The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-02-27
your properties are in good condition
or he will be the death Of you.'

or he VIII be the death OF yOu.'
"The night came and matters pro
crossed favorably until the council
scene. One Of the characters here, be-
ing overcome with nervousness, re-
versed his questions to Metamora, Civ.
ing tho wrong lines, and of course re
ceiving on absurd answer. Tho audi
ence, recognising the confusion Of the
dialogue, began to laugh, and Of course
this made matters worse. Tho act
terminates with the Indians great
speech: From the east to the west, from
the north to the south, the loud CRY Of
vengeance shall bo heard, and here he
hurls his knife into the center Of the
stage, where 1t quivers defiance - the
curtain falls. In his anger and excite
mont the blade failed to stick in the
stage and bounded into the orchestrs,
the handle hitting tho double bass
player on the top Of his head, which
was as innocent OF hair rs o billiard
ball, 30 as the curtain came down the
old fellow was stamping about and rub
bing his bald pste to the delight Of the
audience.
II realized now that tho storm had
burst in earnest, nnd that Q total
wreck would soon follow. Knowing
that could not avert the catastrophe,
and having no desire to face the
tragedian's wrath, like politic but dis
loyal captain l deserted tho ship and
went in front to see it 90 down. Byron
says of battle: oh, what o sight to
him who has no friend or brother there?
to which Prontice adds, and is not there
himself The latter was now my case.
was not there myself, and did not In
tend to be, 80 from tho secure corner Of
ON upper private box watched tho
progress Of the most disastrous perform
ance had ever seen.
"As the curtain rises on the last aot
the tribe Of Metamora should rush
through the opening in tho woods as
their leader calls them; but by this
time the braves were SO frightened that
they had become demoralized, and az
tho foremost rushed through the open
ing in the woods his long bow got GROSS
wise between two trees. This not only
preoipitated the redskin over 1t, but tho
entire tribe followed, tumbling head
over heels into the middle of the stage,
trembled now lest the big Injun'
would refuse to put in an appearance,
At last, to my relief, the audience
quieted down and Forrest strobe upon
the stage. If I remember the story, at
this point Metamora's wife and children
had been stolen away and murdered.
His pathos was fhe, and by his magnih-
cent acting he reduced his audience to
attention and enthusiasm. All was
now going we'll, and looked forward to
q happy termination Of the play, which
I was thankful to know had nearly
reached its climax.
IA funeral pile Of burning fagots was
then brought on, at which some pale
face was to be sacrificed. The two In
dams In charge Of this mysterious-look-
ing article set 1t down 30 unsteadily that
large sponge saturated with flaming
alcohol tumbled of, and rolled down the
stage, leaving track of fire In its wake.
Put It outr said Forrest, put it outi'
whereupon the two Indians went down
on their knees and began to blow al
ternately in see-saw way, singeing each
others eyebrows at every puff. The
audience could not stand this oomioal
picture, and began to break forth in
laughter. Let the theater burnt roered
Forrest.
"At last one tall Indian, supposed to
be second in command, majestioally
waved of the two who were blowing,
and stamped his foot with force and
dignity upon the flaming sponge, at
which perfect fountain of burning
alcohol spouted ur his leather legs. He
caught fire, tried to put himself out,
rubbing and jumping about frantically,
and at last danced of the stage in the
most cOmical agony. Forrest made Q
furious exit; tho curtain was dropped,
and the public, In perfect good nature.
dispersed. I mingled with the crowd
as 1t went forth and never saw an audi
ence ut the end Of flve-sct comedy
wreathed In such smiles"