National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE 1KsTERIoUs oUsroMEB.
An Actors Mndonp Adventure.

mfr. j. L. Toole in Tho Stage Door.l
was playing NJ. Spicer Runfordi In "Artful
Cards" and, you know, in the second act ho
goes to an evening party, ana he has bought
pair OF white kid giOves-regular party going
gloves, warranted not TO split-at ono.and-six.
But they do split, aud here is the fun Of the
introduction 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 usually keep dozen pairs ready in case
of emergency, for have to split them before
going upon the stage
When acting in celebrated provincial town.
where they are extremely critical aud partic-
uiur down to the smallest detail, my dresser
told me that | had no gloves 1 had used them
all.
1t was drcadfully wet night pouring cats
and dogs, aud all the best shops were shut up;
50 told the coachman TO stop at the first
glove shop ho came TO- We came to halt at
a miscrable-looking iourth-rato shop, where
they sold cheap braces aud moldy neckties,
fly-blown shirts, aud the most alarming brass
studs fixed into cardboard.
The proprietor of this dingy emporium was
Just about TO close aud seemed half asleep.
could see at once he was surly ll.condi-
toned fellow, and / don't think / improved
mis- temper by making my request very earn
estly aud in low tone, accompanied by
gibberish which he could not understand.
heard him muttering to himself, What
does he meau2 the mans fool" When sud-
denly, as he was bouncing about aud losing
his temper, | snid, rs distinctly as possible,
Have you got any white kid gloves? / done
understand your provincial dialect"
IL was as well TO turn the tables at once and
put him In tho wrong
Ho CROPPED about until at last, when he was
red with the oxertion, he found forgotten
box of white kids. They were uncommonly
and had ..Ut. H. =
stock Of his grandiuthcr's shop. picked out
pair aud he went through the stupid old
formula of doubling them across my knuckles.
II think these will do" he said
"Oh! will thoy2 Then give me pair Of
scissors"
They are united you don't want any scis.
sors.p
Eyes, do"
then deliberately cut the gloves in Ave or
six places The man positively shuddered and
said, "Oh, don'tl" 1t seemed to hurt him,
although the gloves were mine. The more lie
shuddered tue more cut away.
But could have got you larger pair
without that" he whined, as if lao were in
dreadful pain.
They are quite large enough, my dear sir"
l replied, hacking away; but like plenty OF
ventilation"
He shuddered again.
Give me another pair - said lercely, as
IL l were thirsting for destruction.
viii you have larger size 2 Do" he MUIR
INJURED. Don't hurt them" he added, with
real pathos
NO" said, mechanically. "Give mo
some larger scissorsl'
saw Il large pair of scissors on the counter,
aud, seiziug them, cut away at two or three
pairs as eagerly as u child cutting up paper.
The more l cut the more puzzled and dis
tressed he looked. There, that will do" said
l, throwing down the money and pocketing
the gloves.
"Will you havo any paper? Oh! dearw no
roared, US IL the scissors had been ripping him
open, and he was recovering from the shock.
mo, indeed not l. Belinda shall be re-
vcnged ~ groaued between my teeth. Thus
will destroy my hated rival"
He backed away from me as l waved tho
scissors in the air, and could see by his ter
rifed face that he thought was stark staring
mad. AS was leaving the shop looked out
and said
ITS lovely morning, isn't itp 1t was
o'clock in the evening" and raining in tor
rents.
Don't talk nonsense, sir" he replied
| augrily, but evidently very frightened aud
astOnished.
With a hideous Grimace l left the shop and
| jumped into the carriage. In five minutes
was at tho theatre trying to amuse the
audience with the perplexities of Mr. Spicer
| Rumford, while the puzzled shopmau was
brooding in the little back parlor over this
strange adventure with his Mysterious Gus.
TONER"