Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-04-20
The next day l learned they were
engaged
"A week later and they were mar
ried'
SlaEe Fright.

A New York CORES londent tn
other evening caught Robert ]
Burhette Of the Bur|ingtown Hawk
eYe, in the ante-roon at Chickerin)
Hall, just before going upon the stag
with bis funny lecture. "A-hl' /
he exclaimed, with a tremendous in
spiration. well. but am glad yor
have come. Now talk to me Tall
to me" and he continued walking W
and down the aoor after shaking
hands.
What's the matter? What ails
you? What do you mean?' l said
Are you lehearsing? Have l inter
rupted you? Do you want to be
alone.
'No!nor he exclaimed eagerly
walking up to me; don't leave ne
Don t so away.
What on earth is the matter?'
asked
Scared he said with querelous
laugh Then laughed
You don't hsliev- me. 1t is true
though. am afraid to g. on the
stage.
'P.haw, man. said. Why yon
are joking You have lectured for
years.
Yes seventy-6ve times this win
ter--but it don t make any difference
| have to 60 through this absurd ex-
perience every lime There's no get
ting used to it.
How does it make you feel |?
Feel? Light as cork. If I were
outside could fly right over this
building Honestly and seriously, it
| knew ! had to die TO night should
pray that the Lord would take me
Just before | Welt OF the stage
Many have the sane experience,
Tnat's some satisfaction, suggested,
if misery loves company.
Yes, he said, 4 tod Beecher
about NV troubles, and lie said, i
can tell you one thing for your conso-
Iation; you never get over it.
suffer every time 80 before an au'
diencs, and am afraid Of my own con-
gregatlon. But his experience doesn
give much comfort.
Does your fear vanish when you
get on the stage9
No, it lasts some time, usually. !
poke around among the audience for {
IamiIiar face, and when | End friend
I lecture right at him and ,'ont no
tice any body else. Cough tells me-
that he does the same thing. He
says he often finds himself talking tc
some sympathetic and responsive lit
tie group in one corner, telling hl'
stories to them alone, as if they were
in little room together.
He looked at bis watch. Its most
time to @ on tie stage. If it was
respectable I would run away. The
notion of feigning sickness often
comes over Inc as it does over school.
boys who want to play hockey. Arr
YOU my jallor? looking up at a gen,
tls,nan in a swallow tail who seemed
waiting Tor him.
Yes. you have four minutes yet.
Can get a reprleve? asked the
cul prit forcing grim smile.
Not this evening. Any other
evening. You remind me Of Theo
lore Titon. When he appeared here
though he had lectured FIVE hundred
times, he was 40 frightened that We
couldn't get him on the stage for a
long while. The hall filled up, the
audience clamored, and he, hesitating
to face them, walked up and down
his room, deaf to our entreaties, wash.
ins his hands with invisible soap in
imperceptibe water. Finally we got
him through the door at half past
eight
told Burdett that Wendell Phil
ips assured me once that be had had
similar experience; then | slipped
around into The orchestra. The fun
ny man came on the stage b~gan in a
tremulous voice. ami his troubled eve
wandered over the great audience tlll
be found friends, with WHOM he qui-
etly settled down and made himself
at home. r.