The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-04-10
STORIES OF THE STAGE.
A Stranded Troupe and a Modern
Good Samaritan


Good Samaritan
Don't you find it rather lonesome
here?"
20 no." 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
CushInan's version it ends with the
death of Katharine, that scene closing
the fourth act.
Mr.. Harris was playing Cardinal
WoolScy 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 lcav-
ing, Miss Cushman called TO him:
- Mr.. Harris, You must go ont and
make an announcements: the audience
SlO IloI tAit - IliiShttA
THE late Cardinal stepped before the
curtain: Ladies' and gentlemen am
sorry to inform you the performance is
over. The play concluded with the
death of Queen Katharine II you are
waiting for the funeral. that will not
take place until next week "
''I'll warrant nc made q quick exit
after that. But tell me some of your
own experiences, you were on the stage,
Were you note
'Hes-for one season
''Then you must have a number Of
amusing "Reminiscences stored away in
your hat"
The stage door-keeper 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 hardest
four months / ever experienced, and is
we hadn't struck one man with heart
in his body | don't know what would
have become of Us all.
"Who was ne? How did il happen?"
1T was down IL 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 ,Tould certainly bring us a
big house. l,-t it didn't There was n
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 Il consultation
and decided TO close and go to Cincin-
natl on our trunks. We could not paw
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 n
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 infiexible. Unless we
could pay him his money he would
hold our trunks. Il run this hotel for
money, not as charitable institution,
and 1 don't want you people around
here any longer he exclaimed.
AT this moment a benevolent-look-
ing old gentleman with long white
whislers entered the office. He was
the landlords father and part owner ot
the hotel
Whats 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 car
be done
1--WE all felt 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, anC
Charles turning to his SOM, let then
have the rooms they occupied las
night
Charles started to make some objec
tions, but the kind-hearted old gentle
man stopped him.
I'm not going to see these peopl,
turned into the street on this cold day
there's women and children among ZEN
and they stay here until tomorrow a
least
but father, the son persisted, the,
wont be any better off tomorrow and
we1l have them on our hands,
NO matter! Besides, I'm going to
do something for 'em right away. Now
all 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 dozen of the
most Influential citizens of the town,
telling of our position and asking the