Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-06
REALISTIC ACTING.
AN AMUSING EXPERIENCE OF ONE
THEATRICAL COMPANY.
Miners Who Took Vital Interest in
All Parts of the PLAYA housing Re-
ception Given a Travelling Company in
the Early Days of Gold Mining.


the Early Days of Gold Mining.
Four years ago was member of
company travelling through the small
towns of the far west, when our advance
agent, passing a large mining camp en-
route to some distant town, stopped over
for few hours and happened to "tell
flattcring tale' regarding the merits of
the company he represented.
Bring 'em here and let 'em play fur
us fur n week. suggested one of the min
ers, acting on happy inspiration. And
all his companions "chipped in" warming
to enthusiasm over the idea.
why, you haven't any accommodation
for them,'' objected the agent. you've
no theater, no place for them to live"
Never you mind that, stranger said
the man of inspiration. "We'll rig up a
theater an hotel without turning hair.
You just trot your people out an We'll give
'em n guarantee of $50 night, won't we,
boyss''
1.-TWO hundrcd.' shouted another en-
thusiast.
Done at $780, I'll engage to have MY
people here for week at that rate"
Got any real women in yer show? No
men masquerade girls?" asked some
body anXously. And when the camp was
officially informed that there were three
young and pretty women in the company
the enthusiasm knew no bounds. None or
the boys had even seen a woman for
many n month, some of them not for years.
1t was Monday afternoon when we ar
rived on the outskirts of the camp, set
down, as it was, among the Businesses of
the Rocky mountains, and we were to
open that night in the comedy drama of
"M'liss" we had little enough time for
resting after our tiresome journey. And
we We're so weary, SO travel stained and
discouraged! But our welcome went far
toward restoring us. Outside the camp
we were met by "a deputation with cheers
and acclamations, which we women were
informed We're intended in honor of us.
The men crowded about as we dismounted,
and fought among each other for the high
privilege of helping us to descend.
Reckon We must be powerful tuckered
OUT said big southerner respectfully
to me- Say, won't ye hev drop o some
thin, NUM-" handing me his flask. He
was evidently much hurt at my refusal,
and l was obliged to explain my reasons in
/ the most delicate manner.
Our stage consisted of rough planks laid
| upon the ground. Frames were erected
around three sides of this primitive plat
| form for the purpose of sketching the
necessary scenery. Pieces of canvas sewn
| together formed a species of curtain, and
we needed no SKY borders" as our sole
roof was the dark, star gemmed heavens.
| The stage was fianked by a row of tin
J pans filled with tallow in which a wick
was inserted, and behold we had foot
! lights warranted to burn throughout the
! evenings performance. On each side of
| the 'theater" was a tent, one for the ladies
! and one for the gentlemen, and these were
| intended not only as our dressing rooms,
but our bedchambers, dining and drawing
rooms as well during our weeks sojourn
/ in the wilderness. Our audience found
seats upon the ground and quarreled for
| those nearest the stage, while woe be unto
any misguided man who attempted to OBJ
tain more than his share of enjoyment by
! elevating himself above the heads of his
| fellowsi
| AS l said. our first nights entertain
| ment was ''M'liss." The piece (Which
well suited the audience, who We're capa-
| BILE OF judging its merits and dement's for
what they were WORTHY went splendidly
until the scene where the Mexican ap-
proaches stealthily behind the heroine to
abduct her. The villain was particu-
| larly inoffensive youth, greatly beloved by
| every member of the company. But his
| make up' was wicked in the extreme
his complexion made swarthy, his black
| wig wrapped in gaudy handkerchief I'M
der his soft hat, rings in his ears, grew
| some mustache obscuring his lips, and
| full Mexican costume adding to his san
| culinary appearance.
Our one musician played william mu-
sic'' pink, PUNK, plinkD on his violin as
this appalling apparition tiptoed toward
| the unsuspecting Miss, and in another
| moment the naiden's head would have
| been enveloped in a scarf, preparatory to
| bearing her struggling form away, when a
| startling interruption delayed the commits
| sion of the crime. Up in front of the stage
opening sprang burly miner. fire in his
| eye and pistol loaded and cooked in his
| hand.
| IL, 1.~rr
| of a greaser, an you'll go to kingdom
comep' he shouted in stentorian tones,
which we all instinctively felt meant
| business
Needless to say the Mexican abandoned
his base project at once and went in an op-
| posite direction without standing on the
order of his going"
Its only in the playr' he endeavored to
explain, but without avail.
| "Play or no play, durn me eff I'll set still
an see an Urinary skunk like you lay your
hands on a womanr' was the ominous
reply.
And we realized that the entire camp
stood ready to back up Miss defender.
/ Then Miss herself came to the rescue
Taking the Mexican by the hand she led
him down to the sputtering footlights
| This is a very good friend of mine in
private life she said.
Il st is only on the stage that he treats me
badly, and then it is but the business of
the play, which calls for it. / cannot go on
with my part unless you allow him to do
his, which am sure you will, when 1 tell
you that desire it,
A rousing cheer answered her impromptu
speech and the mutinous miner put his
pistol reluctantly in it's place. "Ef We say
re want the cuss to git ye he can hev ye."
he grumbled ''but you jest say the word,
an I'll blow him as high as the sky"
i After this rather exciting little incident
the play was allowed to proceed without
interruption, although, it is hardly neces-
IL. ID folf