Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-08-21
'My Lord, q Letter."

| Edwin FOrfeSC'B career as an acC0l
furnished the foundation for many
stories which he told with Ereal enjoy
ment. One which was a favorite will
him ran In this wise: While playlnI
an engagement at one of the theatreI
in Philadelphia, he desired to prOduct
a certain piece with full and complete
cast of characters. Among the minor
parts was page, whose duty it was tC
deliver package and pronounce the
simple sentence: "My Lord. letter =
Mr.. Forrest had attended to all the
main characters with his usual care, and
had a company entirely TO his judg.
ment. This being the case he antici-
pated an exceptional success for the
play when IL should be enacted. The
first rehearsal of the piece was called
and Mr.. Forrest who had entrusted the
stage manager with the duty of pro-
curing lad to fill the role Of the page,
asked If that parsonage was on hand
and prepared. The manager assured
him the lad was in the theatre and
master of his lines. The first two acts
went off in good style and Mr.. Forrest
was in high spirits. At the opening OF
the third act he took his seat in the
chair of family state and waited the en-
trance of the page. 1t was not dress
rehearsal and hence each actor was in
his every dav clothing. When the cue
was given the page appeared. He wa
a sharp-featured, black-eyed lad, abou
sixteen years of age. His gait was the
mixture of the strut of a dandy and
the roll of a sailor. He was clad
in clothing coarse in texture and loud
in color His pantaloons was stuffed
in the tops of his boots and his hands
encased in pair of gloves of decided
lemon color. Had the Gorgon head ap-
peared to Mr.. Forrest it could not have
more effectively transformed him into
stone. He was speechleas and notion
less. While In this condition the page
advanced, and presenting the package
said:
''My Lord, letter."
The wonderful and fearful appear
ance of the lad and the manner In
which he pronounced the words, the
latter partaking of the best qualities of
John Ovens as JGkey, the butcher fire.
man, aroused all the humorous element
of Mr.. Forrest and gazing upon the lad
for moment, he said:
"That will not do my boy. Try it
again"
The lad did try again and again.
But with no better success. He could
not master the stage walk. He could
meaning or pr6udfIUr~rrOu- cffo rrfeev--
sage. 1t was Jakey in all respects. But
the patience of Mr.. Forrest did not give
way. He saw the lad was in earnest
and wished to help. At last he arose
from his seat and said to the page:
"Sit down, my boy, and will show
you how to do it,"
Acting upon the idea Mr.. Forrest
went to the wings, and advancing in
his best manner, presented the letter
and pronounced the words. Then lay
ing his hand upon the shoulder of the
lad, he said in a kindly manner:
THAT is the way TO do it, my boy.
Can you not act and speak in that man
ner ?"
The lad evidently struck with the
acting of Mr.. Forrest assumed a more
upright attitude, and said in a bold,
confident tone:
''If could do it that way, Mr.. For
rest, wauld not act for fifty cents a
night"
The answer was so apt and ready that
Mr.. Forrest could only answer: "Right
my boy, right" But he did not forget
the page.