Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-02-10
Those Ercellenf Acoustic Properties.

Those ErceiIenf Acoustic Properties.
Among the good stories that are drift
ing up and down the Rialto there is one
of an impecunious star who recently came
back 10 New York "to reorganize."-
While playing week stand in the South
shortly before his return to upper Broad
way, sundry tradespeople to whom he
was indebted for varying sums conceived
the idea that he intended to execute pa
cfc slope and leave them nothing but a
tender memory. In this belief they
swore out warrants charging him with
the same, and two gallus constables went
TO the lheater TO apprehend the star
I hey found him alone upon the stage
waiting for his company to turn up for a
rehearsal, and with smile of triumph
they gathered him in. He sat down at
the prompier's table to write notice in
forming the players that the rehearsal
was off. and a conversation sprang up.
ats nice theater you've got here"
remarked the Thespian to the men Of
law, zone of the finest have ever played
in"
"The acoustics are simply marvellous"
"What are them 2"
Hearing properties. You have only
to speak in whisper on this stage TO be
heard all over the house"
"Sho'; is that hones'y'
"Tll prove it. Now you stand here at
the footlights, and III go up here, almost
to the back wall I'm only speaking in
a whisper, but you hear me plainly, don't
you?'
"Yes, sah."
"Now I'm standing against the wall.
Do you hear me now?"
ayes, sah."
"Quite plainly p
"PuHed'ly?"
"Then good morning.
There was flash of actor and
bang from the stage door, They never
caught him. After valnly endeavoring
TO give one Of the two remaining perform
ances without their star, the company
followed him home on their trunks
Commercial Adrertser
The love between Robert Browning
and his wife was ideal, in the true sense
of that much abused word. And her
death after few short years Of married
life, left the poet inconsolable. To him
she remained always the dearest and
most lovely of created beings, and her
gifts seemed to him far greater than his
own.
was travelling in Italy. There were
few travellers in my compartment, and
all were absorbed in book of revery, until
the close Of the long, tiresome day. Then
it was that the elderly gentleman who
had sat by my side without moving his
eyes from the landscape, made a COM
ment that invited conversation.
"You are fond Of poetryy' he asked,
when something in the shifting splendor
of the Italian skies evoked from me
Byron coupIel. ooh, yes" ] responded,
Il love poets and poetry"
The old gentleman grew young and
never shall | forget the wonderful
thought and imagery that flowed in a
continued stream from his lips. "Who
are your favorile poets % he asked abb
rupily, named them, and without fur.
ther comment quoted my favoriie poem,
one of Mrs. Brownings When | had
finished my companion resumed his post
by the window and did not deign to no.
tice me again. was much discounted.
Had / given him ofense? Later on ]
ventured to say 81 suspect, sir, you do
not like Mrs Brownings poetry?"
The dark eyes Of the stranger turned
pitifuIly upon me, and he said :-"Mad'
dam, that sonnet il the sweetest and its
singer the most precious gift life has Civ
en- me. She was my wife"
The late Thomas II. Benton who was
so long in public life and surrounded by
temptations, paid the following tribute to
his mother:
"My mother asked me never TO use any
tobacco, and have never touched it
from that time to the present day she
asked me not to game, and / have not,
and / cannot tell who is winning or who
is losing in games that can be played
She admonished me, too, against hard
drinking, and whatever capacity for en-
durance ! may have at present and what
ever usefulness / may attain in life, at
tribute to having complied with her
Dious and correct wishes. When j was