Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-03-25
.rRoPs."

- H~sAASsAu Ssvfy Va es~Bo kHvPoA.S
Ullie Akerstrom IN the N. Y. journal
May 20, 49,
James Dolan, or "Props," ~ no was
known by most Of as, was the property
man 1t the theatre III A.. Few Of
the company ever troubled themselves to
ascertain his true name, and Props"
was used by Us all TO designate him on
all occasions.
He was . dark-complexioned, plain
man, exceedingly taciturn. but no per-
formed his work with the utmost ca re
aud precision, and was real treas ure to
the management In consequence. Yet
"Props' was not . popular man. His
silent ways were often mistaken for aul.
lennsss, and his dark, homely lace was
not inviting to stranger. but as all calls
for his services were promptly and court
eously replied to, no one made any CON-
| plant.
Among the company was Mrs. D.,
the mother Of bright, lively little lad OF
about four years, who sometimes ap-
peared when the cast called for . child.
One day during rehearsal bis mother
missed him, and when search was In.
stituted We found him In the property
room perched on the knee OF Props,
whose hard features had relaxed Into the
frat re al smile we had ever seen on him
90 he danced the little one on bis knee
and sang In monotonous tones the
Mother Goose melodies 80 dear TO the
baby heart.
When he saw he was observed he
hastily. almost roughly, set the little one
down and with . muttered apology
turned away, But baby refused to be
| .auorad fraty, hta fnnuA trfanA and
with lusty yelis he twined his sturdy
little arms around Props while he pito.
ously cried:
''sipg more songs for Babyi Iloves
'ooi,'
Props gently disengaged the clinglng
little hands, and - the child's mother
. led him screaming away he said to me:
"Chlldren know who loves 'em,
ma'am. ] had little chap like him once
myseli."
The usually hsrsh voice softened and Z
mist came into tbs eyes that wore .
yearring expression. The next moment,
~ II ashamed Of betraying his emotions
! he turned away with muttered rcmar Y
about ''bein' Q darned fool about kids
: ANYWAY" and went on with bis work.
We iii had . better opinion OF Props
alter that Many cigar was slipped to
,, him, and many stray quarter found it,
! way Into his hard hand from US who re-
. | membered the little scene. There ID
, always something good IN man little
child will reach out Its arms aud run to.
He has tender, loving heart beating Ia
Y hts bresst, no matter what outside ap
7 poarances may indicate.
Ono night stranger was at the theatre
In place Of Props and on inquiry We
Q learned that ne was Ill. Night aftcl
5 night passed and he did not return and
ono night q stage-hand brought wore
that the doctor said he was afraid Props
s would not recover.
l. Laden with fruit, wine and flowers sew
:. eral Of us set out the next day to visi
him. We found him 10 his humble
: room emaciatsd almost beyond recogni
! ton by a fever that ragged like Gre in bill
yeins and bafiled all the doctors skill
: His mind wandered. He could moi
appreciate the sympathy aud sorrow W.
2 felt for him, and after seeing that every
= thing help, money and medical fkil
: could give him was his, we went away.
The next day Props was dead. Tende
4 hands performed the last sad otfice3 ant
the peaceful look on the wan face in thu
!. coffin seemed to say that death to hin
: was welcome rest.
Just before the funeral service was rest
-, ..i,,,5 ,,,, a.i3. ,nd a,it.
wonlah, saiieu no as,a9 sue .., sa,a NO.
Glse lie seI'o Ds, To-, mn ,' no ,n,a.
mrs. LOON si !. as .sa sn'e NV Nd obaraa ~
me 70 give !. 70 .nos no nau W. ' ma,i az
nis iuno.A, ~ oAS1 NC NV, kus III - :.
qoh INNS W .sss sas, Az hs
u, uon W a. 49, p I, y sai u' ~. No yon,a,
Gu 10 easness aoyus ~ anu wv "o'A"'
pf1uuco = snsi pssaa Ms. mi. vr,tta,
v We opeae gu ~ n,a,.5 m"A ~ no ~ ,,oo
Pen ,no s Ioe ~. sSo az c,asaS be Mace
ffops, asking 1ass uie ehe,u ,,S w ,i p,aaa
~ ms $50, uoinn ~. "as sn o nov X
ol ,.s.ae ~. =, . sJ In ob,,dis
on ,osn M. NV " , psp"s., p'i"ss1 - e'e's
se,i9pae, ,nsss "u.us omoon,ck
wan. you' pApA eo1,s !. t s,,,,.vn
ii TITS the little son OF his,n ne pulls
sbout live yesrs ago., whispered one
: the siaee hands standing near.
vile was bad lot ana when Inc pap
was about year old she skipped gu
with another chap an shook jim an "
E. ND. Jim never meda TO iuss ABOUT !
r an after she'd been gone about yea
= s. We neara she1 d,eo. jim was JUST WrAp