Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1891-02-26
STORIES OF THE STAGE.
A Stranded Troupe and a Modern
Good Samaritan.

Don't you find it rather lonesome
here?"
30 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 a
small place one night, and after the
play was over the audience still re-
manned 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
MIR Harris was playing Cardinal
Woolsey and as he finished in the third
act had time 20 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
The late Cardinal stepped before the
curtain: Ladies' and gentlcmen-I am
sorry to inform you tho performance is
over. The play concluded with the
death of Queen Katharine. 10 you are
waiting for the funeral. that will not
take place until next week
- 1. -. -
after that. But tell me some of your
own experiences, you were on the stage.
were you nOt2-
"Yes-for one season
Then you must have . number OF
amusing "Reminiscences stored away in
your hat
The stage dOor-kceper shook his
head No; nothing Of humorous ma
ture took place that trip. We played
in too hard luck | tell you he went
on. earnestly. that was the harsles,
four months | ever experienced. and Is
we hadn't struck one man with a hear,
/ in his body | don't know what would
have become of u all
"who was he2 How did IL 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 nigh,
We thought would certainly bring Us q
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 a consultation
and decided to close aud 20 To Cincin-
matt on our trunks We could not paw
our board bill and the landlord of the
hotel threatened 10 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 20
back TO the hotel and wait until some.
thing turned up OF 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 infexible Unless w.
could pay him his money he would
hold our trunks. 4 run this hotel for
money, not as q charitable institution.
and ! don't want you people around
here any longer, he exclaimed.
At this moment a benevolent-Iook.
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
Well. you people are in hard luck
and I'm sorry for you. said the old gen
tleman- kindly, but let's see what can
be done
I'VE all fels grateful to him at once
He paused a moment to consider the
situation, then asked; Have you had
breakfast
NO. sir
The younger man had not per-
mitted US TO enter the dining-room tina,
morning.
Then all of you go in and eat. and
Charles turning to his SOM. let them
have the rooms they occupied las,
night
Charles started 10 make some obiec-
tons, but the kind-hearted old gentle
man stopped him.
m not going to see these people
turned into the street on this cold dav
there's women and children among EN-
and they stay here until tomorrow AZ
least
But father, the son persisted. they
won't De any better of tomorrow and
Wen have them on our hands
No matter. Besides, I'm going To
do something for EN- right away. Now
al OF you go in and get breakfast and
III be back shortly
He was gone for three hours and
when he came back he had a paper
signed by the mayor and a dozen of the
most influential citizens Of the town.
telling OF our position and asking the
people Of Richmond to give Us a benefit
Monday night
All the men whose names are ON
That paper, be explained, ARE not 90
NJ % do any tAsng tomorrow put sol