The Dillon tribune., 1886-09-10

WOULD hear the flattering remarks and en-
Joy t!,cn!. Then, perhaps. when the
whole thing was over, possibly-he was
not sura--he would come blushingly Tor
ward and acknowledge himself as the
modest author.
But now it seemed he was not the
author. ...
ISIS this true about the parson writing
the play" asked the professional.
~ had not heard" hesitated poor MI
Dwight
=. ':Ot. come now. OF course you know
You c~:sl,t TO have told me this before:
I'm in ~ regular iix. id. %'>>:
Il give sou. my word I never thought
!,e v..iort. il" o..
>..:-.s ct out of it. the best,,vay can.
Excuse my suggestion, ladies ana gentle
men, was not. aware OF the authorship o!
the play. can easily understand row
why sou do not wish y chihe:2. have
no doubt from the. e;iriiest' desire OK
pressed 10 do justice te t lewriter, end the
talent at our disposal we shall achieve
a success. If YOU please we wiz com
mellce.
AS. is usual in such cases, one or two
had some .natural,tAste among othcra that
were perfect sticks. Mr.. Dwight was so
very lines he had written
The play was long and tedious. difficult
to rc,lacmber: and tiresonle to the listener.
Tho last act closed with q reception in
1. private drawing room. The professional
suggested thc:t it could be made very CT
fectiye with elegant dressing. tlowcis fur.
ni;l:ce ana decorations. He trusted thi.,
last scene might help to c.facc the past
misery.
Vlsc eycntful night arrived. Many tick
cts had been sold a. it had been well
whispered about 6n con1iocnce) WHO was
the author Mr.. Dwight had worked
night and day, and was in such q fright
fNl state OF nervousness, that he felt like
giving il up altogether The professional
seemed 10 t:linIs chat there was " long
task before him, ana had evidently iorti-
fled himself to such al extent t.,at lie ;;D-
pearetl somewhat ccnfu%c;i. Ills first
mistake Was to ring up tho curtain with"
out warning, which gave I. view OF the
figures flying in every direction. 1t
was hastily dropped with q violent bang,
The audience waited patiently for it To
roll up again. A gentleman stepped out
from the side, and said he hoped tal; audi
ence would have patience, as one Of the
company was late arriving.
AZ 1oSC ClAc pldy De.stlA isiltA pIUCccICll III
the usual manner OF amateur theatricals,
some parts good, others very bad. Loud
prompting was heard from the sides
throughout. Mr.. Dwight, who only had
very short sentence to deliver, in his
anxiety made his entrance too soon, and,
finding he was not wanted, looked about
h,lplessly until loud voices called him to
come off. He attempted to return by the
door through which he had entered, but
struggled in vain to open it ON the side
where the hinges We're. Finding the door
would not open, he slipped off at the side
in such state of fright, that when his
time did come, he had to he pushed OH,
and could only humble something that
no one heard.
The play dragged on. The audience
was tired and bored, but too polite to
leave. At Il quarter to twelve the last act
came, much to everyone's relief The
curtain rolled up, showing Il BEAUTIFULLY set
room, elegant furniture. and a profusion
Of flowers wherever there was Il place for
them. The dialogue was just begun,
Wien to everyone's arnazement an l,n-
expected figure was seen at the center
door.
The figure which attracted so much at
| tention was that of Il footman dressed in
Nh elegant livery of crimson plush. I'M
mense calves to his legs showed plainly
| they were not OF natural growth. 4 white
| wig completed this costume. This was a
character entirely new in the play; on
closer inspection this elegant person was
found to be the professional himself, who
evidently thought to give the room more
elegance and All appearance of case by
adopting this character. He carried /,
tray covered with glasses. AS he crossed
the room with dignitied but unsteady
step they jingled violently. AS soon as
the actors could recover from their sur.
prise, they continued their parts, but
were constantly annoyed by the offer OF
refreshments. AS soon us he disappeared
through one door he appeared at another
knocking over flowers in his unsteadl,
meanderings.
Finally, when the act ended at 1880, he
occupied the center OF the stage, and
bowed to the audience as gracefully rs his
shaky legs would allow.
Financially the play was a success. Ii
every other respect it was about as sue
ccssful failure as ever was.
One Of the papers came out boldly ant
criticised the entertainment severely, say
ing that the Rev. Mr.. Morgan might bt
able to write an excellent sermon, but moi
u play. Also they were much astonishei
that he should introduce the character O.
an incorporate waiter, for, though i
might cause laughter from some people
it was q sight that all right-minded peopl,
would discourage.
The Rev. Mr.. Morgan published care
expressing his establishment that tn,
authorship Of the play should he credited
to him, and denying it emphatically.
Mr.. Dwight was SO crushed at the re
suit of his dramatic effort that he retire,
to his favorite back seat, where he still