Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-18
a MISER SEES SATAN.
THE DEVIL CAUGHT HIM STEALING
AN ACTORS FIREWOOD.
:Mfs Satanic Majesty Was Only Impcr-
ssnated, but the Hotel Keeper Thought
xt Was a Real vision-Milton Mobiles
Reforms Penurious Landlord.

Reforms a Penurious Landlord.
Milton Mobiles is a brilliant conversa-
tionalist and good story teller. Among
the many anecdotes credited to him, the
following experience which he relates
viii prove interesting reading:
In 1867, during my first year of the
Atrical life, was member of small
travelling "Black Crook" company, un-
der the management of the late Tom
Davey. We were playing small towns
I'm Wisconsin and Minnesota. One cold
January night found us in little town
In Wisconsin. where the theatre and ho-
tel were under one roof, and owned and
run by one man.
The man has been in recent years well
known to professionals, and there are
many stories extant of his peculiarities
He was very wealthy, but confirmed
miser. A stranger entering his hotel
would invariably pick him out as the
porter, and indeed he performed the
most menial offices, even to backing the
boots of his guests if asked to do so.
Yet he always kept good hotel. On
show" nights he cleaned out the dress
ing rooms and acted as janitor in gen
-.eral
From the second story of this hotel
there was hallway leading to the stage.
The actors were usually assigned to the
rooms along this hall, and would occa-
eionally use their rooms as dressing rooms
Mt night, q proceeding to which the old
man seriously objected. The old man
would watch the doors like cat, and as
soon as a room was vacated he would
let himself in with pass key, and if the
gas was left burning he would turn it
out. He would also gather every stick
of wood from the rooms and redeposit
them in the big box at the top of the
office stairs.
THE DEVIL.
was playing two or three characters
IN the piece, among others that of Zamiel.
My room was near the stage door, and |
could hear tine orchestra and so tell Just
how long l could safely remain in the
'Gnished my first character, and taking
vmy costume for the Devil went to my
room to make the change. The dress
vwas combination of flaming red, black
and green, tight fitting, with big bat
wings. The feet were long and pointed,
with clOven hOofs; there was close fitting
skull cap with two protruding horns. ]
made the face a flaming red, with large
pieces of green foil paper under the eyes.
There were large skull and cross
bones on my breast, with red foil paper
set in the eye sockets. The long scarlet
tail was forked at the end and illuminat-
ed with foil papers. AS 1 completed this
satanic toilet could hear the orchestra
playing the ballet music of the grotto
scene, so I knew that l should not be
wanted for at least twenty minutes. l
dropped two or three pieces of pine wood
on the open CRATE fire, and drawing a
big chair to one side of the CRATE seated
myself comfortably for short snooze,
placing my feet in another chair directly
in front of the CRATE, and hitching Ia
miel's forked tail gracefully over my
right shoulder.
Twas just dropping off when the door
was opened softly, and by reflection in
the mirror could see the old landlord
sneak into the room. His eagle eye
missed me. half hidden in the big chair
but lit on the single gas jet burning at
full head. He turned it off quickly and
moved toward the well filled woodbox;
he filed his arms full, leaving two or
three small pieces as blind, and turned.
This movement brought him face to face
with the apparition in the big chair.
The darkened room illuminated by the
glare from the burning pine added a
weird effect to the scene. The wood fell
4. from the nerveless arms, and his lower
jaw dropped to the point of dislocation
i remained motionless, staring at him
through my green foil eyes.
THE MIsER SCARED.
The old miser seemed to have grown
to the floor; he must have stood for
thirty seconds without breathing. Final
1y his breath came with gasp and
;gurg1e. With one hand gently shook
sEhat forked tail, the end of which was
standing on level with my head.
Raising my arm slowly leveled at him
the long red foil tipped finger. With
gasp he rushed for the door. As he
reached it stood erect, my back to the
fire, scratching my ear with the tip of
my tail. The old man gave one glance
over his shoulder, and, with an I'M
earthly scream, fell against the door,
and seemed trying to push it through;
but the door opened in. took one step
toward him, and he gave another screech
and tried to jump through the transom.
At that moment Tom Davey, my
roommate, pushed the door open and
the old man fell across the threshold.
He gathered himself quickly and flew
wildly into the hall. explained the
situation briefly to Davey Opening the
door he looked down to where the main
hallway intercepted the main hall. In
fit of wild extravagance the miser had
turned the gas full on and stood staring
in the direction of our door. The old
,1nan motioned to Tom and asked whether
he had seen anybody in the room. Tom
assured him that there was no one in the
room. what! Nothing at all?" "Noth-
ing at all, answered Tom. The old man
stared at him vacantly for moment
and then sneaked down to the office,
keeping one eye over his shoulder.
1t is said that for year or two after
ward he never entered an actors room to
turn down the gas or rob the woodbox;