Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-25
The neighbours Barn.
HENRY IRVING ACTOR.

Wnen, year akO, we produced q
ne y ceum, as q first piece. the oil
Scotch drama Of &C almond Brig" tn,
various members of the company play
ing in the piece had full choice .
vherewitbsl to wash down their heet
and barriRles of which, by the way
over bundr. q we're CONSUMED durinI
the run-and the millers supper be-
came a nightly jnllity, except. perhaps
TO the Scotch nobility and the king :,
luntsnen, Who, with w.tery mouth,
, nd eager eyes, crowded the wings, for
dden by the irony of dramatic fate &c
enter upon the scene until the supper
lAd been cleared away.
This piece had reniuded me of an in
eident which came under nv notice a
good many years ego. La the off sea
son Of o lslge provincial theater, iu
which was stock actor, took an
engagement ut suail town, then known
- one of the most thriving seapOrts OF
the north. The salary was little, the
parts were long, and there was not
Huch opportunity for gaining reDOwn.
1owever. 1t WINS better than remaining
l1le, as vt the worst the amount of d hi
. be accumulated Was mibimised. The
manager was not bad fellow, and
having been good actor in his time,
Was only too glad to be surrounded b,
. GLASS of actors whose services be could
ealy obtain BY the opportunity afforded
~ the bright summer-in those palmy
days the darkest and wiutriest season tu
he niry vC6median or the thoroughly
legitimate tragedian. Our opeuing
hi co, sisted of DIAMOND. Brig"
sLord Darnley,"" Wallace the Hero Of
Scotland" and " G,lderoy, tho Bonnie
Boy" in all Of which l played, beside
contributing my share in the national
anthem, which WAS right royalty aud
loudly sung by the entire strength of
The company. After the rehearsal of
sCramond Brig" our jolly manager
MD:
Nov, boys. I shall send real sup-
Per tonight; no pasteboard and parsley
bat real sleeps head and little drop
ef real Scotch" A tumult of APP
Dlause.
The manager was as good as his
word, for at night there was real head
veil equipped with turnips and carrots
md the "drop of real Scotch" The
neighbours BARN" an important
character in Che scene, came In and
took her seat as usual beside the
Miilers chair. She was q pretty, sad
eyed, intelligent child of some nine
years old. In the course of the meal,
when jock Howison was freely passiug
the whisky, she leaned over to him ana
aid:
"Please. will you give me little p
He looked surprised. She was 30
earnest in her req uest that l whispered
10 her:
Tomorrow, perhaps. if you want il
full"
Tomorrow night came, and, to my
amusement, she produced from the
pocket of her little plaid frock q bright
piece of brass and held it out to me.
] said. "What's this p
"A thimble, SIR"
But what am to do with it p
"You said that you would give me g
thinbleful of whisky if I wanted it, and
] do want it,"
This was said 40 natural that the au'
dience laughed and spplsudea Hooked
over to the miller, ana found him with
the butt end of his knife and fork or
the table, and his eyes wide open
gazing at as in astonishment. However
We we're both experienced enough tc
pass of this unrehesrsed effect as part
Of the piece.
filed the thimble, and the child
took it carefully to her little =" creepy y
stool beside the miller. l watched hel
and presently saw her turn her back to
the audience and pour it into little
half-penny tin snuff box. She covered
the box With bit of paper aud screwed
on the lid, thus making the box pretty
water tight, and put it into her pocket.
When the curtain fell, our manager
came forward aud patted the child Is
head.
Why, my little girl" said he, you
xre quite genius! Your gag is the
best thing in the piece. We must have
it every night. But, my child, you
mustn't drink the whisky. No, no, that
would never do"
ooh, sir, indeed won't; I give you
my word won'tl' she said, qnite
earnestly. and ran to her dressing
room.