Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-11


mark applies, with only less degree of
emphasis, to Louis III RichGlicu and II |
score of the principal characters on the
stage. But for HdMtet Jonadab thought
tint III addition to many graces of mind,
nature had peculiarly gifted him in the
matter of presence.
1t will easily be understood, when his
manner of life is made known, that, quite
apart from the nine ever-open mouths ut
home, Jonadab had good deal to make
him look careworn. When II man has the
certainty that, given him II chance, he
will blaze before the world in the meteor
ic flight of genius, when that chance ever
seems within his grasp and as constantly
eludes it, we have the conditions of life
that write wrinkles on the brow, lend n
stoop to the shoulder and dull the bright
ness of the eye.
Jonadab was of an immensely sanguine
temperament, or he never would have
lived for the great occasion to which, at
the time this chronicle opens, he was
swiftly tending. He had ut his tongues
end all of what may be called the stock
parts A glance over the prompters
books brought back to his mini all the
dark savings of UaMit and the rotund
uttcrances of the rest. Where the san
guine disposition came especially into
play was when lie had new part to learn.
This did not happen very often, as the
Theatre Royal in Wellington street was
prosperous, and when new piece was
placed on the stage it remained there for
one or two hundred nights. But rev
pieces came and Jonadnb threw himself
into the understudy with undated vigor.
He felt his time would come at last, and
it bchoovcd him to he ready for it. a
false step in the street, n sudden cold, n
carriage accident, and great people might
be laid low and modest merit might step
forth on the stage TO retire amidst the
plaulits of an amazed audience
Fortune, it is written, comes to those
who know how to wait. Jonadab had
waited he knew not how long. Certainly
for thirteen long years he had been ready
and even yearning. But fortune had
passed him by, touching with capricious
hand others whom Jonadab thought had
not waited SO long, and whom he was sure
had not hoped so passionately. He knew
men who had been supers in country
theatres, who were now stars and even
managers of prosperous theatres. For
him, alas came no sunshine, and had it
not been for the constant 25s. week
| WHICH HIS pOhl bIOuSut Hill ILL., lie NOultt
have given up the long stern chase. But
yearly there came an additional reason
why he could not afford to dispense with
25s. week. So he waited on, learned
his parts, and struggled with murdcrous
thoughts rs lie saw IfdMiC come trip
ping down the staircase to his dressing
room, and thought how changed might
be the world surprising he were some time
! 10 l,-, al, hr,pl of lv-u N,
the stairs, over which Uamiet tripping
might sprain his ankle, and the anxious
manager would rush about the recesses of
the stage calling on the name of Dib-
bins.
One night in January Jonadab crossed
Waterloo Bridge at an unusually rapid
pace. His head was erect, his shoulders
were squared, and he whistled cheerfully
as the wind, lodging round the stone re-
cesses, caught him as he emerged beyond
their shelter. 1t was 8 o'clock, and he
was going home. As he reached the low
er end of the road and came among his
own people, the neighbors stopped to
look at him-tirstly, because this was an
unusual time for him to be seen in the
neighborhood of home and, secondly,
because lie was a changed man.
Gibbs has had fortin left him, j
said Mrs. Perks to Mrs. Perkins, as jon
adab passed the little shop where all
kinds of edibles were sold, from salt her
rings to very large potatoes.
Mrs. Perkins was glad of this, us the
Dibbins debt was deep. Not that they did
not pay ready money, but somehow or
other the account was always slipping
backward, and what they paid last Satur-
day was reilly on account of provisions
obtained nine weeks earlier
Hes more like had drop to drink,
said Mrs. Perkins, not deeming it wise to
rest too strongly on the cheerful view ST
suddenly adopted by her neighbor.
"Well, father, what brings You home
so early?' said Mrs. Dibbins, as Jonadal
strobe into the room and eyed her with
the searching look with which Hamic'
watches the king and the queen his moth
err during the players scene.
Mrs. Dibbins was always ready to bG
alarmed, and when Jonadab, instead OF
replying, continued to gaze at her in N
abstracted manner, she concluded that
the worst had happened and Immediately
began to count the children.
Mother" said Jonadab, 1--WE have
waited long and are now to be rewarded
Fortune has condescended to look ut mt
with half an eye, and half an eye is bet
ter than no turn of the optic. | have t
part, my dear. No longer do / under
study others, though perhaps it would bt
too much to say that | am to have my
part understudied. Still, I'm cast for Al
essential part, 60 on at the crisis, AM
what's more, the part has never beer
treated artistically. | shall develop it"
SIS ii Hamlick?' Mrs. Dibbins asked
beginning to cry-an unfailing resource
in whatever mental disturbance befel
her.
mo my dear, it's not Shakspere, it,
the 'Corsican Brothers.
"Are you the Brothers." said Jonadab
junior, called johnny by his mother ant
Sprouts by the youth Of the neighbor
, hood, who We're aware of his business en-
; gagement at a greengrocer's Mt TIN
Butts.
"No, it's not the Brothers Tn no
/ sorry for it, us the part is hackncyel.
, am cast for the Doctor, and / mean t,
a make something of it. You know, moth
a er, it often happens that what are calle'
D minor parts, when properly played, turn
$ out the chief thing in the piece. Their
r was Lara DNlareaiV. That was n mer
: accessory that no manager would hav
0 understudied. When the piece first cam
n out, if Sothern hadn't come up to time i
L would have been cut out and the pla,
would have been justas good. But Soth
:, ern worked it up until it became tn
r piece itself, and that's what | mean to d.
t with the Doctor. The piece will run 70
n a hundred nights if | cant do some
r thing in a hundred nights / will retir
from the profession. My dear this is al
o occasion that should have its libation
v We will carouse. Jonadab fetch hith
I er from the neighboring establishment
4 three pigs feet, and also n pot of 'alf an
i 'alf, which is fourpence in your ow