The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-10-26

Reno, Nevada. All went well until tn
ballroom scene i'm the fourth act, wher
as related by the Virginia Chronicle, MI
Ashton, the stage manager, who ha
been playing the part Of Armand
stepped out from the right hand side @
the curtain, and in tones that wer
crisp, even unto frigidity, remarked:
LADIES AND GENTLRMEN--As matter Q
simple justice to myself and to the othe
members of the company wish to say
word. Miss Eytinge has declared il is neoes
sary for her to leave Reno tonight, in orde
to catch the overland train in the morning
A carriage is now in waiting to convey he
to Reno when the play is finished. For thi
reason she has found 1t necessary, she says
to cut out several portions Of the play.
| only make this statement in order that tn,
| audience may know why the play has beer
so much cut"-in order that Miss Eyting,
may keep engagements elsewhere.
Mr. Ashton retired as he had en-
tered-on the right. Scarcely had HI
disappeared at that side of the curtain
when Miss Eytinge entered from the
other side. There was wonderful met
amOrphosis, so far as her costume was
concerned. When the audience had
seen her but two minutes before fainting
on the stage, while Armand was declar.
ing his dividend, as it were, che was re.
gally robed in cherry satin and purple
velvet; now she was merely clad in a
snowy-white frilled petticOat, with a
homely old woolen shawl around her
shoulders. The audience sat in breath
less astonishment while the tragedy
queen-looking like Lady Macbeth in
the sleep-walking scene, but moving at a
much livelier gait-glided before the
footlights, pale with anger, and said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-Ia am surprised
that Mr.. Ashton should have SO greatly
misunderstood my true reasons for having
the play cut down. do not intend to leave
Reno until tomorrow might; but the support
which l am given here is entirely made
quate to the proper rendition of the play, SO
tnat the cutting out Of some portions is una
voidable.
And then, with a queenly bow and a
graceful and comprehensive wave of her
alabaster arm, she swept off behind the
curtain. 1t was Mr.. Ashton's turn now,
and he was promptly on hand. Just as
the last frill of Miss Eytinge's snowy
outside petticoat vanished behind the
red curtain Cleft side, of course Ashton
once more, like dark avenger,
at the right. His handsome face was
paler even than Miss Eytinge's, and it
was evident that he, too, was angry-in
fact, that this was about the most serious
quarrel that had broken out between Ca
mile and her loved Armand. Two or
three long strides brought him to the
middle of the stage, with hand uplifted,
and in deep and tragic tones thus he
broke forth:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I will say to
you that-that-but no, aciU not say it, for
pointing to the side at which Miss Eytinge
had made her exit she is a female. But
wish to say this
Here the gallery became tumultuous
in demonstrations of dissatisfaction.
They were bound to take the woman's
side, right or wrong, ant volley of the
choicest Comstock slang rained down
from right and left. ooh, pull down
your vest p "Augh slash the racket !'
Give us a rest" and many other invO-
cations of similar character, drowned
The speakers voice.
Cali l ask is fair hearing" said Mr..
Ashton, in voice loud enough to be
heard above the din, and soon the
racket" was stashed." He said,
briefly, that the reasons first assigned by
him for cutting" the play were really
hose given him by Miss Eytinge, as he
Gould prove by every other member of
he company, If the audience SO desired.
No such desire being expressed, Mr..
Ashton retired once more, and the audi
,ors were left for few minutes to in
lulgc in guessing as to1ow the discordant
overs would get along in the last act -
or that was the death scene of Camille,
md she was to be reconciled to Armand,
md die in his arms.
ACT v-.DEATH OF CAMILLE.
At last the curtain rose, disclosing the |
'oOrly furnished chamber of Camille,
Who was reclining on her couch. 1t is |
he most touching scene of the play for. |
hough lowering on the threshold of the |
rave, she knows that Armand has |
earned the truth-that her only reason
or leaving was because his father made |
Ter believe that Armand's honor and
Welfare would be imperiled if she re-
NAMED; she knows that even now her
over is flying home from some foreign
and, and she begins to speak of life and
lope again. "All nature hopes for
pring, and why not I" In the thrilling
arnestness of tone and gesture the audi
nee soon became so absorbed in the
lay that all thought of the squabble be-
ore the curtain was forgotten, until the
'art where Armand arrives and folds
)amille to his bosom.
Camille--Oh, Armand! you have come,
tut it is too late
Armand-Oh, Camille you must not
peak of death, but life. Live-oh, live
or me!
This is usually one of the most affect
ny scenes in the play, and as a general
hing the laugh doesn't come in here.
'ut on this particular occasion there
vas something 30 indescribably funny
bout it that the audience burst out i'm
unanimous guffaw. The short, con-
umptive cough of Camille, which usu-
lily brings the handkerchief to the tear
immed eye of the sympathetic auditor,
er, and the handkerchiefs, where used
III, were JaHmeu lntO the mouths OF
heir owners. Miss Eytinge and Mr..
lshton were certainly entitled to credit
,r the thoroughly artistic mastery
'hich they displayed over their emo
ons; for although both must certainly
ave realized the ludicrousness of the
tuation, they proceeded, when the up
,ar had subsidized, as though nothing
nusual had happened.
Camille-Armand, it is wise IL is well Il
just. / have been guilty. Living, the
emory Of that guilt will haunt me like n
,ecter. IL would fit between me and your
nile. 10 would stand upon the platform of
lie past, growing monstrous, hideous with
y years, darkening with It's fearful shadow
y passage to the closet Deaths kindly
:il will hide 1t from my sight; the world
i'll bury its resentment in my crave, and,
ults.
As Miss Eytinge delivered these sen.
nces in fearful, quivering tones she
rought all her wonderful power into
ay, and in a minute the audience was
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