Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16
COMEDY IN A CAMP.
IT CANE WlTHlN AN INCH, THOUGH,
os BEING HEAVY TRAGEDY
MA, shou. Among Minors--A Speech
That Delayed Dance, hut
saved a Life.
Nov York world.l

Amoyille IS prosperous mining
onnp. nestled away in tie heart OF the
Northern California mountains. There
e. plcnty Of primitive rusticity about
the place and its inhabitants. but the
latter are good-naturod follows in the
main. although some traces OF the reck-
less spirit which tho "Forty-Ninors
encountered still fingers among them. l
had boon bcguilcd into leaving fairly
comfortable quarters in San Fran.
CISCO 20 so out "on the ROAD
es manager Of small theatrical
company. owned half the com
raa5. or thought did, upon the
tir.ngth of paying hall the expenses OF
launching 10 upon cold world. 1t was
,ot a bad company, as travelling com
,,enies go. and IL was indeed a brilliant
ono compared with the " bilks that OF
yare intervals had preceded 1t over q
ronch and rocky route which We bad
manned ont A "bilk,' / should ex-
u.an, rs in provincial Californian par
lance the equivalent Of fraud.
NJ the provincial Caliiornians don't
Ike q show thcy call it "bilk. and by
miing 10 patrouize the next one that
comes along drive the latter also INTO
bankruptcy and "bilkdom.
Owing 90 orr comparative excellence
md the fact that wo were careful not TO
"bilk" any one, we-the Sunshine
Musical Comedy COmpauy-ea earned
much commentator if but little cash
We were hampered by a scarcity OF mu-
pciaus. Respect for the truth compeis
mct0 confess that our orchestra con
sisted Of one able pianist, who was as
sisted In critical moments 10y comb and
is.uc.uaper accompaniment from be-
hind tie scenes. The provincial Cali
i1nians did not seem to notice our de-
fcirucics. however and our receipts
averaged about two thirds OF our ex-
,eDscs i'm every other town. The alter
nate towns generally failed TO return
orr hotel bills owing 10 n prejudice
againd travelling "shoWs, arising
from the behavior Of our "bllkish pre-
d,ccsors / did not complain, how
over. Ny Lending people-Tho Jared
rmptuouay every day at my expense
seemed IN excellent spirits my partner,
wloacted asaiyahce agent and m that ca
uacjty secured comfortable commissions
j,r himself from hotel aud hall proprie-
tors. ucrpetualiy declared that we should
rnko bonanza at the very next
naand. and the local newspapers, ln-
fpircd low really moderate outlay ioi
llyertising. doomed us and our per
lormmces to tho utmost OF their limited
ability.
Amnvillo il onc-night stand. We
.ourneyed tLithcr over mountainous
road from a larger town, which, IN con
r1enco Of its size, had been recently
invaded by five mOro-or-less " blklsh
tr1Ues. The sins of the "b llks had
Iaea visited upon us, and consequently
Cor at least looked to Amavlle
.ar Letter things and Tor our local ex-
r usef, and possibly some small coniri-
uuon towards our travelling outlay.
More 1 did not hope Tor. am not
hog.
have already referred to Amayillee
ho,e. and Opcra-llOuse. The hotel was
u.eeelle. ivthat / mean that any one
provided With tent and sufficient pro.
visions would do well 70 pass it by, but
that If compelled TO halt awhile IN that
viripitv he might console himself for the
SHORTCOMINGS Of that hotel by rejecting
npon the worse short commons OF other
provincial California inns. The Opera
House was better known rs 1.-THE loft
over Gabos." Gabe was the village
blacksmith. He was rs muscular, and
probably as virtuous, as if he dwelt IN
der something better than q close-htting
Opera House.