The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-05-18

front, nothing to do but march in and
march out, and dodge curtain"
He was engaged. l admit ] was at
times haunted by grave doubts as to
whether 1 should not have informed the
manager of his physicd condition, and
the possibility that he might some even
ing perpetrate a real tragedy on the
mimic stage, but on the first performance
of "The Destruction of Sennacherib,
which 1 conscientiously attended, 1 was
somewhat relieved. 1 had often been
amused with the placic way in whichthe
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 vocal protest or command al
ways delivered to the audience, and
never to the actors. but | think my
poor friends utter impressiveness to
the wild carnage and the terrible ex-
hibitions of incendiarism that were
going on around him transcribed even
Lual. DTeeScu III COSlulHC NAo-
seemed to be the very soul of ana
chronism, he stood a little outside the
proscenium, holding a spear. the other
hand pressed 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 visible even in his placid
features, as of 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. Yes" he said, with
professional exactitude, when it happens
he'll throw his arms up above his head,
utter an ejaculation, and fall forward on
his face-it's a singular thing, they al
ways fall forward on their face-and
they'll pick up the man as dead as Julius
Cesar"
After that, I used to go night atef'
night, with a certain hideous fascination,
but, while it will be remembered the
" Destruction of Sennacherib had a tre.
mendous run, it Will also be remembered
that not single life was really lost dur
ing its representation.
1t was only few weeks after this mod
est first appearance on the boards of
'' The man with an Aneurism that,
happening to be at a dinner party Of
practical business men, sought to in
terest them with the details of the above
story, delivered with such skill and
pathos as | could command. I regret to
say that, as pathetic story, it for a mo-
ment seemed to be q dead failure. At
last prominent banker sitting next to
me turned to me with the awful ques-
ton: Why don't your friend try to
realize on his life insurance" / begged
his pardon; didn't quite understand.
!" o, discount, sell out. Look here
(after a pause.) Let him assign his policy
to me-it's not much of risk, on your
statement. Well-Fll give him his five
thousand dollars clear"
And he did. Under the advice of this
cool headed--I think 1 may add warm
hearted-banker, "The man with an
Aneurism invested his money in the
name of and for the benefit of his wife
in certain securities that paid him a
small but regular stipend. But he still
continued upon the boards OF the theater-
By reason OF some business engage
ments that called me away from the city,
did not see my friend the physician
for three months afterward. When l
did asked tidings of I Pc Man with the
Aneurism. The doctors kind face grew
sad. "Pm afraid-that is, l don't ex-
aetly know whether I've good news or
bad. Did You ever see his wife ?"
/ never had.
"Well, she was younger than he, and
rather attractive. One of these doll-fsced
women. You remember, he settled that
life insurance policy on her and the
children; she might have waited She
didn't. The other day she eloped with
some fellow, don't remember his name,
with the children and the five thousand
aAnd the shock killed him !" 1 said,
with poetic promptituSe.
"No---that is---not Yet; I saw him
Yesterday" said the doctor, with con-
scientious professional precision, looking
over his list of calls.
"Well, where is the poor fellow now ?''
"He's still at the theatsr. James. if
these powders are called for, you'll find
them here in this envelope. Tell Mrs
Blank I'll be there at seven; and she can
give the baby this until l come. Saw
there's ne danger. These women are an
awful botherl 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 theater yet. And-and-do YOU
remember the destruction of Sennsch-
crib? No? Yes you do. You remem-
Der that woman in pink, who pirouetted
in the famous ballet scene You don't7
Why, yes you do Well, imagine, of
course / don't know; it's only sum-
mary diagnosis; but l imagine that our
friend with the aneurism has attached
himself to her."
Doctor, you hsrrify me"
"There are more things, Mr.. Poet, in
heaven and earth than are dreamed of
in your philosophy Listen. BY dag
noeis may be wrong, but that woman
called the other day at my Office to ask
about him, his health, and general con.
dition- told her the truth-and she
tainted. IT was about as dead faint as