Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-09-17

Possible it was the dramatic idea, or
possibly it was chance, but few days
afterward, meeting certain kind-heart-
ed theatrical manager, l asked him if
he had any light employment for man
who was an invalid.
"Can he walk %
eyes"
"Stand up for fifteen minutes ?"
"Yes."
''Then I'll take him. He'll do for
the last scene in the Destruction of
Sc ennacherib'-its a tremendous thing,
you know; we'll have 1000 people on
the stage" l was a trife alarmed at
the title, and ventured to suggest with
out betraying my poor friends secret)
that he could not actively engage in
the OBSTRUCTION of Sennacherib," and
that even the spectacle of it might be
too much for him.
Needn't see it at all" said my man.
agerial friend, 'put him in front; moth
ing to do but march in and out, and
dodge curtain"
He was engaged. l admit l was at
times haunted by grave doubts as to
whether should not have informed the
manager of his physical condition, and
the possibility that he might some even
ing perpetrate real tragedy, on the
mimic stage. but on the first perform
ance of THE Destruction of Sennacher-
ib, which conscientiously attended.
was somewhat relieved. l had often
been amused with the placid way in
which the chorus in the opera invaria-
BILE receive the most astounding infor-
nation, and witnessed the most appall-
ing tragedies by poison or the block
without anything more than vocal
protest or command, always delivered to
the audience, and never to the actors
but think my poor friends utter i'm
passiveness to the wild carnage and the
terrible exhibitions of incendiarism that
were going on around him transcended
even that.
Dressed in a costume that seemed to
be the very soul of anachronism, he
stood 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. l could not
help thinking that there was 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 1 could
not help saying this to the doctor, who
was with me. "Yes," he said, with
professional exactitude, "when it hap
pens he'll throw his arms up above his
head, utter an exclamation, 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 l used to 90 night after
night, with a certain hideous fascina-
ton; but it will be remembered the
Destruction of Sennacherib" had a
tremendous run ; it will also be remem-
bered that not single life was really
lost during its representation.
1t was only a few weeks after this
modest first appearance on the boards of
The Man with an Aneurism that, hap
pening to be at dinner party of practi-
cal business men, 1 sought to interest
them with the details of the above story,
delivered with such skill and pathos as
| could command. l regret to say that,
as a pathetic story, it for moment
seemed to be dead failure At last, a
prominent banker sitting next to me,
turned to me with the awful question
-"Why don't your friend try to realize
on his life insurance ?" I begged his
pardon; l don't quite understand. "Oh,
discount, sell out. Look here (after a
pause.) Let his assign his policy tc
me-it's not much of risk on your
statement. Well, I'll give him his
$4,000. clear"
And he did. Under the advice o.
this cool-headed-I think 1 may ado
warmhearted banker, 1.-The Man with
an Aneurism" invested his money il
the name and for her benefit of his wife
In certain securities that paid him ;
small but regular stipend. But he still
continued upon the boards of the theat
er.
: By reason of some business engage
ments that called me away from tn,
t city. did not see my friend the physi
: clan for three months afterwards
When I did, I asked tidings of TIL,
f Man with an Aneurlsm. The doctor
! kind face grew sad. "I'm afraid, tha
is, don't exactly know whether Pv
4 good news or bad. Did you ever se
! his wife 2"
! never had.
[ "Well, she was younger than he, ant
rather attractive-one of those doll
: faced women. You remember he settle,
that life insurance policy on her an,
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