The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-22
AN ACTORS MAD.CAP ADVENTURE.
IMr. ]. L Toole In the Stage Door.I

IMr. J. L Toole in the Stage Door.I
/ was playing "Mr. 6picer Rumford"
in "Artful Cards" and you know in the
second act he goes to an evening party,
and he has bought pair of white kid
gloves-regular party-going gloves, war
rinted not to split, at One-and-six. But
they do split, and here is the fun of the
introduction of those comical articles
c'lled hand-shoes by the matter-of-fact
Germans.
The gloves we're necessary for the fun
of the play; they must be split or there
is no fun; and | usually keep dozen
pairs ready in case Of emergency, as l
have to split them before going upon the
stage. ..-..
When acting in a celebrated provincial
town, where they are extremely critical
and particular down to the smallest de-
tail, my dresser told me that had no
gloves; had used them all.
1t was dreadfully wet night, pour
ing cats and dogs and all the best shops
were shut up; 80 told the eoachman to
stop at the first glove-shop he came to.
We came to halt at miserable-look-
ing fourth-rate shop, where they sold
cheap braces and mouldy neckties fly
blown shirts, and the most alarming
brass studs fixed into cardboard.
The proprietor of this dingy empo-
rum was Just about to close, and seemed
halt-asleep. / could see at once he was
sully, ill-conditioned fellow, and 1
don't think I improved his temper by
making my request very earnestly and
in low tone, accompanied by gibber-
ish which he could not understand.
/ heard him muttering to himself,
"What does he mean? the mans fool"
When suddenly he was bouncing about
and losing his temper, l said as distinctly
as possible: "Have you got any white
kid gloves? l don't understand your pro-
vincial dialect"
1t was as we'll to turn the tables at
once and put him in the wrong.
He groped about until at last, when he
was red with the exertion. he found
forgotten box Of white kids. They were
uncommonly dusty, and had evidently
been the original stock of his grand
fathers shop. picked out pair and
he went through the stupid old formula
of doubling them across my knuckles.
"I think these will do," he said.
"Oh! will they? Then give me pair
of scissors"
"They are united. You don't want
any scissors"
eyes, | do" ..
I then deliberately cut the gloves in
five or six places. The man positively
shuddered, and said, "Oh, don'tp 1t
seemed to hurt him, although the gloves
were mine The more he shuddered, the
more cut away. ,..a@4
"But could have got you larger
pair without that" he whined, as if he
were in dreadful pain
"They are quite large enough, my dear
sir" replied, hacking away; "but l like
plenty of ventilation"
He shuddered again.
"Give me another pairl' said, fierce
ly, as if / were thirsting for destruc-
ton.
"Will you have larger size? Do" he
murmured. "Don't hurt them," he
added, with real pathos. ..-....
"No," said, mechanically. "Give
me some larger scissors" '-a.
saw a large pair of scissors on the
counter, and, selling them, cut away at
two or three pairs as eagerly as a child
cutting up paper. The more ! cut, the
more puzzled and distressed he looked.
''There, that will do," said !, throwing
down the money and pocketing the
gloves.
"Will you have any paper? Oh!
dear!" he roared, as if the scissors had
been ripping him open, and he was recov-
ering from the shock.
"No, indeed, not |. Belinda shall be
revenged" l groaned between my teeth
"Thus will 1 destroy my hated rival"
He backed away from me as l waved
the scissors in the air, and / could SEE
by his terrified face that he thought
was stark staring mad. As was leav
ing the shop looked out and said:
"Its a lovely morning, isn't itw i
was 7 o'clock in the evening, and raining
in torrents.
| "Don't talk nonsense, sir" he replied
angrily, but evidently very frightened
and astonished.
1 With a hideous grimace I left the shol
and jumped into the carriage. In fiv'
minutes swas at the theater trying II
amuse the audience with the perplexitie
of Mr.. Spicer Rumford, while the puz
zled shopman was brooding in the littl
back parlor over this strange adventur
with his Mysterious Customer"