The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-02-14
Me xyantea 70 be am Actor.

exceeus lzU POUNDS, was Jne 0tne
day buying couple of hens of q far
mer on the market, and, before th,
bargain was concluded, the two be
came quite friendly, and the farmel
said he had something on his mind tt
communicate. One Of his boys had /
1 passion for theatricals and was desir
GUS of becoming an actor. The idcs
was so strong on him that he had be
come worthless around the farm, and
the father was in a peck of trouble to
know how to turn the boys attention
from the foot-lights to the plow-handle.
"Spose | send him to you, and
| 'spose you make fun and ridicule him
and let him see how foolish it is ~
suggested the father, and the citizen
agreed. As result of their planning
the boy walked into the citizens place
of business on Congress street east,
next morning. The father had called
him Q boy, but he weighed about l6o
pounds, stood nearly six feet high,
and he had pair of hands as large as
the chrome of the Yosemite valley.
His arrival was expected, and after a
few words about the weather, the
citizen queried: Il
$50 you think you would make an
actor, cha"
Eyes, kinder think So" was the
reply.
"What line would you taker'
"Well, / kihdor like tragedy"
Tragedy! why, you couldn't sue
ceed in tragedy Look at your hands
Look at those feet! Remember your
voice. You'll be hissed off the stage.
Don't never think of tragedy.
GLOW would I do in a dramas"
asked the boy.
"Not at all; in the first place your
ears are too large. Then your heels
stick out too far. Then your hands
would hide half the other actors.
Don't try the drama, for you will be
a dead failure.
"Could l could do anything in
comedy ~
mot a thing. The sight of you in
comedy would be the same as the
sight Of a hearse on the stage. All
the facial expression you have is be-
hind your ears"
"l'ye thought some of being mig
ger MINSTREL" observed the boy, after
a long silence.
"Tht's the worst Of all. | tell you,
boy you'd better stick to the farm. |
You are not cut out for an actor, and |
you want to drop the idea"
Couldn't ! act as usher ?"
"No, sir; you are too stiff in the
knees"
"Couldn't ! take ticketsg
"Neyer! Your hands are too big |
for that work."
Couldn't | shift scenes ~
mo, You are too big and un-
wieldy."
There was long and painful silence.
Then the boy rose up and said;
swell, I'm bound TO 60 into theat-
ricals. If ! can't be anything else I'll
be the feller that stands at the door to
raise row, and Ill begin on you!
Come over here r.
He hauled the adviser over the table,
him by the small Of the back
md spun him around, slammed him
against the wall and dropped him to
ret better hold When the curtain
'ose on the next act there was strict
y private conversation going on be-
Ween Hamlet and the ghost, and the
ghosts coat was ripped up the back
md his collar torn open. Then Ham
ct suddenly demanded in a loud
oice:
"Caitiff! do you declare that | can
ot act tgD
Then the Ghost lodged around the
able and replied
mo, ! don't. You are all right
on are splendid actor--you can't
clip but win!' I,
"And you'll tell me father soa'
~ will-you bet | will y Il
'If you don't-v' II
Here Hamlet took three steps for /
ard, two back; scowled his fiercest,
I'd the Ghost jumped behind the
oye and vowed that he'd even pay
SO for private box on the night Of
10 debut. N
''Tis WE'LL" said Hamlet, and be |
ent over on the market to see If he {
mid sell three pecks Of onion sets for
Ish down,