Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1877-04-18
BISMARCK D. T, WEDNESDAY,, APRIL Is, 1877

S77.
the possibility that he might some even
ing perDetrate real tragedy on the MIN
ic stage, but on the first performance Of
tsThe Destruction of Sennacherib,' which
l conseientiously attended, was some
what relieved. had often been amused
with the placid way in which the chorus
in the opera invariably received the most
astounding information, and witnessed
the most appalling tragedies by poison or
the block without anything more than a
vocal protest or command always deliver
ed to the audience, and never to the ac-
tors, but think my friends utter impas-
siveness to the wild carnage and the ter
rible exhibitions of concendiarism that
were going on around him trascended
even that. Dressed in costume that
seemed to be the very soul of anachron-
ism, he stood a little outside the proscen-
ium, holding spear, the other had press
ed apparently upon the secret within his
breast, calmly surveying, with his waxen
face, the gay auditorium. I could not
help thinking that there was a certain
pride visable even in his placid features,
as one who was conscious that at any
moment he might change this simulated
catastrophe into real terror. could not
help saying this to the doctor, who was
with me. eyes," he said, with profess
ional exactitude, "wher it happens he'll
throw his arms up above his head, utter
an ejaculation, and fall forward on his
face-it's singular thing, they always
fall forward on their face and they'll
pick up the man as dead as julius Caesar.
After that used to 90, night after
night, with certain hideous fascination;
but while it will be remembered the
ssDestruction of Sennacherib' had tre-
mendious run, it will also be remembered
that not single life was really lost dur
ing its representation.
It was only few weeks after this mod
est disappearance on the boards of ''The
Man with an Aneurism" that, happening
to be at dinner party of practical busl-
ness men, sought to interest chem with
the details of the above story, delivered
with such skill and pathos as could COM
mand. I regret to say that, as pathet-
ic story, it for moment seemed to be
dead failure. At last prominent bank
er sitting next to me turned to me with
the awful question: "Why don't your
friend try to realize on his life insurance"
1 begged his pardon; I didn't quite un-
derstand. 90, discount, sell out. Look
here -(after pause). Let him assign
his po ]icy to me-its not much Of risk,
on your statement. Wel'-pH give him
his ST., 900 clear
And he did. Under the advice of this
cool-headed-I think may add warm
hearted-banker, "The Man with an An
eurisn" invested his money in the name
and for the benefit of his wife in certain
securities that paid him small but reg
ular stipend. But he still continued up
on the boards Of the theater.
Byreason of some business engage
ments that called me away from the city,
I did not see my friend, the physician, for
three months afterward. When did, l
asked tidings of ''The Man with an An
eurism." The doctors kind face grew
sad ssI'm afraid-that is, don't exact
ly know whether I've good news or bad.
Did you ever see his wife?' .-. F.,
never had ......-.-
= "Well, she was younger than he, and
IdCIlSE dLlIdClltS. Vic VI lll1SO OOlA-ldNSo
women. You remember, he settled that
life insurance policy on her and the chill
dren; she might have waited. She din't.
The other day she eloped with some fel-
low I don't remember his name, with
the children and the S., ,ooo.''
''And the shock killed him., l said,
with poetic promptitude.
"No-that is not yet; saw him yes
terday," said the doctor, with conscien-
tious professional precision, looking oyer
his list of calls.
"Well, where is the poor fellow now?"
s:He's still at the theater. James, if
these powders are called for, you'll find
them here in this envelope. Tell Mrs.
Blank I'll be there at land she can give
the baby this until I come. Say there's
bother! Yes, he's at the theater yet.
Which way are you going? Down town?
Why can't you step into my carriage,
and I'll give you lift, and we'll talk on
the way down? Well-he's at the thea
ter yet. And d-and-do you remember
the s'Destruction Of Sannacherib? No?
Yes you do. You remember that woman
in pink, who pirouetted in the famous
ballet scene? You don't? Why, yes,
you do! Well, I imagine, of course, l
don't know its only summary diagno-
sis, but imagine that our friend with the
aneurism has attached himself to her."
"Doctor, you horrify me-
''There are more things. Mr.. Post, in
heaven and earth than are yet dreamt of
in your philosophy. Listen. My dag
nosis may be wrong, but that woman
called the other day at my office to ask
about him, his health and general cond'-
ton. I told her the truth-and she fain-
ted. 1t was about as dead a faint as
ever saw; I was nearly an hour in bring
ing her out of it. Of course it was the
heat Of the room. her exertions the pro-
ceeding week. and l prescribed for her.
n ;%o :: T