The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-28
THE SIX lguACEEBACK9.

THE SIX EguNCEEBACKS.
We have recently heard an anecdote Of
Talma, the great trRgedian-his curing
tribulation by aggravating the disease
For several weeks, each time that he
played, Talma remarked hunchback, who
always sat in the same place-one of the
front stalls at the right of the theatre.
This little hunchback was critical, and,
often evinced his disapproval of certain
points made by the actor in most marked
an / impatient way. This conduct annoyed
Talma; each evening he determined that
he would not allow himself to be disturbed
by the opinion of this gentleman, nor no.
tice his expressions of dissatisfaction-he
would give himself up entirely to his part
but this he found was impossible. In
spite of himself, his ey(s were attracted to
this villainous little hunchback, whose
fatally magnetic gaze caused him to turn
to that part of the stage, and at last this
evil power troubled him to that degree
that of all the audience he recognized but
this one systematic and obstinate de-
tractor.
Talma, irritated, really tried by this evil
influence, at length determine to break
it up if possible. He called upon
the gentleman at his own house, and said
to him:
''Sir, have come to beg a great favor
of you. OF course 1 do not wish to de-
prive you of the pleasure of attending the
play, nor to insist that you shall find me adj
mirable when have the misfortune to dis
please you. But 1 entreat that you will
take some other place in the house, that
may not have you directly under my eye,
for confess that you exert strange power
over me, that your gestures, your whole
person, occupy me SO entirely, that
feel scarcely able to go on with my
part"
II am sorry for it," sneeringly replied
the little hunchback, "but 1 shall retain
my old place. do not know why l should
change it in order to render you a service.
No, my dear sir, really am quite unhappy
in refusing you; but I wish to study you
quite at my ease, and l shall retain my ac-
customed stall"
Talma went away absolutely enraged.
"Parbleau" said he; "but l will have
my revenge, you old scoundrel."
He went to the theatre, engaged the five
other stalls situated beside the one occu-
pied by his vexatious enemy, and passed the
day giving them away-these choice seats
with discretion.
In the evening a gentleman came and
took his place in one of these stalls.
"See," said the Aabitues of the orchestra,
"our friend, the hunchback will have
company this evening; his neighbor is de-
formed"
The door again is opened-a second gen.
tleman enters.
ooh, another hunchhanck Why, one
would swear this was expressly arranged
rendezvous OF three hunchbacks!" !"
Another person enters. A burst of
laughter welcomes the new conner. He is
fourth hunchback!
AT last, the fifth (all invited by Talma)
makes his appearance, and is received
with laughter and stamping of feet.
Upon the rising of the curtain the ac-
customed hunchback arrived He received
an ovation of applause. The brevos thun-
dered around him.
Our little hunchback, pale with vexa-
ton, took his place between his brethren,
who themselves laughed at the oddity of
the position. During the enh'acte he made
his escape, not to appear again Talma
was avenged, and homeopathy had its pre-
cedent of the cure of an evil by pitching it
over its own head with aggravation.