The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

on reaching certain Vermont town that
the Zig was up" At noon he called his
companv together and explained TO them
the situation. He saict
Il have this much money on hand Tex
hibiting his CASH, and some Will come in
at tonight's performance. l will either dl-
vide it among you or keep it to buy tick
cts to New York on tie train that goes
through here at o o'clock this evening"
keep it for the tickets" was the unani-
nous reply But how can we give the
play and get away so earE?"
Leave that to me, he answered and
strolled out on the street.
In front of one Of the bi llboards he saw
a bow looking at the pici ured announce
ment that in the opera house" just north
of the depot. the celebrated tragedian, Oil
yer Doud Byron, would appear in one Of
his magnificent impersona lions.
"My little man." said the manager,
"would you like to go to the show tonightp
eyes, but amt got no stuff"
"And would you like to I've an actor"
"You bet"
"Well. I'm the boss of this company, and
II you'll take ne TO fish store I'll let you
into the performance and maybe hire you
So they went 10 the desired place, and the
schemer purchased a sturgeon weighing
about ten to twelve pounds. Then he told
the boy TO be promptly on hand at 1870 p.
m. At the appointed hour he took the lad
to a seat in the gallery near the stage,
handed him the fish and told him that
when a woman came down to the footlights
and cried out, where is me belu-v-v-edP
he should sling the fish at her and say
Rats"
The boy followed instructions TO the let
ter. When the fish dropped at the leading
ladv's feet she screamed and ran off the
stage. The curtain fell, and from behind
it appeared the star, still wearing the
make up" Of his part
"Nfy friends" he said, "for I trust you
are my friends D Notwithstanding this out
rage, l must protest against this insult Of
a most estimablr woman and excellent
artist" Then Le held up the sturgeon
and launched INFO long speech in defense
of the theatrical profession and .amenta-
ton that it was 20 often maltreated.
Now" concluded the star, we will
proceed wth the next act, in which there
is a great and realistic train scene"
BY this time everybody had got to the
depot. and the manager Was just able 10
get aboasd when the engine pulled out.
And that was the way Mr.. Byron's com
pany completed the tour of the New Eng
land circuit.
Another amusing incident is the story OF
Mr. punch" WheCler's farewell 10 the
south. lie was advance agent Of 40 10,
the Magic Queen" combination consist
ing mostly of females who had no objec-
tions TO wearing tights. Punch" billed a
town near Mobile one afternoon and then
absorbed little "moou shine" So also did
the billboard man. That evening they
went out and CHANGED to see magnificent
monument erected TO the memory OF Con-
federate soldiers who had fallen during
the civil war
Good place to put up the rest OF those
bills" said Punch"
Fright you are" responded his compan-
ion.
So they plastered the glorious marble
and bronze tribute 20 the gallant dead
with pictures Of inherently dressed young
women and announcements of the show
About 7 the next morning the night
clerk of the hotel awoke Mr.. Wheeler and
said: III was you. sab. would pay my
bill and disappear. Several gentlemen,
one of whom had q rope, were here looking
for YOU awhile ago, and told them, sab,
that you had not been in al night. 1t
seems that there is some indignation re-
garding the DETACHMENT of our monument,
sab"
So Punch" arose and fled. That after
noon the company arrived and was met at
the depot by delegation of prominent
citizens who had several ropes instead of
one. They had practically concluded TO
hang the whole troupe, but were talked
out of this by the eloquence of the low
comedian, who pledged his honor to kill
Wheeler on sight.
Just before the close of the last act
Charley Cook, the business manager, got
this telegram:
Been called north on important private busi-
ness. Get another agent. WHEELER
To- Collect.
FRFD C. DAYTON