The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-03-04
STORIES OF THE STAGE.
A Stranded Troupe and Modern
Good Samaritan.

Good samaritan.
aDon't you find it rather lonesome
here?"
30 mol" answered the stage door
keeper. ''Some of the actors generally
come back here to smoke their pipes
and chat"
aYou must hear them tell some anus
Ing experiences Of stage life"
"Anv number of them, The other
night Vim. Harris, of Rhea's company,
told me of an incident that happened
when he was supporting Charlotte Cush-
man. They did Henry the Eighth in a
small place one night, and after the
play was over the audience still re-
NAMED in their seats. Henry the
Eighth is in five acts, but in Charlotte
Cushman's version it ends with the
death of Katharine, that scene closing
the fourth act.
"Mr. Harris was playing Cardinal
Woolsey and as he finished in the third
act had time to change his dress before
the performance was over. Seeing that
the audience had no intention of leav-
ing, Miss Cushman called to him:
"'Mr. Harris, you must go out and
make an announcement; the audience
do not know the play is finished
''Thc late Cardinal stepped before the
curtain: Ladies and gentlemen am
sorry to inform you the performance is
over. The play concluded with the
death Of Queen Katharine. If you are
waiting for the funeral, that will not
take place until next week.
"I'll warrant he made a quick exit
after that. But tell me some of your
own experiences, you were on the stage,
we're you not?"
"Yes-for one season."
''Then you must have q number of
amusing "reminiscences stored away in
your hat"
The stage door-keeper shook his
head. mo; nothing of humorous ma
tare took place that trip. We played
in too hard luck. I tell YOU" he went
on, earnestly, that was the hardest
four months ever experienced, and is
we hadn't struck one man with heart
in his body | don't know what would
have become of us all"
"Who was he? How did it happen?"
ut was down in Richmond, Ind. We
were to play there two nights-New
Years and the Saturday following. We
had been playing to bad business ever
since we started and came into the
town on our trunks. New Years night
we thought would certainly bring us d
big house, but it didn't. There was a
local minstrel show in town, and we
played to empty seats. The night fol-
lowing we played to four dollars. After
the performance we held consultation
aud decided to close and go to Cincin-
natl on our trunks. We could not pay
our board bill and the landlord of the
Motel threatened to attach our baggage.
Sure enough, when we got up early
sunday morning and went down to the
depot we found the trunks in charge of a
sheriff. That effeetually prevented our
leaving town.
There was nothing to do but &c
PACK to the hotel and wait until some.
'ning turned up or the landlord turned
Us cut. Back we went, and the man.
aSer tried to argue the matter with the
proprietor, while the rest of us gathered
around the stove in the office. The
landlord was inflexible. Unless we
could pay him his money he woult
Aola our trunks. Il run this hotelafol
money, not as charitable institution
ana don't want you people around
mere any longer he exclaimed.
AT this moment u benevolent-look
ing old gentleman with long white
J. entered the office. He wa.
.ae landlords father and part owner O.
the hotel.
What's the trouble?' he asked.
his son explained.
Well, you people are in hard lucl
sno I'm sorry for YOU said the old gen
uenan' kindly, but let's see what ca,
pe uone.'
n We all felt grateful to him at once
ns paused q moment to consider tn
sauation, then asked: Have you hat
erealsfast?'
No, SIR
"a, me younger man had not per
morning.
Ihen all of you go in and eat, ant
marie. aalies turning to his SOM, let then
hight ~ i'''
A., onaries started to make some obiec
,a Dus' out the kind-hearted old gentle
an stopped him.
t,,. IN not going to see these peopl
.ned into the street on this cold day
Mese,s women and children among ,er
,as a 'ney stay here until tomorrow a