National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-29
Edmund Kean was different. Hi

Edmund Kean was different. His
way of doing things was Just the sam,
"of" and "on." II you didn't please
him, you know'd it. had to take q
goblet of wine on to him one time, and
l forgot my cue, and kept him waiting.
When did go on, he was reg rlar boil.
ing over with rage. He catches me by
the collar OF my coat and the roomy
part of my breeches and pitches me SLAP
off the stage. But no wasn't bad sort
for after he was done he comes up to
me and says he was very sorry for hurt
ing me, and asked me what I'd have to
drink.
I've been married, and had one child
IA girl--ald I'm n widower. / was
married young, like most professionals.
She was in the third row OF the ballet,
and inclined TO be stont /; but she didn't
last long, poor soul she had apo
plectic fit one night, and died in my arms
IN the green-room. ! was very cut up
at the time, because she was as good a
wife as ever wore ring.
My darter was as good looking n girl
as you'd meet anywhere; quite different
fro her mother-not in the beauty
line, because she was nice.looking too.
but in size. Rose was very thin. She
followed in the same steps as my old
woman, and got her an engagement at
our theatre. OF course she feel in love
girls always do at that age. seventeen
with as rising young fellow as /
wished to see. / was proud of Rose,
and was glad it turned out so; and
what's more, he wasn't ashamed of me,
although ! was only a super, which
made me proud of him too. He was
very jealous of Rose, and wanted to
take her off the stage and marry her at
once but | objected on the score of
age. asked him to wait year, till
she was little older, and he took my
Authorization unwillingly, suspects,
if his face was to be believed but he
didn't say so, for he always gave way to
me, because / knew what was better
than he did.
One night Rose gets a letter sent
around to her from gent in the boxes,
a-asking her to meet him outside, after
TIE performance. She was very much
hurt about it, for it was the first insult
she'd received they gets used to these
things in time-and brought the letter
to me. just as I was a-reading it, up
comes Charley--that' her young man
and Rose snatches the letter ont of
my hand and puts it in her pocket; but
not before Charley had seen it. He
looks surprised, and he says
Whats that ?" says he.
"Oh! nothing" she says, playful like.
and RUS away; and he turned away too,
but not in the same direction.
When | saw Rose again, | says
"Why didn't you show it him?" l
says.
"Oh, father!' she says, "he's so jeal-
ous and if he'd seen it he'd have
thrashed the fellow" she says, "and
perhaps have got into arrow, and didn't
want him to do that.
''She gave me the letter, for fear he
should ask for it; and put it in my
pocket, never a-thinking no more about
it.
When work was done for the night,
me and two or three others used to make
our pipe and pot--which was half.a.pint
O fourpenny-at little pub, round the
corner, close to the theatre, where we
was known and respected. There we
ased to talk over the events of the eve
ming; and sometimes, when things was
slow, we'd even condescend to talk poll
tics, but not often-we left them frivi-
lous subjects to people as hadn't the
sense to appreciate art. While we was
there that night, in comes gent rather
mopsy; he staggered up to the counter.
and calls for bottle o champagne, and
then asks us to drink, which we did-we
never refuses that. Well, he was a-going
on about one thing and another, and at
last he says
''That Rose is nice girl
Ipricks up my ears at this, and puts
lown the glass of champagne as I was
ust arising to my mouth--the glass as
he paid for-but | never says nothing.
Then he goes on a. boasting, and says as
le was a-going to see her home. jumps
Up, and | says
"T'm thet lady's father, and if wasn't
. old man I'd knock you down"
Then turns to my mates and tells
EN- of the letter business; and takes it
out of my pocket, and hands it to him,
md gives him bit OF advice as he
wanted. He was in that rage, that he
vas just a-putting up his fist to hit me,
when Joe Pulter, one of us, floored him.
Then we handed him over to police
nan. We was rather excited afterwards,
what with having extra half-pint, and
he champagne we drank afore we knew
Who we got it from.
Charley used always tosee Rose home
lfter the performance, and stay with her
ill come; but he wasn't there that !
hight, and Rose said he hadn't come
With her as he always did, and laid the |
,lame to the letter. She was naturally |
ut up about it, and I said--tg
"I'll tell him how it was in the morn
ng."
But she says .-.
"No If he can't think me true to
i'm without proofs, he sha'n't at ALL"
l seed it was no use a-arguing with
Ter, so gives in. My little beauty was
cry proud, and liked to see it; but 1
ever thought as how pride would turn
ove over as it did; although ought to
ave known better, a-seeing so often
ow Pauline had such narrow escape
t it. -----
She was very pale next morning, and
er eyes looked like mine do sometimes
'hen amt got enough water to wash
18th comfortable, and leaves the color
Dund under EN-; but it wasn't from
nat, knowed, because Rose was very
dy girl. l never says nothing. but /
oes on a-eating and not pretending to
office anything different; and by and
v we goes to the theatre. I was very ,,
urious to seelwlIat Charley would do;
ut he only just takes off his hat-Char-