Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-07

An AudIanaa OF Ona.

An Audience OF One.
IL was a very hot day in the month oil
July, l76S. Five o'clock had sounded;
| and the performance in the Italian the
| atre in Paris was about TO commence
with harlequinade, IN which the cele-
brated Carhn was to appear. The cur
tain drew up. Carlin advanced on the
stage, and casting glance around the
building. perceived that pit, boxes aud
gallery were all equally empty. He
stood silent for moment, and then, ad-
dressing the leader of the orchestra.
said: Really, my friend, have no
mind to act for your sole amusement. |
shall lust quietly so home, and advise
YOU aud your musicians TO follow my
example.
"By 10 means" cried sharp voice,
issuing from q remote corner OF the pit.
II bar that. | have paid my thirty
sous to see the play, and L insist on
having the worth of my money. Look
ing in the direction OF the voice, the
actor with some difficulty disoerned a
beng about four feet in height making
desperate efforts to approach the stage
by climbing over the benches.
"My dear sir" said Carlin, ''If you
think so much of your thirty sous, my
comrades and / are quite ready TO re-
turn them; or if you like 1t better. |
will even double the sum, and we will
have a bottle of wine togetherl'
.'Sir," replied the little man, as he
climbed on bench, 'l am not thirsty.
hsve paid for seeing the play, and the
play | must have. So do me the favor
an upright attitude, which displayed to
great advantage huge hump on his
back
my dear sir" said Carlln, mimick-
ing his tone of voice, sit can't be.
why not, pray?"
''B cause, IN the beginning, 1 should
have to address myself to the public;
and, unhappily, there's no public here
to address"
81 am here. sir. For what do you
take me2"
81 take you for hunehkaek."
You're an insolent fellowl Cariln
took OFF his mask.
Doubtless" he said, ''you dou't
know me. Learn that my name is Carlo
Bertinazzi: that before going on the
stage l served as an officer in the army
of his majesty the King of Sardinia, and
that | never allowed an insult to go m
punished.
lyon mistake" replied the hnnch-
bsck, cody, ''you are not Carlo Bertl-
nazzi You are the harlequin whom L
have paid for seeing act. My name,
Master Harlequin, is Joseph Dubreuu.
l am an attorneys clerk, and l live in
the Rue St. Honore. Tomorrow / shall
lodge my complaint with the heutenan.
of police. who will be very likely to
lodge you quietly in prison, If you re-
fuse to commence your performance i'm
mediateIy."
Having so spoken, the little man.
with an air of much dignity, resumed
his seat. Carlin was in the wrong, and
he knew it. he resumed his mask, and
began to recite his monologue, inter-
mingling it with pointed extempora-
neons allusions to his troublesome audi
tor. The latter Was delighted, and ap-
plauded with might aAd main. How
ever, when it came to the turn of Car
Inns fellow-actors to speak, they did so
with the utmost negligence; and the
hunchback. feeling his dignity invaded,
drew from his pocket an enormous key.
which, when applied to his lips. served
to produce a most sonorous hiss. At
this unexpected though well known
sound, the actors paused.
Come" exclaimed the little man,
''you played badly, and L hIssed you;
It's quite according to rule.
"The gentleman is right, said Car
lin; ''he stands on his privilege. Let
US paw respect to the public and to our
selves"
The remainder OF the ACT WAS played
in a most satisfactory manner; and, Just
before the curtain fell, Carlln addressed
his spectator. "ST." said he. ''should
you happen to meet any OF your friends
this evening, perhaps you will have the
kindness TO commend our performance
and advise them to visit us tomorrow"
With much sincerity the hunchback
promised to accede to the request and
went out OF the theatre during the in-
ieryal between the acts.
1t so happened that. during the last
hour, thick clouds had gathered in the
sky; and, before the second act had
commenced, fearful torrent of rain
was pourin0 down on PARIS. The pc
destrisns who thronged the streets were
glad to take refuge in any open build
ing; and in few moments the Italian
theatre was not only filed, but crowded.
Standing on a bench in the center of
l., hrlrahlaaal-
made himself conspicuous by the ex-
traordinary series of gestures which he
directed toward the stage, first pointing
to himself, and then to the crowded
ranks of spectators, whose leader and
conqueror he seemed to be. OF course,
these pantomImic signals were lost on
the newly arrived public; but they were
perfectly well understood by Carlin,
VINO smiled applause on his ambitious
friend.
The next morning, as the latter was
setting out for his office. a servant in
livery handed him letter bearing the
seal of the Italian theatre. 1t contents
were as follows: IN. Carl1n and his
friends request the honor of nj. Du.
breuil's company at breakfast, and will
feel gratlfed by his accepting free
season ticket to the Italian theatre, as
slight mark OF their esteem"
The hunchback gladly accepted the
invitation The breakfast was delight
full, the entertainers and the entertained
being equally pleased with each other.
From that time the little man seldom
missed representation at the italisn
theatre, and became the most intimate
friend of the harlequin, whom, when
outside the theatre, he no longer hesi-
tated to recognize as IL. Carlm.
Wild Horses of the West
The wild horses of Wyoming and