River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-15
A GOOD MATCH.


and already the earlier birds had de-
I parted; the tourist was beginning to
crop up in strange localities, and the
lodging-house keeper, smiling the bat
tie afar off, to prepare for war with his
natural enemies, the visitors, groups Of
whom | found scattered around the
railway station as | comfortably en-
( sconced myself in the corner of a car
riage bound for Saverton Towers.
/ A very few months back, Clement
/ Sandering, with whom | was going to
stay, had been living in town on a com
I paratively small income, which he had
augmented in desultory way by liter
airy work. lie had written novel,
successful comedy, an endless variety
of articles on an endless variety of sub
jects, and was looked on as rather a
rising man.
Probably he had never heard of Saw
erton Towers, when one morning,
among the letters and papers which
burdened his table, was note from a
firm of lawyers in the city to tell him
that the Towers, a rather expensive
property in Meadshire belonged to him.
Sandering had met with such things in
the realms of fiction. and the intimation
seemed rather like the foundation of a
plot for novel than real and YER
liable possibility. 1t was true, how
ever; a distant relative of the late own
er had died childless in Paris, and with
in a very short time Sandering had re-
signed his chambers and left town.
In the former days had vaguely how
cred during the season round a GER
tain Gertrude Leigh, Sandering show
ing a slight disposition to admire her
sister Bell All this was entirely hope
less, for there was not the very remOt-
est chance of old Sir Thomas consent
ing, even if the girls had wished it; and
Lady Leigh would probably had fits if
the subject had been mentioned to her.
The affair was not very serious on my
part, nor, as | think, on Sandering $.
though some of his heroines bore a sus-
picious resemblance to the fair Bell;
but, then what would You haveP One
must get his herOines from somewhere,
for pictures painted without models are
seldom satisfactory.
Circumstances alter cases, however,
and his circu instances had very mate
rally altered his case. Since his acces-
sion he had been in Paris, where |
knew the Leighs were also staying, and
though his lette rs had not said any
thing particularly pointed, it was evil
dent that they were much together, and
only natural to suspect that something
would come ofit-the usual something.
Immediately on his return he had
written to ask me down; there was no
one with him, he said, and if | had
work to do it would be much quieter
than the chambers; so taking heap OF
paper to try and ease a conscience
which demanded industry. and secret
| ly resolving to do nothing but lie under
/ the trees and smoke, | started anxious
TO see Sandering, in case his bachelor
davs were soon to be ended; for mar
riaoe sometimes alters a man very con
siderably, and a young wife has not al
ways an enthusiastic affection for her
/ husbands bachelor friends.
/ He met me at the station, and we
/ drove through some of the prettiest
scenery in Meadshire to the Towers.
: The fine old house was striking con
trast to the dingy chambers;
! as was the small army of men about
I the place, gardeners, groOms and the
rest, to the dilapitated old woman and
] the small boy who had attended him in
DAYS of yore; But he had fallen quite
naturally into the new habits and in
terests, and it seemed years since the
old London days.
After dinner we retired to a small
room to smoke, and to discuss all that
had happened since we last met.
''And how are things theatrical?'
he asked, when he had given me the
details of his iourneying.
"Much as they were when you left. |
think; and in one way as they will al
ways be- The good ones pay. the bad
ones don't. Isn't the same principle
carried out in everything? If managers
produce good pieces, publishers good
works, or publicans good beer, the peo-
pie 90, read and drink remuneratively.
All the same, suppose we are to I'M
derstand that the drama is declining.
That the silliest cry Of all, Sander
inc answered There are plenty of
good actors, and plenty of good plays.
| don't mean to say that the whole
thing was in q perfectly satisfactory
state. A number of gentleman, and
some ladies. adopt the profession now
and study it; but many, many fellows
90 on the stage with the idea that the
art of acting can be learned any morn
ing before breakfast, and under the inn
preston tina. ease is the grand requis-
lite behave in drawing-rooms with the
sort of ease that city clerks exhibit in
there favorite liquor shops. | remem-
Der one Of the best actors in England
telling me that when he first went on
he was convinced that he could play
Hamlet perfectly; but, after twenty
wears experience, he should be thor
oughlv eontented if his Laertes satisfied
himself
But there is a bigger blot upon the
stage than what old actors call 'cufi
shooters Look in the photograph
windows, l replied.
Yes. at he-the-those-th e-well,
the popular actresses. Popular act
resses-my stars! As you know | am
far from being a straight-laced moralist
but to see long rows ofogling creatures
whose modesty is as scant as their at
tire, tabled Popular actresses, is a
little too much: and men who have
the interest for the stage at heart ought
70 protest vioOroUslC
| could only assent.
why do these sort of people go on
at alp" continued Sandering, who
evidently felt the subject deeply From
vanity. generally, or some other reason
than the making of salary. or desire
to learn the profession. Either they
want the money, or thew don't want il
in one case they have no business on
the stage, and IN the other the less bust
ness they have there the better. speak