Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-05-30
Written for the AGE.
STAGING,
A SHORT STORY WITH A LONG MORAL

| "a oiioHl olONl WITH LONt MURAL.
1ndulgent reader, expect not {
glowing account of ride with thu
Father of his Country no "reminiscences
of Benz. Franklin, or anecdotes Of Gel
ebrated men. Descend TO me from
your lofty Parnassus, and list to lht
tale of a minstrel. Not one of olda
times, with harps and heart unstrung.
but a burnt cork angel
Mont Mark was a team in himself
but backed by the celebrated Carolins
Minstrels, his "show" Was unsurpassed
Many a man trying to get a joke OIL
Mont had found the reaction equal tc
the action, and one trial always SUI
feed.
But this is not intended for sketch
Of character, but merely a rude outlint
of one of Mark reactions.
The Carolina Minstrels were t;
show in Woolsack, and with plumed
horses, and footing OF horns entered
that quiet but beautiful village, Men
and boys turned out to see and hear
and all resolved to attend the great
performance Of the evening. Mr.
Fledger, the enterprlsing janitor Of tht
Town Hall, was Oh hand early, and
rendered every assistance which q
model janl(or could. The curtain rose
with cheers, and fell at tine close ol
the Farce is one act, amid perfect
storm of applause.
The audience dispersed, and Mont
Mark having washed all the blackncs>
from his person, was preparing t. re-
sumo his place among his tellow-men
when he was stopped by a light toucf
on the arm.
Looking up he beheld the janitoI
with winning smile upon his face
"Mr. Mark ?" Yes, sir" 80
course you pay the rent Of the hall tt
the Town Treasurer, but the stag,
and appointments are my property
and so you will please pay me To-
that five dollars Is the sum
Meditation for moment on the
part of Mark. "You say then tha
the stage is not permanent one, and
does not 90 with the hall ?"
eyes, sir
why then was nothing said abou
this to my advance agent He wrote
that the hall rent would be seven dol
lars, and this added. will make twelve
which is more than have ever had tc
pay in much larger places, and to'
much better halls
Fledger surlily: "lle did not see
me, but engaged the nall Of the treas
urer."
"You think then that this is al
right do you, to get five dollars from
me 2
"Certainly, sir, the stage belongs tc
me-"
Very well, here is the money,
handing him five dollars, which the
janitor took falling to notice the pc
culiar smile, which played on Marks
features, and he Vas just moving
away with a ''Ihank you, sir, when
he was stopped BY, ''Nlr. Fiedger y
"Ies, sir"
"You say tnat | have tie seven dol
lars hall rent yet to pay p
"Yes, sir"
"I'hat is the rent OF the hall in
full q
"Yes, sir"
Very we'll, then, as the hall is
virtually mine for the evening, l be
iieve that | have little bill against
YOU
"What, sir ?"
81 repeat as the hall is virtually
mine, shall charge you six dollars for
storing the stage for the evening"
"But, but"
Never mind the but, sir. You
made no trade with me to allow you
to put the stage in and | could charge
what | pleased. You may consider
yourself lucky to get off SO easy
Mr.. Fledger thought minute, saw
the point, and paid his six dollars, and
the next time that the Carolina Min
strels showed in Woolsack, the stage
was considered part Of the hall,
which was rented for seven dollars