The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-10

ANY ONE CAN BE- An ACTOR.
Comedian Sci smith Russen Tells II a
Trials Of TheAtyfcal Life

Comedian Sci Smith Ro.s.n Tells Il Ne
Trials Of Theatrical Life.
"Soeer idea the public has Of stage folk
and their hfe," said Sol Smith Russell
''The opinion Is almost universally held
that theatrical people live In the most lux
urious fashion, eat pie every ten minutes
and never do any work. The hardships OF
travel, the hours Of soul wearying rehears-
ais and study, and the thousand and one
trials that beses the actors life are NOS rec
ognized because they do lot appear IN the
performance. They ara behind the scenes,
and therefore not movable 20 the public.
But they exis. and are very narrowing
I remember q little incidant which
brought all this home to me. In making q
Jump between large cities il was necessary
70 put in q week among the smaller towns,
playing one night in town. We had
played in one place, and after the perform
ance had packed everything for fitting TO
the next stop, and were ready to go to the
train. which was due as midnight. When
we arrived at the station. however, we
found that the train was late.
How lster we inquired
Don't know said the comforting in
dividual at the station May be one hour,
may be two; might be three
I'VE didn't dare 60 back 70 the hotel TO
sleep because OF the uncertainty Of the
time when the train would come along. SO
We sat around the waiting room. misershly
tired and sleepy. trying 70 ind comfortable
Positions on the barbarous seats.
1--WE waited there until nearly 8 o'clock,
and at last the train came and we bounded
aboard, disguised, cross. sour. The run 10
our next town was something less than
two hours, SO we could not sleep on the
train except TO catch enough of a nap to be
aggravaring and wholly discumposing. Is
was about 5 O'Clock when we turned out
Of the car sc the town where we were TO
amuse folks that evening It was the gray
OF dawn, and in tie pale light we were a
CHASTITY lot. The baggage sm1shers hurled
our trunks and boxes out upon the plat
form with gleeful savagery, and as looked
about for some sort OF hack to take rs TO a
hotel heard the station agent. who was
assisting the baggagemaa to set cur
trunks out, say TO the trainman:
- What is al this baggage, anyway"
Oh said the baggage man. with in
finite disgust in his tone, &c belongs TO
some show company, reckon Anything
10 EeL OUT OF WoEkll
That's fact, blame EN- growled the
station agent, and l smiled wan smile.
and went and informed the company that
we would have TO walk with our hand bag
gage to the hotel, about eight blocks Any
thing to get out OF working! Dear me, IL
j had told that story TO the company
think the station agent would have been
mobbed.
'On another occasion, some years ago
now, I played in q small town, and did not
leave until noon Of the following day In
the forenoon an elderly countryman saw
me about the hotel Office, and after some
little hesitation came up and said:
Be you the man that played last night
ar the opry house,
u told him was the culprit.
Names Russell, aren't itf
II said il was
"'Well, want to speak 20 you about 4
boy O. mine. I've tried TO make farmer
of him. an I've 'prenticed him out twice TO
learn trades I even put him in a livery
stable an in hardware store. bHt it want
no use. hain't oeeu able 70 make nothin
OF him. When | seen you last night
kinder thought maybe he'd make a good
actor. He's pretty much the same kind OF
fool you be-
Il took this guileless person into a cor
ner and told him lies, for which l am still
doing penance. | assured him that the
stage was just the thing for his son; that
it required no intelligence, 20 mental bal
ance, no sort of acumen whatever 10 be a
successful actor. that it was something
anybody could do without half trying, and
that ic was of all professions the most
gilded. luxurious and profitable in the
known world He seemed to beliere il
too. The Lord forgive mel But that's a
fair illustration the way we actor folk arc
misjudged. Chicago Post