Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-06-26

perpetrated one since, as a youngster, he
turned handsprings on the sidewalk for
pennies thrown to him by gentlemen on
suburban omnibuses.
A cold chill ran from his heels to his fn-
ger tips, his knees shook, his face was burn
ing with feverish heat, and the greasy
paint was running down his back in little
red streams. Then there was hilarious
shout from the audience. Whirlwind had
started amblingly across the stage with
dozen men on the roof Of the coach. Sud-
denly there came a loud crash and lurch
the coach had capsized. and with n sup
pressed and agonized "Oh. cricket" the
impersonator of Blummetts gave desperate
leap outward, struck the stage with bound
and slid on and on till he touched the foot
lights two yards in front of the rest Of his
companions and in the very centre of the
stage sat staring distractedy at the 5000
people in front. By some mysterious dis
pensation, he had put his feet through his
silk hat, split his Prince Albert coat up 10
the shoulder, and half Of his false whiskers
had landed in the orchestra, and. TO add 10
his misery, there, in the very front row of
the stalls, gazing at him in blank amaze
ment. sat the young lady who but twenty
four hours ago had blandly called him "too
absurd for anything Oh, irony of fate I!
Some one whispered "Get up and run"
He got up. He ran. He ran up the stage
and of at the first entrance on the right.
He saw pair Of stairs, and up them he
dashed frantically, despite the cries of
"Come down don't go up there. you fool :"
from dozen people below. But he went.
He thought he was going TO the dressing
room, but he wasn't. There was an open
space before him be dashed into it. Hor-
rors 1t was the balcony Of the village inn,
and he was once more in sight Of that vast
sea Of faces. Good, just in time" said
m,n with n big broom who had been stand
ing in the balcony. Good :" and he seized
the luckless Blummetts BY the neck, put his
head over the railing and pummelled il with
the working parts Of the broom, while one
Of the jovial Hanlons from below. seizing a
garden pump, played upward into his face
the entire contents Of water bucket, The
audience shouted like madmen, the orchestra
tootled its liveliest tootle and the curtain
fell just as poor Blummetts. in an exhausted
condition, fell over the balcony upon n
grassy bank, made Of hair mattresses, be-
low. Bravo shouted the nimble VIII
liam, clutching him by the shoulder. THAT
tumble Of yours from the coach brought
down the house. And how YOU ran off the
stage. too They thought in from, tha, i,
was all part Of the fun. As for YOUR
scene on the balcony, YOU were most oppor-
tune The man who does it every night
was TOO late, and you turned up just III time
Quite the hit Of the evening my boy, as
sure you. Wouldn't YOU like to join the
troupe p
Troupe be-
NO, no. Hold on. Don't swear See
that notice 'Profane language strictly for
bidden during performance hours, under
penalty Of - for each offence John Stet-
son, manager. Wait till after the perform
ance, and YOU can howl TIL the airs blue.
and perhaps Mr.. Stetson will give YOU p a
howl, since YOU made such a hit tonight"
But my coat my hat, And. look here.
I've smashed the crystal Of nv watch and
snapped of one Of the hands
Never mind. my boy. il. all part of the
business And just think Of your successful
debut as a comedian. Your friends would
be proud Of YOU # they coul have seen
your success a. an actor tonight"
Give me 4 hat quo,h he give me
coat I'm going home to act no more. in
tended 10 write highly descriptive article
on lie Voyage en- Suisse from behind the
scenes. Overture BY the orchestra the
gathering Of the people in front; bursts Of
applause waited over the footlights mys-
,erles Of the stage enchanted regions be-
hind the curtain destruction Of illusion,
and all that sort Of thing. But | can't
Good BY :"