Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-09
Written for The Evening Star.
BARN STORMINO,
Experiences OF . "Fly-by- Night" Company
With "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

Experiences OF = "Fly-by- Night" Company
With "Uncle Toms Cabin"
MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
A'A- 1t was my fate to be q member Of q "bend
OF stroliing players"-a company Of barn
stormers-doing the northwestern country in
the small towns way back from the railroads.
There were seven of as, two ladies and i've
gentlemen-permit the term-a1l necessarily
lightning change artists" Our repertoire
included Hidden Hand" ssTen Nights in .
Bar ROOM" THE French Spy (Ada Isaaos
Menkeu's great play), and last--alwnys last
"Uncle Toms Cabin" I my always last. We
never dared to produce this play except on the
iast night in town. With but seven people 10
do the more than twenty characters called for
by the cast, the reason why we played "Uncie
Tom as a tail-ender win be too obvious TO re-
quire explanation.
Our Lille Era was perhaps thirty-hve,
out small for her age" and she delivered tire
gushing lines in true baby style. dying at the
end OF the second act amid applause, toars, red
hre, tremolo music and show curtain. But she
was versatile-more SO than the .'Infant Pie
nomenon." She served as Efizd Harris, ANnt
Chtoe lbehind wing), Topsey and Cassie. and
the circumstances
The other lady did Mrs. Sinclair, Aunt Ophs-
ia, Emeline, q few odds and ends, and let down
the curtain II necessary.
FORTUNATE DEATHS.
Fortunately for the '.dy -by-night" parties Of
that time the characters of this play die of at
the end of each act to give place to new sss OF
characters ut the beginning Of the next aot 1t
gives the company chance to change their
wigs, take of a set of whiskers-in fact. make
up Tor the next part.
have played nearly avcrv Y,a Fl In fha pia u
(at different times) except Eod. One evening
the infant was 'indisposed-that's what they
called it-and it Was sought To press me In for
the little darling" But positively refused
unless some OF my long overdue back salary
was forthcoming. Even this stroke did not
bring the salary. The ghost had long since
ceased to walk with US and il could not be in
duced to appear on this occasion.
ADozEN ROLES FOR oNn MAX.
was expected to do about twelve Of the
characters, sometime1 including Aunt Ophelia,
the lady who did this part being in the habi. of
being ''indisposed.'
OF course we carried our own ''scsnery and
mechanical Effects which consisted priuci-
Paily OF scene intended to represent the Ohio
river In midwinter. This scene was light bino
IN color ana very uncertain streak divided
the water from the sky. We also had low
four-wheeled truck, with board nailed to one
side OF it and painted to represent cake of
ice. This was for Eisa Harris and her child
TO escape to Canada on.
When it camo to the end Of the piece and
Cncte Tom dies to slow music, red fire and an
allegory Of EUa in heaven, the audience in
many plaees was uncertain whether the drama
was ended or not There were at least seven.
teen acts in it. the curtain ha wing been lot down
many times, wholly for the purpose of giving
the Few surviving characters chance to change.
DUEL TO END ALL.
When the audience did not arrive and depart
at the end Of the play it usually fell to my lot
TO step in front of the green cloth cur thin and
make this announcement.
Ladies' and gentlemen: Owing to the fact
that all the characters of the drama have died
disappeared or been otherwise disposed OF
with the exception OF Gnnption Cute and
Marks, The LdWypy. We find it obviously i'm.
poss;bl: to carry the story on any further.
However, II it is desired. in order 70 carry out
the authors original design. the two living
characters will igat duel and the survivor
will commit suicide" IApplause.l The cur
tain IL again rung UP, the duel fought Cute
dies Marks cuts his throat with penknife,
lays down and dies. But, owing to the fact
that Uncle Tom is in the midst OF his washing
up, there is no one to let down the curtain.
Marks reyivcs. arises, lets down the green
cloth. slow music (is any and departure Of the
audience, perfectly ssstisfed-npparentiy.