The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-14

~ VI
curtain rose, carefully watch the pro-
ceedings Of the other trombone player
and initiate his every movement, so that
in reality one trombone would make all
the noise, although apparently two were
being played. Lastly, he advised Mr..
Whites to be careful and to mind what
he was about, as the leader was a -!
Soon afterwards the friends left the
Albion and proceeded on their sex eral
ways-his friend and companion already
more than half repenting his readiness
in embarking in the undertaking.
The somber shades of twilight were
enwrapping as with a shroud the streets
of London when. carrying Mr.. O'Leary's
trombone in his hand, Mr.. Whites might
have been observed woefully picking his
way through the purlieus of Drury Lane.
endeavoring to find the stage entrance
of the Royal Dash Theater. Two or
three sallow-faced gentlemen were
smoking short pipes in frcnt of the en-
trance, and occasionally lady or gen.
tleman passed hurriedly in, evidently
under the impression that they were be-
hind their time, but a glance at the
clock in the hall appeared to reassure
them as they made their way more
leisurely toward their respective dress
ing-rooms. Upon reference to his watch
Mr.. WHITES found that the doors had
only just been opened, and he therefore
had some leisure to look about him.
He loitered at the door for some time,
wondering, as the various members of
the company made their appearance,
who this was, and who that could pos
sibly be, until small but uncommonly
sharp boy plucked him by the sleeve,
and said, "You'd better make haste
they're a-goin' to ring in
Mr.. Whites then became aware that
he was almost alone. Without having
the faintest idea of the meaning Of
ringing in" he mechanically fol-
lowed the small boy down gloomy
passage, tumbled down few steps,
picked himself up and found him
self upon the stage. He had hardly
time to cast hurried glance upon the
novel, not to say dreary, objects by which
he was surrounded, when an elderly in
dividual, in white beard, and whose
shirt-front appeared to be plentifully be-
sprinkled with snuff, beckoned the boy.
"Tom," said he, ego into the music
room, and ask Mr.. Lo7ejoy for my copy
Of sOld King Cole"
The boy at once complied. Rightly
conjecturing that the mushroom was
the place wherein the musicians as
sembled previous to making their ap-
pearance in the orchestra, Mr.. WHITES
followed the boy down a score or so of
rickety stairs to the great detriment of
his shins; into a scantly-furnished apart
ment, situated Immediately beneath the
stage, wherein he found several gentle
men composedly tuning their instru-
ments. Upon hearing Mr.. Lovejoy, the
leader, addressed by name. Mr.. Whites
nervously introduced himself as Mr..
O'Leary's substitute.
Every good" said Mr.. Lovejoy; "he's
told you everything, I supposed"
Mr.. Whites bowed assentingly, and
darted a piercing glance into every cor
ner of the apartment in search of the
other trombone. Horror He wasn't
there! The man upon whom he solely
depended absent What was to be
done? Retreat was out of the question;
as, while he was contemplating flight, a
small bell sounded, and the musicians
proceeded to take their places in the
orchestra. Mr.. Whites, still bearing
the fatal trombone, despairingly fol-
lowed, and, ere long, found himself in
the presence of the British public. The
novelty of his situation so confused him
that he, for a moment, seated himself
in the chair belonging to Mr.. Lovejoy,
and was received with prodigious out
burst of enthusiasm, the audience sup
r,oosrne 1,i,,, ~ IN %lo 4o1o~kol
himself. This mistake was soon recti-
fled by the appearance of the veritab]e
leader, who muttered something under
his breath by no means complimentary
to our hero, and motioned him angrily
to the seat usually occupied by Mr..
O'Leary. The audience, perceiving the
mistake, expressed their opinion of Mr..
WHITES in candid and unmistakable
terms as he ruefully made his way to the
spot indicated by the conductor. After
trying to reduce to something like order
the sheets of music upon the stand be-
fore him, Mr.. Whites regained sufi-
Gent courage to look around him. The
house was packed from floor to ceiling
everybody was on the tiptoe of expecta-
ton, aud sundry anxious voices apper-
tanning to impatient ''gods y implored
the musicians to strike up at once, and
appease their anxiety.
Again the small bell tlnkled. Mr..
Lovejoy tapped his raised his
baton-looked on each side of him, and
stopped. He whispered to the first
fiddle, then left his seat and the orches-
ira. Mr.. Whites asked his next neigh
Dor what this might portend, and was
informed, in reply, that Pufaer, the
other trombone, hadn't as yet put in an
appearance.
"Couldn't they do without him p'
asked Mr.. Whites -devoutly hoping in
his heart of hearts they couldn't.
$ Certainly not" was the reply.
"Wouldn't the big drum do as we'll %
inquired Mr.. WHITES.
His neighbor regarded him with some
surprise, smiled, and continued
s'Do without him how can they !?
Don't you know that you and he begin
the moment the curtain rises, to bring
on old Russell, the heavy man? He
couldn't come on without music, you
know; as he appears at the back at first
then crosses the mountains from left
to right then from right to left, and
finally comes down left upon tha stage.