Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
THE MYSTERIOUS CUSTOMER.
An Actors Mad.Cap Adventure.
[Mr. J: Z. Toole in the Stage Door.

[Mr. J. l.. Toole in the Stage Door.1
I was playing Mr.. Spicer 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
they do split. and here is the fun OF the intro
duction OF those comical articles called hand
shoes by the matter-of-fact Germans.
The gloves were necessary for the fun of the
play; they must be split, or there is no fun: and
I usually keep dozen pairs ready in case Of
emergency. as 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 detail, my dresser told me
that had no gloves; had used them all.
IL was dreadfully wet night pouring cats
and dogs, and all the best shops were shut up;
SO told the coachman to stop at the first glove
shop he came to. We came to a halt at a mis-
erable-lookfng fourth-rate shop, where they sold
cheap braces and mouldy neckties, t1y-blown
shirts, and the most alarming brass studs fixed
into cardboard.
just about to close, and seemed half asleep.
could see at once he was surly. ill-conditioned
fellow, and don't think improved his temper
by making my request very earnestly and in a
low tone, accompanied by gibOeriSh which he
could not understand.
/ heard him muttering to himself 'sWhat does
ne mean? The mans fool" When suddenly,
as he was bouncing about and losing his temper
said as distinctly as possible, "Haye you got
any white kid gloves? l don't understand your
provincial dialect"
IL was as well to turn the tables at once and
put him In the wrong.
He CROPPED 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
grandfathers shop. picked out pair, and he
went through the stupid old formula of doubling
them across my knuckleS
II think these will do" he said.
"Oh! will they? then give me a pair of scis-
sors.n
"They are united; you don't want any scis-
Eyes. 1 do.v
then deliberately cut the gloves In five or six
places. The man positively Shuddered and said
''Oh, dont!' 1t seemed to hurt him. although
the gloves were mine. The more he Shuddered
the more cut away.
But could have got you larger pair with
out that" he whlned, as If he were in dreadful
pain.
.They are quite large enough, my dear sir,n
replied, hacking away; "but 1 like plenty Of
He shuddered again.
''Give me another pair!" said, lercely, as If
were thirsting for destruction.
"Will you have larger size? Do" he MUIR
INJURED. Don't hurt them, F" he added, with real
pathoS.
NO" said, mechanically. "Give me
some larger SciSSors!"
saw a large pair of scissors on the counter,
and, Selling them, cut away at two or three
pairs as eagerly as child cutting up paper.
The more, more cut the more puzzled and distressed
throwing down the money and pocketlng the
gloves
"Will you have any paper? oh! dear." he
roared, as II the scissors had been ripping him
open, and he was recovering from the shock.
mo, indeed, not l. Belinda shall be re-
venged!" groaned between my teeth. "Thus
Will destroy my hated rival"
He backed away from me as waved the Sc1S-
sors in the air, and l could see by his terrified
face that he thought was stark staring mad.
AS | was leaving the shop 1 looked out and
said:
It's lovely morning, isn't it?" 1t was
O'Clock in the evening, and raining in torrents
Don't talk nonsense, sir" he replied angrily,
With a hideous grimace 1 left the shop and
jumped into the carriage. In five minutes 1
was at the theater, trying to amuse the audi
ence with the perpleXities of Mr. Spicer Rum
ford, while the puzzled shopman was brooding
in the little back parlor over this strange adj
venture with his =" Mysterious Customer"