?' enuuircd.
q. :: Noti.ing, npthing; = foolish, weak,
r"n'a"t': notion, perhaps; hn. ! never
hear that song but 1t humans mo. Please
; come to my dressing room. and lc, nv see
about sur long scene IN the fourth act.'