Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-02-26
STORIES OF THE STAGE.
A Stranded Troupe and a Modern
Good Samaritan.

Don't you find it rather lonesome
here?"
80 nor answered the stage door
keeper. "Some of the actors generally
come back here to smoke their pipes
and chat"
''You must hear them tell some anus
ing experiences of stage life"
"Any 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
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.
"NIr. 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
1.-THE late Cardinal stepped before the
curtain: Ladies and gentlemen-I 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
TN warrant he made quick exit
after that But tell me some of your
own experiences, you were on the stage,
were you not?"
"Yes-for one season"
""Then you must have a number of
amusing "reminiscences stored away in
your hat"
The stage door-keeper shook his
head. mo; nothing of humorous ma
ture took place that trip. We played
in too hard luck. I tell you," he went
on, earnestly, that was the hardest
four months l ever experienced, and is
we hadn't struck one man with a heart
in his body don't know what would
have become of us all"
"Who was he? How did it happen?"
at 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
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
and decided to close and go to Cincin-
natl on our trunks. We could not pay
our board bill and the landlord of the
hotel 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 effectually prevented our
leaving town.
"There was nothing to do but go
back to the hotel and wait until some
thing turned up or the landlord turned
us out. Back we went, and the man
ager tried to argue the matter with the
proprietor, while the rest of US gathered
around the stove in the Office. The
landlord was inhexible. Unless we
could pay him his money he would
hold our trunks. I run this hotel for
money, not as charitable institution,
and don't want you people around
here any longer he exclaimed.
cat this moment a benevolent-look-
ing old gentleman with long white
whiskers entered the office. He was
the landlords father and part owner Of
the hotel.
"'What's the trouble?' he asked.
His son explained.
"'Wel, you people are in hard luck
and Pm sorry for you said the old gen
tleman, kindly, but let's see what can
be DONE ..-
1--WE all felt grateful to him at once.
Pc paused a moment to consider the
situation, then asked: Have you had
breakfast9' .- E-t g
"'No, sir
1.-THE younger man had not per
mitted us to enter the dining-room that
morning.
''Then all of you go in and eat, and
Charles turning to his, sony, let them
= A6NC Inc EOOu1S AACl OSSOPAC0 AoSt
night ...-......
Charles started to make some objec-
tons, but the kind-hearted old gentle
man stopped him.
"T'm not going to see. these people
turned into the street on this cold day,
there's women and children among 'em
and they stay here until tomorrow ss
least
"But father, the son persisted, they
wont be any better of tomorrow and
wen have them on our hands
/" No matterl Besides, I'm going to
do something for 'em right away. Now
all Of you go in and get breakfast and
| I'll be back shortly
HE was gone for three hours and
when he came back he had a paper
signed by the mayor and 3 dozen Of the
| most influential CITIZENS OF the town.
telling of our position and asking the
people Of Richmond TO give us benefi
Monday night
"sAu the men whose names are on
that paper, he explained, 'ars n0t g