Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-02
4 SM0ULDERING FIRE.

Then am really to understand
Kate, that, after all our long wears of
illehdshlp, you decline to play at nv
benefit:''
Ii the play is to be OthelIo, John. |
must. You don't know the main II
gives NE to refuse you; | would so
gladly do YOU seyyice If it Law in my
power. Any p?tt but Desiemona |
should be delighted To undertake; but
II would be useless my attempting that;
Know | could not get through it.n
but surely you must have played
Desdemona during your early country
experiences, even if you have not done
50 slnce?n
es, L have. on one occasion only. -
well, then, why not again? | must
own | am bitterly disappointed; | quite
counted on you. Ii is the first oppor-
tunlty have had of playing a good
part in London, and, with your help. |
relied on making hit. Now don't
know what to do, as have been in
America so many yeaTsl all the pro-
feSsiOnals here are strangers to me. The
Idea of your refusing to act for me never
entered my head. | am sorry | ever
asked you, as ! fear | shall never be
able To forget your desertion of an old
chum."
The speaker was one of my Oldest
and dearest friends. His family and
mine had been intimate long before
either Of US had thought of going upou
the stage We had been boy and girl
sweethearts, and used 10 confide our
stage-struck aspirations TO each otht r.
Ultimately We succeeded in persuading 2
our parents to let US adopt the protes-
sion. and we made our first appearance
in public on the same occasion at the
little theatre in our native country
town. Then after short time our
paths separated; he had an offer to go
to America, and | was engaged by one
of the North-COuntry theatre-mana-
gers.
had heard of John continually from
his family, and we had written to each
other wheA either of US had a particular
success or met with any good fortune.
He had however never come back to
England until now, when, having OBJ
tanned a very good position in his adop-
ted country, he Lad become home sick
and resolved to try for an engagement
here. With this idea, he had taken
one of the fashionable weSt-end houses
and announced his first appearance as
Othello. had promised TO play for
him, never dreaming that he would
select the only piece l could not act in.
was really concerned at the evident
main was giving him, and to find that
our friendship was likely to be inter-
rHpted, and said
'sIf You knew the reason OF my re-
fusal. YOU would not think me unkind.
1t grieves me to the heart to be obliged
to say No."
But why, in the name of goodness,
should YOU be obliged to say Nor The
mart is IN your line. you would play 1t
snlendidly without any trouble. / shall
believe YOU mean to be quite disagree
able unless you give me some explana'
ton"
"Then you force me to tell you my
reason. | should have hoped you had
sufficient faith In my regard for you,
and would have spared me reyerting
10 the most unhappy occurrence In my
life. Although it happened fourteen
wears ago. cannot think of It without
misery, and the subject has not been
alluded to for years; however, sooner
than lose your friendship, will tell
you.
ssYou remember my going to the
Theatre Royal Alton soon after you
went to America, and you also recol-
lect, dare say most serious illness
| had a year afterwards. The partieu-
lars of that Illness you never heard, as
all the facts were hushed up. 1 was
engaged by Mr., Gosling, the manager,
IN play small parts at a very small salary
and a hard struggle | had to make
hoth ends meet. The theatre was de-
cidedly second rate; but the company
were hard working and respectable,
although illiterate. They were very
kind to me as a rule and did me many
real services. which had no means OF
renayIng except with thanks Mr.
Gosling was a genial good hearted Old
nan With whom soon became great
fayorrte. had plenty OF practlce ana
did nv utmost TO get on. AT last
f.rtunate chance happened LOT me-
Tn. Young lady who played the Ju'eh-
lies, was taken i'll on the eve OF a per
formanee of Hanalot No one IN the
theatre excepting myself knew the
,rorSs and music of Ophelia, so l was
antrnsfed with the part TO my intense
JaIiaht | sat UP all night TO study,
VI Intimately made what everybody
aIJ aafd Was great success. This led to
SCI So ha,ng engaged by Mr.. Gosllng 10
,Isv the pfinciple parts at a conslaei-
m. increased salary, with MI uou-
60 60 blackburn, the leading man, VINO
was to join the company az, az '"'
mencement of the next season. o,,d
we had months holiday, va anu nr,d =
want hack to my work fnii oi no.'e ~ INV
sn,,rs5e On our company leaSSI
s.'.a an the first day at rehearsdi, l
usd o that there we're two ne" a nieh
,ouau Mr. blackburn, distinguishes
peIs ro,ddle. aged man with a hosI
lors,i loohms head. spoilt however oy Pc
poMo,i pa. -astIess. shifting expression Al
culial, ,c and narrow retreatlng lore
the eye yea "a Young gentleman VINO, l
i'eau. StInod @no was to play the ygvellIe
tinosls'oJU Ue was reGned and piea'snS
heroes. and had handsome canulu
~ I'll n was interested IN hl.n n.a"t,v ~ as
iaoT, tnew we should be coh''
..atad in our work. .;r.t the pIay
soci1Sea sWa acommenced re.lcarSliis, s,,anished .u
W. ass H,rnrb5ack. | was @ aS.oRis Rlark-
was dnr n.ea ta.cnt shown by MI Nj STAGE STAGE.
at the &c &c an actor and as S'"g nv
burn, JUL and began to puzMe sncb
manager, % how he came to oe III small ,
brains as ~ Leading man al s mon.
s.ass eeaSs s's% ssst to tRsn %s "s any
derfuliy clever, .aao. NOR and Isuppose some