The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-04
THE COMIC ACTOR.

and good night"
So, tucking up the collar Of his over
coat, With both hands deep in his pock-
cts, Martin, the comic actor of Mont
martre, went his way, walking at a
brisk, nimble pace; he passed before the
cafe Of the theatre, followed the Rue
d'Orsel, turned to the right and assembled
the Rue des Martyrs. A few minutes
after, he raised his head, and, glanclng
to the top of the house-the fifth story
his eye rested a moment on a window
which, despite the late hour, still formed
a Joyful, luminous picture in the sur
rounding darkness; then, smiling. he
crossed the street, rang the bell, called
out his name in sonorous voice as he
went by the porter's lodge, and ascended
the staircase four steps at time. Be-
fore he had reached the fifth flight, a
door opened, and an old woman, her
face illuminated by the rays Of the lamp
she held in her hand, exclaimed:
us that you, Chariot"
Eyes, NINA; good evening, NINA"
He flung both his arms round the old
woman's neck, half sitting her with his
kisses; then both sat down before . table
whereon two covers. were carefully laid.
There, in the moist beat. that Pervaded
the neat little dining-room, they had
their supper, while he >Eecountsd al the
details Of the evening, giving import
anee to the slightest incident, noting the
parts of his role IN which he had pro
duced some effect, telling stories about
his comrades, chattering and gossiping
about everything and everybody.
Martin loved her SO deeply, his
mother! When still at school his father
died, and all his mothers tenderness
from. TINT day centered In him. She
had brought him up somewhat Like a
girl, surrounding him with every asten-
ton, starting at the slightest cough,
working day and night to supply all his
wants and satisfy his merest craving,
and when, grown a big boy, he had said
to her, @M'ma, I should like to be an
actor r. she not only consented, but en-
couraged him; so he entered the pro-
fession at the theatre Of Montmartre,
where he was still one of the troupe.
He was not a great actor, certainly,
but he was a general favorite with the
frequenters of the place; his thin face,
with its high, red cheek bones, his big
mouth his trenGnlous voice which
seemed to issue from clarinet, and
especially the good humored manner he
haa ofsaying q funny thing, made peo-
plsf burst out :laughmg as soon as he ap-
peared on the stage, and gained for him
quifs:a renown throughout the quarter;
his success; however, never extended
beyond. But. what was that to him,
since he had his mother whole admlra-
ticat. G..,. .., 80. ial. Hi: e..
His calm, quiet, hum-drum life, suited
him SO thoroughly that he could realize
no other, and when, after the perform
ance, some one invited him out to a
party Of pleasure, he, would exclaim;
HWeh, and what about mama at home"
Once only, Martin had had q big grief.
The evening when this occurred, great
discussion hal arisen in the green-room;
each nt those present spoke In high
words, swnrn Justify and spoke of send
ing seconds; wind of battle was in the
air. When our actor arrived, news
paper w;,s placed in his hand; he read
a long article in which comedians were
sorely treated; but, amid all the insult
ing langy,a:;.. used, one thing struck
him more forcibly than all the rest; it
was said that stage players were incapa-
BILE of l,arboring a single genuine senti-
ment. He said not a word, but an ex-
preston of ineffable sadness came over
his face. In the evening, when he came
home, without saying word, he handed
the newspaper to his mother, pointing
to the article, and when she had read it
through, he exclaimed, as two big tears
rolled down his cheeks: ....
Say, is it true, NINA, that I don't
really love you'" -'"....
Already mother Martin had hugged
him to her bosom, and, with a wild
glitter in her aged eye as if to defy the
author of the scurrilous article, she
yelled out frantically:
'"The villain let him come and see
whether you don't love your mother,
my dear boy:"
One evening in December, the theatre
was crammed with spectators, because
it happened to be the first performance
of piece wherein her boy played the
chief role, anu his name appeared in
large characters on the posters outside!
1t proved a real triumph for martin.
Each time he walked off the stage, the
applause burst forth with redoubled
vigor: never before had his comicaity
shot over the footlghts with such ire
sistible effect, provoking laughter
among the coolest; never had he 50 well
personated part, tasking himself to his
utmost. Tie fact is that, in that great
crowd, he saw but one person, at the
other end of the pit, hoisted in her seat,
and applauding with rapture - his
mother! Poor mother Martin. he
played for her alone that evening!