The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-03
GEORGE AS AN ACTOR.
A Little Boys Stage Experience and How
1t Ended.

1t Ended.
George Howard was little boy
seven years old, who lived in the great
city of Chicago,
One afternoon Mr.. Howard pur-
chased ticket of admission so that
George might go to the pantomime;
but he told the little boy to- come home
Immediately after the performance,
and not want to talk to any one.
George promised to do as he was told,
and away he went to the theater with
his father, who left him at the door, re-
minding him to come directly home
afterward.
The theater was crowded with peo-
Pile, and although it was the afternoon
performance the entire building was
lighted by gas. When the grand trans
formation took place George was, per-
fectly delighted, and thought he had
never seen any thing so pretty. He
wondered who the little boys and girls
were who took the part of fairies and
cupids, and thought what nice time
they must have, all dressed in bright
ribbons and gauze dresses, smiling and
dancing on the stage, while the crowds
in the theater laughed with delight and
clapped their hands.
Little Georgia Howard suddenly
wondered why ne could not act on that
very stage, and wear bright ribbons
and laugh while the people applauded
him, besides making money all the
time. During the rest of the perform
ance he made up his mind that he
would try it, anyway. So, after the
curtain rolled down for the last time,
and the people were going out of the
theater, George made his way down to
the front of the house near the stage,
where the men sit who play violins
and comets and other musical instru-
ments. One of these men sat on a
chair raised higher than the rest, and
waved baton to keep the other must
clans in time when they played. This
man was the only one remaningin the
place, so George walked up to him,
and said:
please, sir, [ want to act"
"Want to act, do your" answered
the man in great bass voice, and
then he sat down on his chair and
laughed very hard. Then he contin-
ued: "What on earth put it into your
head that you wanted to actP My adj
vice is for you to go home and stay
there"
"But 1 don't want to- want to
act, !" replied George.
"Do you really mean it," asked the
man. George nodded his head in re-
ply, and the orchestra leader leaned
forward in his chair and lifted little
rubber tube, on the end of which was
bright, shining mouth-piece. He
whistled through this, and was an.
swered by somebody. Then he spoke
through the tube, saying:
HAS the stage manager gone home
yetP"
Somebody evidently said that he haG
not, for the man spoke again:
Tell him there's well-dressed kiC
down here who wants to tread thu
histrionic boards and gain the world
applause"
Then he put down the tube, and
burning to George, said:
The stage-manager will be her
SOON"
George did not know who the stage
manager was, but he waited for mo
ment, and sharp-looking little ma
stepped through door and appeare,
from beneath the stage. The SINAI
man was full Of business, and after on
rapid glance at George Howard
turned to the orchestra leader an
said:
"Where'd you pick him upP"
"Nowhere; came himself" reptile
the musician.
Then the stage manager spoke {
Georgia:
ever been in front of the hghtsP-
No, you never acted" he continued
seeing that the little boy did not under
stand. "Wel, we need one NOR
cupid, and you can come with me-"