The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-11-25

life Not so; am writing not about come
dams in general, but about Newgag.
That he had come to SO exceptional a 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. tragedy"
had spoken innocently sincerely |
But Newgag thought I wa> .esting. In |
stead of his usual attempt 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, n manager
who il q friend of mine, was suddenly
plunged in distress because Of the serious
illness of an actor who was to I'LL part In
. new American comedy that the manager
was to produce on the next night.
"What on earth shall dor" he asked.
"Play the part yourself. ~ Hoyt does in
such an emergency-or get Newgag."
"Whose Newgag?"
Hes a friend Of mine out Of n position.
I met him today very much frayed."
Bring him to me-"
Newgag was overwhelmed when I told
him Of the opportunity.
| II never acted in straight comedy" no
said. II can't do it. l might rs we'll try to
play Juliet"
HE wants you only to speak the lines,
that's ALL You're quick study. you know.
Come onp
had almost to drag the man to the
manager. He allowed himself. in q semi
lstupefied 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.
nSc ho Wi IN or IN N.
ager and give up the part.
II can never do it" he walled to me. II
haven't had time to form u conception of 1t
and get up byplay. You zee. it's an eccen-
| trio character part-a man from the country
whom everybody takes for u fool, but who
shows up strongly at the last. | can'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 l can do" he said with = du-
bious shake of the head. III only I'd had
time to study it!'
American plays have taken foothold and
this premier of new one, by an author OF
two previous successes, drew Il typical
first night audience" Newgag, having
| abandoned ali 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 Il trifle frightened and his un
avoidable lack of prepared stage business
) made him awkward and embarrassed fol
a time The awkwardness remained, but
! the embarrassment eventually passed
away. He spoke in his natural voice and
t retained his actual manner. When the &C
ton required him to laugh, he did So ex
9 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
4 manager pushed him out from the wings
8 He came back looking distressed.
! Are they guying meS" he asked tn
: stage manager.
+ The papers agreed next day that one o
e the hits of the performance was made b,
Newgag lin an odd part which he had con
d ceived in a strikingly original way and i'm
= personated with wonderful finish and sub
e tie drollery."
a "What does it mean?" he gasped.
n enlightened him:
9 my boy, you simply played yourself
n Did it never occur to you that in your ow
d person you're unconsciously one Of tn
=. drollest men you ever SAW"
d "But didn't act!'
g. "You didn't. And take my advice
x don'tp'
~ Ana ne OOeS0'C upon INC EtputAClOu
his success in that comedy he arrange
ne with another manager to appear in pla
ID written especially for him. He is pro
lie porous star now. Whatever his play I
is part, he always presents the same perso
ne atty on the stage; and he has made thu
~ personality dear to many theater goer
" He does not appear too frequently or t.
vt long in any one place; hence he is warm
rs welcomed wherever and whenever he I
~ turns. He is classed among leading actor
rd and the ordinary person does not St.
up sufficiently long to observe that he IL !
ke actor at all.
es ''This isn't exactly art" he said to n
nd the other night, with tinge of self rebul
W. "but it's success!'
ne And the history of Newgag is the histo
De of many.-R. n. Stephens in Philadelph
Press.
e's MAnx HumOr.
'ss Even narrowmindetiness has it, hum'
lCi- rido ssHoSs nicQ oNOuuh ~ RRid