The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-06
A GREAT RENDITION.
A Performance Which Renders 1t Inn possible for Two Men to be
 Themselves Again.

The country theater in ArkansAw has not attained that excellence for which the stage in older communities is noted. h the backwoods part of this state the shallow pretence of fight with swords is ridicnled. Some time ago, out at little town endearingly known as Pot Leker, troupe of hungry and much-worn players stopped and decided to give thrilling rendition of Richard ILL" The people were delighted with the prospect ef seeing a show, and with that unre- strained liberality born of intense desire, they were willing to pay almost any price ranging from fifteen cents to quarter
 The mayor went to see the rehearsal, He said but little until the sword light took place. He could stand 1t no longer.
 "hold on" said the mayor. The re- tributive Rirhmosd and the enraged Rithard ceased their slaughter, and res RS~uuAy NutAOA NV bhG moyOAs
 "Gentlemss" said the mayor, "you ain't goin' ter 6ght with them thar knit tin needles, air your"
 "These are swords" said RicAmoH6.
 (" Bet your unhampercd life, they are, old man." observed the ham st,ung Riehayd.
 You may call 'em ~ords," the mayor replied, "but they ain't good enough for chillun ter play with in this country You'll have to fight with suthin' else"
 :" We have nothing else," RieAmosd pleaded.
 linen I'll git you couple O bowie knives, the very thing ter make the scrimmige look nachul. Say, hold on, I've got it. You'll use double bari shot guns. Them's the things tha,T fetch down the house. We'll load lem half way almos, an when you turn lem loose, they Il soun' like su,hin' had happened. :"
 "Saos guns RieAayd gasped.
 That's whut | said"
 Poepos,erous, man. There were no shot guns in the days of the Three Eyed D.ck-the days when Duckipe ham $ buck ,mped into the wheat 6eld." the actor replied with forced facetiousness.
 "Makes no difference, thar air shot guns now, an we're ivio' now an no, then"
 We won't use guns" said Richmond.
 Then you shain't play Nobody ken come along an put humbug show oD us, let me tell you. We knew what a good show is an we won't put up with a bad one. I'll go over wh'ar you air put. tin up an tell ole BAx,er not ter let you have no,hiu' ter eat lessen you pay for 1t in advanoe, am mon that iri see tn at you walk ou,en this town in putty short order. Do you heah meI"
 They heard him. They knew tha. it was a case of compliance or starvation, so they agreed to fight with shot guus.
 The house was cro~ded. When Rieh- mona and RieAayd. both heavily armed, met each other, the audience broke fo, th into a cyclone of rap,urous applause.
 Bingl BAngl Blng-BAng!
 When the smoke cleared away. Riek- "ton6 was seen rubbing powder ou, of his eyes, while Riehavd was observed trying to ex,inguish a Ire which had been igni,ed among the wrinkles of his tawdry raiment. The guns were no more. A fragment of one was sticking up among the Tafters, while mule which had been ridden by the tax assessor, lunged through the moonlight, carrying with him a piece of warm but uncongeuiai iron. It vas indeed great rendition, but the actors have never been the same men they were before that thundering Ulder the clear. delicate skin of RieAmosd face can be seen many blue, great primer periods, to- 8 sether with collection of commas and His countenance sun has a suggession--a struggling reminder oi it's wonsed frankness, bat many of its elastic lioes are expuaged.
 RieAarS is not likely to be himself agaln. He is destined to ever remain some one else He has but oae eye end his nose is itaiicised. 1t used to be Ro- man. The le Ather car which be wears is not handsome, but then ii is tough and can stand great deal of wear.