Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-03-07
ONE NIGHT STANDS
"coLUMBINe's" EXPERIENCE WITH
A COMPANY ON THE ROAD.

bidding Farewell 20 DIgesetoa and Com
Portable Beds-A Sample Reception and
HoteI-stage struck Girls should Con-
slider This Warning.
shall never forget my first experience
Of "one night towns" We had been play
ing in large cities and staying week at
a time in each Of them. noticed spirit
Of discomfort and rebellion in the COM
pany when it came near time for our
lone night Jumps" as they called them,
but / thought the actors unreasonable.
/ rather enjoyed the idea of only staying
one day in place. / thought it would
be interesting to see the different towns,
and would never have a chance to get
sick of place or a hotel.
When we left the city where we had
been playing there was a look of settled
melancholy on our comedians face. /
asked him what was the matter. "Ihave
Just said long farewell to my diges-
tion," said he. Eyes" said the leading
man, 80 have l. | could have wept
when l left my comfortable room this
morning. / knew / would not see an
other spring mattress for weeks"
what cranks they are," thought.
ANY one would think we were going to
camp out among the Pawnee Indians by
the way they talk"
AN ESCORT FROM THE TRAIN.
When we reached Smithville it was
showing hard: there was no bus to take
us to the hotel, so we had to walk. The
whole youthful populace seemed to be at
the train.
"Here they come" yelled q gawky,
overgrown boy as we came out of the
station.
They followed us every step of the way
to the hotel. Two little girls were ahead
of us, and they kept turning around and
walking backwards at the imminent risk
Of their necks, so as not to lose sight of
Us for an instant. At first l felt rather
fattered, thinking that this was their
way of paying tribute to genius; but
from the nature of their remarks soon
learned that | was greatly mistaken. II
there is anything in the world that peo-
pie in country towns look down upon
and despise it is ''show folks"
When we arrived at the hotel we found
it comfortable looking wooden build
ing. "This looks quite homelike and
NICE" said II wish l had your hope
full disposition" said the comedian
gloomily. We went up to the parlor and
waited to be shown to our rooms. After
we had been there for some time shock
headed boy appeared with our keys. My
room was bare and comfortless, there
was o sheet iron stove in the corner, but
there was no fire in it. l called the boys
attention to this fact. and he said he
would build a fire "in jiffy." He went
away, but soon came back again, bring
ing basket of wood. He began to build
the fire. Just as he had cleared the ashes
out of the stove some one called BELL
boy" and he disappeared. / began to
think he had forgotten all about me,
when he came back and began again.
AS he was going to light the fire some
one shouted Porter" he got up and
went out. l waited for him for some
time, then went into the hall and called
"Bell boy" as loud as could. He came
running up the hall. 81 want my fire
built" said. "Wall, can't wait on
more'n forty at once, can II" he said
"Why don't some of the other bell boys
come up?" There amt none," he said.
I'm the only porter and bell boy and
waiter and clerk there is" At last my
fire was built and lay down to rest.
had been travelling all night and part
of the day, and was tired and sleepy.
soon dozed off. Just as l was getting
into nice nap was awakened by aloud
shrek. started up. What was it?
soon found out. A party of young
folks" from the neighboring farms had
come down to "see the show" They
drove into town in sleighs, and as they
wanted a real good time they came
early in the afternoon so as to take sup
per at the hotel and go to the "opery
house" afterward.
| THEY CAME IN TO HAVE A TINE.
They had assembled in the parlor, and
were soothing their savage breasts
with music. They played on the wheezy
old melodeon and sung "White Wings
and "Stick to Your Mother, Tom. "
After they had sung all the sentimental
songs they knew, they began on Moody
and Sankey. After while they tired
of singing, and blessed calm followed
for few blissful minutes. But it did
not last long; they began playing games,
and ran up and down the halls shrek
ing. laughing and banging doors.
Igave up all idea of sleeping and lay
there listening to their artless merriment
until supper time.
When the bell rang for supper a
deadly silence fell. THANK goodness,
they have gone!" thought. Little did
I know them! When opened my door
there they stood, ranged along the wall
in rows, waiting for the "show folks" to
come out. They made personal remarks
in loud, piercing voices as we passed
them, then they followed us into the
dining room. where they never took their
eyes from us. but watched every mouth.
full we ate. There was nothing fit to eat
on the table. l drank cup Of some
strange compound, which they called
tea. 1t neither cheered nor inebriated
me. When we got to the "opera house
we found dirty little stage and dirty
little dressing rooms. 1t was SO cold in
the dressing room that we had to breal