San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-15

ana that Newgag's ADMISSION Is raise 10
life. Not so; am writing not about come
dams in general, but about Newgag.
That he had come to so exceptional con-
cession marked the depth of his despair. /
tried to cheer him.
Nonsense, my boyl They give you bad
parts. Go out of comic opera. Try tragedy
had spoken innocently and sincerely.
But Newgag thought l was testing In
stead of his usual atu4Rnpt at lofty callous-
ness, however, he smiled that dismal mar
ionette like smile of his. That gave me an
idea, of which said nothing at the time.
Several months afterward. manager
who is q friend of mine, was suddenly
plunged in distress because of the serious
illness of an actor who was to fill a part in
q new American comedy that the manager
was to produce on the next night.
"What on earth shall dor" he asked.
"Play the part yourself, as Hoyt does in
such an emergency-or get Newgag."
"Whose Newgag'"
"He's a friend of mine out of position.
I met him today very much frayed."
"Bring him to me-"
Newgag was overwhelmed when I told
him of the opportunity.
i utNcT ftCbCu III CohuCtys no
said 81 can't doit. l might as well try to
play Juliet"
"He wants you only to speak the lines,
that's all. You're a quick study, you know.
Come on"
l had almost to drag the man to the
manager. He allowed himself, in a semi
stupefied condition, to be engaged. He took
the part sat up all night in his boarding
house room and learned it, went to rehear-
sal almost letter perfect in the morning,
and nervously prepared to face the ordeal
Of the evening.
At 6 o'clock he wished to go to the man.
ager and give up the part.
81 can never do it" he walled to me. 81
haven't had time to form a conception of it
and get up byplay. You see, it's an eccen-
trio character part-a man from the country
whom everybody takes for fool, but who
shows up strongly at the last. Ican't'-
"Oh don't act it. You're only engaged
in the emergency, you know. Simply go
on and say your lines and come off,"
"That's all I can do" he said with du-
bious shake of the head. IF only I'd had
time to study it!''
American plays have taken foothold and
this premier of a new one, by an author Of
two previous successes, drew a typical
first night audience" Newgag. having
abandoned all idea of making hit or Of
acting the part any further than the mere
delivery of the speeches went, was no longer
inordinately nervous When he first en-
tered he was trifie frightened and his I'M
avoidable lack of prepared stage business
made him awkward and embarrassed for
time. The awkwardness remained, but
the embarrassment eventually passed
away. He spoke in his natural voice and
retained his actual manner. When the ac-
ton required him to laugh, he did So ex-
hibiting his characteristic perfunctory
smile
He received special call before the cur
tain after the third act. He had no thought
that it was meant for him until the stage
manager pushed him out from the wings.
He came back looking distressed.
"Are they guying me?" he asked the
stage manager.
The papers agreed next day that one of
the hits of the performance was made by
Newgag 'in an odd part which he had con-
ceived in strikingly original way and inn
personated with wonderful finish and sub
tie drollery."
"What does it mean?" he gasped.
enlightened him: -
MY boy, you simply played yourself.
Did it never occur to you that in your own
person you're unconsciously one of the
drollest men you ever saw"
But didn't actP'
you didn't. And take my advice
| don'tr'
And he doesn't. Upon the reputation OF
his success in that comedy he arranged
with another manager to appear in a play
written especially for him. He is a pros.
porous star now. Whatever his play OF
part, he always presents the same person
| atty on the stage; and he has made that
| personality dear to many theater goers.
He does not appear too frequently or too
long in any one place; hence he is warmly
welcomed wherever and whenever he re-
turns. He is classed among leading actors;
| and the ordinary person does not stop
sufficiently long to observe that he is no
actor at all.
"This isn't exactly art" he said to me
the other night, with a tinge fself rebuke,
"but it's successl'
And the history of Newgag is the history
of many.-R. N. Stephens in Philadelphia
Press.