The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-10
Che GnteIliqencer
once, Nos. 80 and NJ Fourteenth Street.
ARCHES SUCCESS.

AhUQlE D NUUULOO.
Archie Cameron was one of the best fel
lows in the world personally; but his fac
bore the terrible word failure" stampet
upon it as plainly as thought were print
ed thereon in letters Of giant type. -
Whatever Archie turned his hand to
or was connected with was bound TO be
failure. He had dabbled in every PROBES
sion under the sun, and failed ignomini
ously in one and all. had lost sight o
him for some years, when / ran agains
him casually in . huge manufacturing
town, where to my intense astonishmen
he communicated to me the astounding
fact that he had turned actor.
well" l said in reply, with you
education and appearance" The Was . tall
handsome-looking fellow, standing owe
six feet high-"you ought to make BIZ
success at il"
His reply was sigh; it was the old
story, it was not in Archie to make sue
cess in anything. He had entered thu
theatrical profession as last resource
possessing the enthusiasm and ambition
which aspirauts 70 histrionic honors gen
orally possess, and with every hope that BY
means Of application and hard study he
might ultimately reach the top Of the tree
And he did study with vengeance.
Not content with the trivial utility
characters which fell to his portion, he
worked hard at the principal parts in the
higher walks Of the drama, and before he
had been in the profession two years
there was scarcely leading character in
legitimate tragedy or comedy. which
Archie was not thoroughly up" in.
For" he urged to himself, I'm bound
to get my chance in these parts some day,
and it's Us well TO BE- prepared. l shaIl
apply for leading business in 0 twelve
months time, and the previous study Of
the characters will be wonderful help to
me-"
And Archie did apply for leading BUSH
ness; bat TO no purpose. He did not get
it, for somehow theatrical managers, like
the rest OF the world, did not believe in
aim. His compeers distanced him quickly,
and rose to first class positions, but poor
Archie had to be content with his general
utility, It's miserable pittarce and de.
grading surroundings, with no prospect OF
rising, no chance OF fame. Hope defer
red maketh the heart grew sick, says the
adage; but, though Archie's hope had
been deferred for whole lifetime, his
heart was too healthy 70 grow sick or dis
pair, and he plodded on anxiouSly, hope
fully, for he declared:
iii they would only give me one
chance-just one-I know. feel assured,
| should make success.
But poor Archie never had shadow OF
! chance to cheer him on his desolate
Journey; even his love-making was fall
ure, and after counting and being accept
ed by pretty little girl in his own pro-
,ession for upward Of two year,, he
learned that she had run away aud mar
RED another fellow Just fortnight before
the day appointed for his own wedding.
AS time wore on, and the tates still
proved unkind, hope grew fainter within
MIN, and he had simos! ceased to pray for
his Chance" as he termed it, when, by
freak OF fortune, it came 10 him when
least expected.
He was fulfilling an engagement as gen
eral utility" at a wretched little theater 10
the north Of England. Manager after
manager had tried this house, but with
the same rszult-bankruptcy, and its own
ers were undecided whether to pull it
down or dispose OF tito body OF reiigious
enthusiasts, whea an enterprlsipg caterer,
one Mr.. sharpleigh Beck, who was already
the proprietor OF TWO or three similar es-
tabliahmentJ iH tho same locality-ofered
them non;nal figure TOR the building as
it stood, which the proprietoEs we're only
ton glad 10 accept.
This man was noted for paying the low
est salaries, engaging the worst company,
ana lsing the most successful manager OF
the day he yea as arrant rogue ae ever
breathed, and an impulelk ecoundrel into
the bargain; the lying announcements he
would resort to in order to induce the pub.
lie to patsou!ss bis theaters, being really
mnryels OF efrontsry IN their way.
It was at this theatre that Archle Jam
ercn found hlnself fulfilling On engage
ment under the banner OF this man, when
one fne morning the town was startled
BY the appearance Of some glazing posters,
which minated to the public that Mr..
ShafpleIgA Beck had, at an enormous ex'
pense, entered into IN arrangement with
the eminent tragedienne, Miss Gorstsntia
Leroy, who would appear the following
Monday in her favorite character oil
Pauline, in 1.-THE Lady OF Lyons"
The visit OF . London star OF such mag
nitude was an event q ne AtIle inpoit'
ance and caused considerable excitement,
not only among the toTlspeople, but also
among the members OF MI. SharpIeigh
Beck's "stock company" who were to
haye the honor OF supporting the lady IN
question, aud great was the anxiety TO
Know how the parts yoHld be allotted in
the play in which she made her hrst APP
pearauce.
As usual, Archie found himself cast for
the Second Officer, q part OF some ten or
dozen lines, which he had played Tor the
past seven years, aRd which seemed likely
10 stick to him, limpsd.hke, until the end
OF the chapter.
upon the dirty little piece OF paper called
q cast pinned against the green.room
wall, "it-if they had only given me
Claude for q change-but no matter"
But "C,sude Melnotte" was cast TO the
"leading man" O; the company, one Mr.
Horace Bowdler, gentleman 10 Thom
The tates had been much kinder than to
Archie. He had had his chances, but had
Eillfully neglected them by reasc n Of an
"infrmity," which accounted for his be-
ing under the management OF such q
fourth.rate msAageS - NJ. sharpleigh
Beck.
The eventiul morning at list arrived,
Ehen the "star," attended by her maid
and hes seaTatary, walked into the thea.
ter for rehearsal vita al the rank and
pomposity OF sroyal prqteptats. she was
: large, showily dreased woman, With 3
hauShty, imperious manner, and looked
down upon her less unfortunate brethren
With whitening contempt, directing them,
IN their duties il, cruelty offensive man
ner. 10 Which they neekly submitted.
With the exception Of Mr. Horace kogdler.
He might have held as good position as
the 'star'' herself, had Il not been for his