San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-25
A NEW BOARDER STORY.
A FIRST NIGHT IN A THEATRICAL
BOARDING HOUSE.
why One Old Boarder Cannot BE Expected
h, to Admire the Stage-A Narrowing Ex-
perience of One Man That May Be
Easily Duplicated Many Times.
.uTn gray


81 s'pose I've never told you about that
winter / spent in West - street 1t may
teach you something and be a warning if
you ever feel like turning into high class
emotional actor, so l don't mind letting
YOU into the Iecret I've been knocking
round in board ing houses so many years |
thought knew every freak that the world
could show. I'll seen poker sharps aud
bunco steerers, I" say nothing of kittenish
old maids, grass widows and every other
serpent that was shut out of paradise with
Adam and Eve.
"Wel, | was TOLD that Mrs. Dolittle, in
West - street, kept nice, quiet house,
irrepraachable references given and re-
quired and all the rest of it. | went there
with Bible in my pocket, my certificate
of BIRTH and baptism in my hand, and sew
enteen business testimonials, in a Glad
stone bag Mrs. D. seemed pleased, and
| engaged room. | was a stranger, and
she took me i'll.
1.-The first night / spent there | knew no
one in particular, so when / went down to
| dinner l tried to size up the company col
| lectivety. There seemed to be an unusual
| lot of young people. Four young women,
| two da k and two fair; three blonde young
| men, enc very white, one medium, hair
short on top of his head, one red checked,
| one looking very pious.
THE PEOPLE.
Just opposite me sat a middle aged
young woman with snub nose, who talked
all the time. I'd seen that sort before.
| Very funny at other folks expense. Dis
| appoin ted in life and devoted to lies. Oh,
| yes! knew what she was like, so just
| said, "Quicksand,' and passed by on the
other side. But thought the rest of them
would bear watching. The dinner was the
regulation meal, and when it was over
went p to the fourth floor hall bedroom.
81 sat down and began to read the paper
| Pretty soon a low, groaning noise was
heard, evidently woman's voice. getting
| louder and louder, till it resembled a roar
ing Niagara, oh-o-o-h-A-A-H-Ha, ha, ha,
| ha, ha, dying away in demoniac laugh
1t was startling, but l knew that queer
things happen in boarding houses, so l sat
still. In minute a new voice began, oh,
young Lochinvar! Oh, young Lochinvarl
| Oh, young LOchinvar' There's maniac in
| this house, l thought. | got up, examined
| the lock and sat down again treasured
Then came the sound of blows-awful
| and after each one a strange shaking of the
house, as if body had been flung violently
to the floor. There's murder here, surep
said l, and rushed into the hall. Another
voice, masculine this time, trombone quail
ity: 4 dare do all that may become a man.
Who dares do more is none!
81 say, Duke, which one you going
home with tonight Which one? All
three oh, you! Oh, you are masherl
How'll you manage itY Take Carrie
home after first act from the Star; rush up
| to Days and get Minnie end of second act;
| go on to h. e. B. S and bring Bessie out at
| l2n oh, you old sinnerl Oh, you wicked
old wretchn accompanied with shrieks of
| laughter in mingled soprano, tenor and
bass voices.
WHAT IT MEANT.
"Once more those terrific blows, but this
| time there was something queer about
| them 1t sounded as if some one were
| jumping off step ladder. A dismayed
| feminine voice exclaimed: "Oh, Jenny, I've
kicked my second slipper into the street
| and the first one over the folding bed!
What'll dol?
so don't know; don't bother me. Can't
you see Pm trying to get my lines2 Pll
SPEAK W ullu Inc SduCg ldShCy la
M Ladies, any one at home tonight
oh, yes; come in, Hamlet; come, in, Hanf,
old boyI' Deep contralto-' Hamlet, thou
| hast thy father much offended Tenor
Mother, you have my father much Of
Tended
"'Oh, this is awfulr said l to myself
why, the house is filled with raving,
crazy lunaticsn Just then the girl came
up the stairs with pitchers of icewater.
"'My good GIRL gasped, in Heavens
name, tell me what's the matter! What is
itp Who's crazy in this house? What's
the matter with the men|
"The girl grinned. Her name was Maria,,
and very pretty girl she was. Crazy
she said, mot a bit of it. Why, they're all
going on the stage
"sAll? Who?'
"'Why, those four young ladies and that
fair young man you saw at dinner
"'Which one2 The one with thin hairP
"'He? Oh, dear moi He's a sweet young
man. He has lots of friends on the stage
ladies, you know, and he goes every night
and takes 'em home after they come off.
Says he has to work pretty hard! Can't
take more than four home in a night Says
he has to work pretty hard to do that!
Never gets round to each one more than
once a week. Oh, we all love himl He
says he never means to go on the stage; he
knows it all by heart
EXPLANATIONS.
"'Well, who are the other young menp
""That nice fair one is minister's son.
He wanted to play Hamlet, but they told
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