Wichita eagle., 1890-02-01

see that details are attended to, VIII act to-
night
81 promised to do So and we parted. Twas
only too glad to get rid Of him on those
terms, in his then incorporate state OF mind
went back to the stage and dismissed the
rehearsal, cautioning the actors to do what
they could to render the nights performance
creditable. now began to hunt up tho de-
linquent and frightened property man, Jake
Search-an appropriate name for fellow
who needed so much looking after-and dis
covered him hiding under pile Of old scenery.
Is he gonef said Search. Yes an
swered, but be viii return tonight; so see
that your properties are in good condition,
or he will be the death Of you
1.-The night came and matters progressed IA
vorably until the council scene. One Of the
characters here, being overcome with nerv-
business, reversed his questions to Metamora,
giving the wrong lines, and OF course receiv-
ing an absurd answer. Tho audience, fenog-
MIXING the confusion of the dialogue, began
TO laugh, and of course this made matters
worse- The act terminates with the Indian:
great speech, From the east to the west,
hom the north to the south, the loud cry of
vengeance shall be heard and here he hurls
his knife into the center Of the stage, where
it quivers defiance as the curtain falls In
his anger and excitement the blade failed to
stick in the stage and bounded into the or
chestra, the handle hitting the double bass
player on the top of his head, which was as
innocent of hair as a billiard ball, SO as the
curtain came down the old fellow was stamp
ing about and rubbing his bald pate TO the
delight Of the audience.
II realized now that the storm had burst in
earnest and that total wreck would soon
follow. Knowing that could not avert the
catastrophe, and having no desire to face the
tragedian's wrath, like polite but disloyal
captain / deserted the ship and went in front
to see it go down. Byron says of battle,
oh, what a sight to him who has no friend
or brother therer to which Prentice adds,
and is not there himself The latter was
now my case. was not there myself, and |
did not intend to be, so from the secure cor
ner OF an upper private box l watched the
progress of the most disastrous performance
had ever seer.
LAS the curtain rises on the last act the tribe
of Metamora should rush through the woods
as their leader calls them; but by this time
the braves were so frightened that they had
become demoralzed, and as the foremost
rushed through the opening in the woods his
long bow got crosswise between two trees.
Tins not only precipitated the redskin over it,
but the entire tribe followed, tumbling head
over heels into the middle of the stage. l
trembled now lest the big lnjun' would re-
fuse to put in an appearance. At last. to my
relief, the audience quieted down and Forrest
strobe upon the stage. If | remember the
story. at this point Metamora's wife and chill
dren had been stolen away and murdered.
His pathos was fine, and by his magnificent
acting he reduced bis audience to attention
and enthusiasm. All was now going well, and
l looked forward to happy termination of
the play, which was thankful to know had
nearly reached its climax
"a funeral pile of burning fagots was then
brought on, at which some pale face was to
be sacrificed. The two Indians in charge of
this mysterious looking article set it down so
unsteadily that a large sponge, saturated
with flaming alcohol, tumbled off and rolled
down the stage, leaving a track Of fire in its
wake. Put it QUIT said Forrest, put it
QUIT whereupon the two Indians went down
on their knees and began to blow alternately in
a seesaw way, smuggling each others eyebrows
at every puff The audience could not stand
this comical picture, and began to break
forth in laughter. Let the theatre burnr
roared Forrest.
sat last one tall Indian, supposed to be sec
ond i'll command, majestically waved off the
two who were blowing, and stamped his foot
with force and dignity upon the flaming
sponge, at which a perfect fountain of burn
ing alcohol spouted up his leather legs. He
caught fire, tried TO put himself out, rubbing
and jumping about frantically, and at last
danced off the stage in the most comical ago
ny. Forrest made a furious exit; the curtain
was dropped, and the public, in perfect good
nature, dispersed. ! mingled with the crowd
as it went forth, and | never saw an audi
ence, at the end OF five act comedy,
wreathed in such smiles"