San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-10-17
LIMA FENT0N'S LOVER.

It was Christmas time In st. Giles
workhouse, and there was quite large
party of us engaged in waiting on the
old people and in administering to their
creature comforts. We gave them sort
of entertainment afterward-songs, reci-
tations, some amateur conjuring and in
strumental music. After the dinner
came the entertainment, and just before
the entertainment an ounce Of tobacco
or snuff, whichever they pleased, was
presented to each inmate. As handed
the tray containing the little packet he
stretched out shaking hand and thank
ed mo in a voice which seemed familiar.
81 think we must have met before, my
FRIEND" l said
"Lor' bless you, Mr.. Nibbsl' said he,
"I used to see you most every night be-
fore my misfortune; my misfortune has
brought me here" he added wearily.
81 don't remember your face" an
swered, and yet I seemed to have seen it
before.
"My face is about all that Is left Of
me-" he replied, and then he did very
extraordinary thing-he blew out his
cheeks, he screwed up his mouth, his
eyes seemed nearly to start from his
head, and his scalp, which was covered
with scanty locks Of gray hair, began to
work up and down with a sort Of me-
chanical movement, and then he uttered
the extraordinary words, "Here we are
againl'
"Good gracious!' said 1; "why, it's
Molino."
"That's me, sir" he said, cor what's
left of me-"
Igot rid Of my tray of tobacco and
snuff and then came back to the old
man. He wasn't an old man in years,
but he looked 70 at the least. We had
been rivals once, Molino and I. When
l first began writing for the stage, and I
began at 20, I did good many things
for the "Bird of Prey" 1 was glad to
write comic song for guinea.
knew what poverty was, but was per-
fectly happy, for was in love with an
angel. And so was Molino. was ano-
body, an outsider, "a mug" He was
somebody, for lie was "the great little
Molino," the celebrated clown, and of us
two she certainly preferred Molino There
was no doubt about her preference, for
she was engaged to be married to him;
and then, knowing how the case stood,
I, as an honest man, gave up my suit.
And then lost sight Of her for some
years, and Molino dropped out of my
memory altogether. She was certainly
the most graceful dancer I have ever
seen. The school of dancing at the
"Bird of Prey" used to be quite an insti-
tuition, and it was tradition there that
the best dancer always played Columbus
at Christmas. Talk about the poetry Of
about aerial grace and
rhythmic movement. Never before nor
since have I seen such dancing as Lina's,
and I don't believe ever shall if live to
be hundred. Other people thought SO,
too, and they didn't keep Lima Fenton
long at the "Bird of Prey" She came
to the West End. She played at the
Peristyle, she got speaking part, she
rose to be the stock chambermaid of tho
then she made a hit in
then she married million
aire; then her millionaire smashed up,
and Lima Fenton now plays aristocratic
Did woman and honestly earns her $500
a year.
But at the time 1 am speaking Of
Lima Fenton was not an old woman; she
was, 1 repeat, an angel. I thought so,
Molino thought so, and SO did the British
public.
"You heard how came TO grief, sir,
he said. at was along of
beer"
"Why, you was most sober man." l
remarked.
aye" he replied. BARLEY water
vas my drink in those days, sir. A
,lown don't do much good unless he is
sober man; but 1t wasn't the beer 1
frank, sir, that settled me; IL was the |
,eer l had to give to other people. |
was a very different thing In |
hose days, SIR, wasn't il, Why, there |
wasn't house in London as didn't run |
Is pantomime; and it was the comic |
BUSINESS they went to see, sir, then, and /
lot the ballets and the professions and
he gentlemen and ladies from the music
Ialls. They used to go to hear me sing
Hot collins and 'Tippety Witchet;'
We, and / got a treble encore for 'em
very night, too, as you know, SIR.
Where are the clowns gone 70 nowadays,
irs can tell you" he said, in a solemn
"to the workus, sir; that's
There they're gone. Why, there's three
n US here. It's the music halls that did
: II the public sees clowning all the
ear round there. and uncommonly bad
downing, too, they don't want to see it
{ Christmas, and that's the secret I
ont suppose there was a happier man
! the whole profession he continued
IDLY, than I was wbsn was playing
! Harlequin Fe-fo-fum' had saved
loney. had furnished a little house
! Hoxton, and we we're 70 be married
J a week, Lima and L The pantomine
I'D only three more nights 70 run. and
-uke. the LAboreT.' and TIE Murder