Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
DiscOuraging a Youth.
detroit Free Press.


A citizen whose best weight never exceeds 100
pounds was the other day buying couple of
hens Of farmer on the market, and before the
bargain was concluded the two became quite
friendly and the fan er said he had something
on his mind to communicate. One OF his boys
had passion for theatricalS. and was DESTROYS
OF becoming an actor The idea was so strong
in him that he had become worthless around
the farm, and the father was in peck of trou-
Bile to know how to turn the boys attention
from the foot-lights to the plow-handles.
"S'poSe l send him to you, and S'pose you
make fun and rid1cule him and let him see how
FOOLISH 1t Isl" suggested the father and the cit-
zen 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 a boy, but he weighed
about 1G9 pounds, stood nearly six feet high, and
had pair OF hands as large as chrome of the
Yosemite Valley. His arrival was expected, and
after few words about the weather the citizen
querried
so you think you would make an actor, eh?"
Yes, kinder think So" was the reply.
"What line would you take?n
"Well, kinder like tragedy"
Tragedy! Why you couldn't succeed in
tragedy. Look at your hands! Look at those
feet! Remember your voice! YOU'D be Missed
OIL the stage. Don't never think OF tragedy"
How would you do in a drama? ?" asked the
mot at all; in the first place your ears are
too large. Then your heels stick out too far.
dead failure"
"COuld 90 anything IN comedy 2"
mot thing. The sight of you in comedy
would be the same as the sight OF hearSe on
the stage. All the facial expression you have
is behind the ears"
1--WE thought some of being a niger min
strel" observed the boy, after long silence.
THAT'S the worst OF all. l tell you, boy,
you'd better stick to the farm. You are not cut
idea"
Couldn't act as usher?"
mo, sir; you are too stiff in the knees
Couldn't take tickets?
Never. Your hands are too big for that
work"
s'Couldn't shift scenes?"
" No you are too big and unwieldy."
There was long and painful silence. Then
| he boy rose up and said:
''Well, I'm bound to go into theatricalS. l
can't be anything else Ill be the Teller that
| stands at the door to raise row, and I'll begin
on you! Come over here!'
He hauled the adviser over the table, clutched
him by the small OF the back and spun him
around, slammed him against the wall and
dropped him to get better hold. When the
curtain rose on the next act there was strictly
| private conversation going on between "Ham-
| let and the ''GhoSt;" and the ghosts coat was
| ripped up the back and his collar torn open.
| Then "Hamlet" suddenly demanded in a loud
voice:
"Caitiff do you declare that 1 cannot act?"
Then the 'GhoSt" lodged around the table
and replied:
| splendid actor-you can't help but VIM
And you'll tell me father so?"
81 wtll-you bet Will"
ST you don't -w
Here Hamlet" took three steps forward, two
| back; scowled his fercest, and the "GhoSt"
Jumped behind the stove and vowed that he'd
even pay $50 for a private box on the night OF
| the debut.
''Tis Well" said Hamlet" and he went over
on the market to see II he could sell three pecks
OF onion sets for cash down.