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

"What l am going to tell you, gentle
Dashall, taking i few hasty pulls ut his
meerschaum. and looking inquiringly at
his almost depleted pewter, as he sat one
evening among some old brother profess.
ionals at The Abby, lis as true Us Shakes.
peare."
"Let US have it, by all MEANS" said
Glum, our low comedian, arrestirg u
waiter in "rapid transet u to tho bar
"Same," said Glum, in confidential
aside to the polite and attentive" "Now
Dick, let's have il; continued Glum, push
ing the rep]enished pewter to the narrator
OF the following "reminiscences: "And,"
said he, looking around The table, taking q
solemn pull at the malt, putting at his
yard o; clay. and after being assured that
it was well a.light by inserting his little
finger in the bowl, and bringing the red
wax.end Of it solemuly to the table, aftcr
the fashion Of q Speakers gsvel-" tand
while our commission from Rome Is being
read, lot silence be commanded Go on.1
SWELL" said the I'D man, "It was
many years ago: when was i dashing
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
Ryder-who is now waking 'sm w. to The
fact that Ill the old men didn't die with
Blake-there was our leading man, J. II.
Warwick, who atterward acquired fame
and popularity in the counsels of the State
Legislature, with Honorable tackled to
his name-not bad for u stock actor.
There were others too---well. .graced act.
Or's, who, after strultlns their brief hour,
are heard no more, but have found their
rest, after life's titful fever,' all along the
Pacific slope, from the wilds Of Oregon to
the vine.clad hills Of Los Angeles and San
Diego.
There was one in our company, "a
young and beautiful actress, who had
come to California from England, after
playing very successful series OF en-
gagements in Australia She vas our
loading lady, i general f;.vorite with both
company and public, and, gentlemen, it is
ell over now, but for the first and last time
in my life, l was seriously in love. Ade-
line-I need not give you her full name
for
'1nefcs c11el atIl2ng yc taken notes,
And, faith he'll prcnt cm.'
Adeline was evidently u lady OF culture
and retinemen She was reserved to u
degree in regard to her curly history, and
as inost our company from :tI'he Sta.e,,'
as they still term them in California,
absolutely nothing was known of her an
tecedents. Amongt he rude population Of
tie mining towns Adeline was looked upon
as sort Of dramatic divinity. and 1 do
believe that that fragile girl might have
walked alone, amp unprotected, from Sac.
ramento to the jumping-off place of the
then unexplored terra ineogniti 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 special mes
senger to San Francisco to engage il pos
sible, another actor to supply bis place.
1t 50 happened that by the steamer which
came into port on the previous day from
the lsthmus young English tragedian,
whose name, gentlemen, it Can do no pos
sibIc good to mention. arrived to fulfill IN
engagement ut the Metropolitan on the
following week. By permission OF the
management Of tn. Metropolitan, it was
arranged that the young English stranger
should como up tO Vallejo and help US
out Of our difficulties on tho following
night.
As it was impossible for the stranger to
arrive in time for the rehearsal, tho piece
was rehearsed without him; and, ~ it was
almost dark before the boat arrived from
San Francisco, not ono OF the company
ever saw the young Euglish tradedian till
he emerged from the room ut night, dress.
ed, and, by u 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 tho end Of the
ionrty act. l was playing the Baron in
the piece, and ~ my part WAS most im-
'portaiit in support Of the Stranger, I was
requested 10y the manager, after receiving
hasty introduction in the dressing -rcoin
Of. .ho new arrival, to run through our
scenes and see that all was right before
tho curtain r0ng upon tho third net.
II may be remembered by those vino
have even IL casual knowledge Of tho play,
that IN the third act there is u very beau
t't"l and pathetic song Introduced by a
young peasant girl. song which shc
says Mrs. i]aller had taught her:
81 have silent sorrow hcrc-, pr,r J ,,c,.r i'm,
part;
1t breathes no sigh it sheds no tears. but IL con.
| s'iiEcs my hcart.''
While this was being sung to tho
Stranger, l could not l'eIp p observing that
he was deeply moved, and vi its Sonclu.
sion, when he recited the lines,
~ have heard that air before but il
was to other words"
OF Francis, share your supper with your
friends need none."
llc came almost f.inting off ut the wing
where was standing. thought / mover
saw il bettcr piece Of acting.
"Oi my Godl my God my heart is
brcaki"g" {" no exclaimed, Us he sank sob.
bing on my shoulder.
"What's tho matter ?' l Ienauircd.
l... .Nothing, npthiug y foolish, weak
romantic n"ti"n, perhaps; but | ncvc,
hear that song but 1t unnl:.ns mo. Pleas,
Come {" my dressing room. and let w SC,
about our long vceps IN the fourth act.'