Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-12-25


composure and smning manner so ncc.
ossary for hor part, the large, iovial,
merry audience full of Joyous antcipa.
tions, that packed tho building would
have seen no "mirth provoking clowns"
that night; but he was ignorant of IL, for
tho brave young child knew II her father
had been aware of her sickness il would
unnorve him, and that q scene would
follow.
The overture ceases and the curtain
rises. The audience are charmed with
the beautiful scenery, the dresses and
the dazzling lights, and they applaud
literally, but there comes long and loud
cheering as some golden clouds are
slowly lowered from the "llies, for on
it stands Rosa 1Iallindcni, looking the
picture of fair lovclnoss. The anxious
father, standing in the wings-roady
"mado up" and waiting for the "comic
scenos"-intcntly watches her; his heart
throbs with joy when he hears the plau-
| dts, but thrill of agony passes through
him, cry of despair escapes his lips as
he sees his child totter in the narrow
suspended space-sccs her convulsively
clutch one of the invisible wires at
| tachcd to the piece of painted cloud
work. Luckily it was the end of the
scene. In the excitement and buzz of
noise the audience did not notice what
the father and those on the stage did
and as another scene was run on, shut
ting out the moving cloud, they APP
plauded the pretty sight.
With tears and convulsive sobs the
child fell into her fathers arms, and was
borne to her dressing room.
"My Godl look to her well until get
through" said the clown as he kissed
her cold, pale face, and in few mo-
ments more the comic scenes were over.
With nerve and powerful effort the
clown dashed on the stage amid tumul-
tuous applause. The Merry Andrew had
come at last. Men, women and chill
drcn-the old and yomg-roared with
laughter at his antics. 1'hc pantomime
went on-laughter rcigncd supreme.
The harlequinadc was panorama of
fun and the clown was irresistibly comic.
Joy was in hundreds of hearts before the
otlights-angush and wretchedness in
that of the performer who was the prin-
cipal in creating the laughter and Joy.
To him it was a terrible numbering eff
fort to be funny.
In the meantime little Rose partly re-
covered. She was alarmed at what had
happened but she collected her active,
childish senses. The management had
staked large sums of money on the sue
cess of this pantomimc, and the success
OF the revolving star-the ambition of
her father-was looked forward to as
the climax of success itself. She was
still weak and feeble. She assured her
father she was better, and able to ap-
pear and speak her lines in the star at
the close of the piece. Leaving his
child to the aid of kind friends behind
the scenes, the clowns heart is once
more full of hope; the last scene but one
goes on; it is dark one; the fun is
over; busy hands are setting the last
grand scene ready behind. Rose is
carefully placed in the huge silver star
that occupies the center of
the stage - and closed in it
in the dark front scene. Harlequin
has received his magic wand, which the
Clown has stolen from him. With
wave of his wand the dark scene van
ishcs. Colored fires are burning, fairies
are gliding about in st-er grottoes,
sparkling waters are flowing down flow
cry cascades. The star revolvcs; its
center slowly opens. The applause
from the audience is deafening as they
see the Fairy Queen looking so beauti-
full, so lovely, in the reflection of chang
ing fires of different shades. The Har-
lequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and
Clown form group, but they wait in
vain to hear the words of the Fairy.
She still lies motionless. The leader of
the band knows that something is
wrong, and his musicians strike up
loud, jovial tune, as the Clown with a
cry of despair falls on the stage.
The curtain falls, the vast throng
leaves the building, their sides aching
with laughter; they remember him for
days, and children dreamed of him and
the lovely little fairy in 1.-The Fairy
Realms of Everlasting Bliss"
That same Christmas night Jack Hal
liday sat in his room in Theater Alley
beside the dead body of his pretty child,
| a heart-broken man.
In the old churchyard that once stood
near Second and Houston streets was
small slab rising from small mound of
earth and on it was the inscription,
"Rose Halliday" and there for years
man bearing upon his features the stamp
of care and misery might at times be
seen. He was the clown who lost his
little fairy in the mimic, '.Realms of
Everlasting Bliss. ~. Y. Graphic.