The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-18
A MANAGERS MISERIEs.
How 'ShOo Fly. First Came on the
Boards.

were seated in the Social
Room of the Meridian Club, dis
cussing the STILES and frowns OF
fortune. In TIE party was Henry
J. Sargent, the well-known theatre
cal manager. Finally some one
said:
Sargent, were you ever dead
broke in strange place."
"That experience has been mine
on several occasions; in fact, they
have been too numerous to men
ton. While you were talking 1
was reminded of my experience in
1867, at Charleston, S. G. On the 1st
of July Of last year l found myself
walking the Battery with no money,
save a luck money bearing date of
1898. had a railway map, and added
to that quite an extended knowledge
of the geography of the South, for
by that time 'Sargant, the Illusion
ist.' had become pretty we'll known
in that section of the Union.
After looking over the map, Il
decided on tramp to Kingstree, a
country town sixty-three miles
from Charleston. [ went to the
hotel, packed my traps in such a.
shape that [ could carry them, ate a
big supper and went to bed. At 4
The next morning L left the hotel
without breakfast, for [ did not
want scene with the proprietor,
and took up my march on the rail
way track. Time was too precious
! to stop for dinner, so I trudged
along until 9 that night, when l
reached Funkstovn, thirty seven
miles from Charleston. 1t poured
with rain all the afternoon, and
had not a dry thread on nae. The
army of dogs which seemed to in
habit the shanties along the rail-
way near the station, were all on
the alert to give me a reception,
and somehow [ felt that | recipro-
Gated the feeling that they had me
under suspicion. went on until l
came to the station, which was oe-
cupied by the station master, his
wife, sick child and a negro SER
want. l asked the man if | might
sleep in the depot, but he said he
could not allow me 10, as the roof
leaked. finally curled up
on my bundle outside, beneath
the caves, and spent the night
battling with mosquitoes. The next
morning [ was up early and on the
march, though l was as stiff as a
broken-doWn race horse. AS l
walked along I overlook a jolly
Hooking negro, who was whistlipg a
merry air, and [ asked him if he
had not had his breakfast. He said
he had not. My resources, which
would reach negro, consisted of a
gilded watch chain, which l used
for tricks on the stage. This 1 Of
fered to the negro if he would pro-
cure a breakfast for me. He said
he would, and [ waited while he
went across the fields towards some
negro cabins. In little while he
returned with a watermelon and
two roasting ears. | ate the melon,
which was only half ripe, and then
continued my journey. AT noon
came to a small station containing
a variety store, and l went in and
asked for the proprietor. To him
handed pair Of tortoise-shell eye
glasses, saying, 4 am hungry; give
Ime as much cheese and crackers as
IyOu can for these. I will send for
/ them il [ ever get any money With
Iout word the man made up bun.
die Of the articles ] wanted, and it was
a good big one, too, then gave ice his
address and | moved on. That nigh
reached place six miles from
Kingstree, but having no money
none Of the white inhabitants would
take me in. Their refusal was q
lucky thing for me, for that night
discovered the tune, 'EShoo Fly"
"An old negro man, seeing my
trouble, followed me short distance
,, and said: 'BoSs, l amt got much Oh
! house, but you'se mighty welcome
to go dar,' and 'dar' [ went. They
gave me some corn bread and fat
meat, with which [ mingled the
remnants of my cheese and crack
ers, and Toasted royally-far better
than we have here tonight. After
supper negro with a banjo came
and played and sang 'Shoo Fly
The air impressed me, and before
; went to sleep had learned it. Wher
L l resumed my tramp the next morn
8 ing, l marched to the tune of ''Shoo
Fly"
"But you did not march int,
finances and comfort to that tune
ibid you 2" asked one of the party.
: "No, indeed; 1 marched to tn
Y water tank about q mile iron
. Kingstree, and waited until the trail
. from Charleston came by and stop
L ped for water. AS it moved away
: climbed on. and when it reached th
3 station 1 stepped off, and inquire
u the way to the hotel. After that
J ibid not go hungry, though 1 cam
70 within hairs breadth Of it. / ha
Il ARRANGED for the hall for thre
e nights, and had posted the few bill,
:. l had with me, and all was goin
'e well, whea man who had seen N
: paWning my eyeglasses for tn
Il cheese, said to a merchant that
was not Sargent, but some frau,
for he had seen me on my tram
land told the Circumstance. TIL;
night l had but $50 in the house, bI
the next night l had SIS, and M
4 troubles on the trip were at an en-,
s. 4 hon T reached New YORK. in r.