Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-07-29
George AS an Actor.

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George rs an Actor.
A LITTLE Boys STAGE EXPERIENCE
AND How IT ENDED.
George Howard was little boy
sevensyears old, who lived in the great
city of Chicago.
One afternoon Mr.. Howard purchas-
ed ticket of admission so that George
might go to the pantomine; but he
told the little boy to come home imme.
diately 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 bis
father, who left him at the door, re-
minding him to come directly home
afterward.
The theater was crowded with pco-
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 anything 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 George Howard suddenly Won
dered why he 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 We're 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 vlolins
and cornets 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 musi-
clans in time when they played. This
man was the only one remaining in the
place, so George walked up to him and
said
"Please, sir, | want to act"
Want 10 act, do you?" answered
the man in great bass voice, and then
he set down on his chair and laughed
very hard. Then he continued "What
on earth put it into your head that you
wanted to act -? My advice is for you
to go home and stay there
"But | don't want to-I 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 char and lifted little
rubber tube, on the end of which was a
bright, shining mouth-piece. lie
whistled through this, and was an
swered by somebody. Then lie spoke
through the tube saying:
HAS the stage manager gone home
yet p
Somebody evidently said that he had
not, for the man spoke again:
"Tell him there's well-dressed kid
down here who wants to tread the his
toric boards and gain the worlds ap-
plause."
Then he put down the tube, and
turning to George, said:
"The stage-manager will be here
soon"
Georgie did not know who the stage
manager was, but he waited for a mo-
mcnt, and a sharp.looking little MAI
stepped through door and appeared
from beneath the stage. The smal!
man was full of business, and after one
rapid glance at George Howard, turn
cd to the orchestra leader and said:
"Where'd you pick him up"
"Nowhere came himself, replied
the musician.
Then the stagemanager spoke tt
George
"Ever been in front Of the lights =
No, you never acted" he continued
seeing that the little boy did not un
derstand. "Well, we need one more
cupid, and you can come with me.
- u. l.