The evening call., 1893-06-14
HE WAS NOT AN ACTOR,
But Ris Real Embarrassment was Take

But His Real Embarrassment Was Taken
by the Audience as Feisned.
For several days lank country boy
had been hanging about a Chicago
theater begging for a chance to prove
his ability as an actor.
my dear young man." said the
manager, when finally the young fell
low had been granted an interview.
u would advise you to go home and
dig the stumps out Of the lane There
are too many actors already, while
the stumpy lanes of the country have
been too much neglected. know
that you feel hurt, but think that
after awhile you will give me your
gratitude. Now don't tell me that
thousands of young men have thrown
| their hoes into the fence corner and
have fed to the city to become great.
L know all about that. You take
my advice and go home"
Your advice may be good" the
young fellow replied, .''but something
tells me that can act"
"But tell you that you can't"
"You haven't seen me try"
Just then the stage manager came
in andIsaid that Smedley was sick. |
Smedley had an unimportant part in |
the four-act comedy entitled ''Paint-
Ing the Lily" but it could not well be
cut out His only bit of work was
suddenly to enter the drawing-room
where brilliant company was gath.
ered together He was pumpkin,
visiting the city for the first time.
Upon entering the room he was to
show embarrassment and then prO-
ceed to permit the company to have
fun at his expense.
before the manager could reply this
persistent fellow spoke up
''Let me take Mr.. Smedley's 0lace."
he urged. II won't charge you any,
thing. | want to show you that Pm
an actor"
'All right" said the manager.
you howl for chance to cut your d
self and Igive you razor"
The time came. The young fell 5
ow, frightened out of his half-wits. /
Waited to be called. Now he felt Q
hat the manager had given him 4
tralght advice. His head swan q
le heard q roar from the mighty au- d
llence. He was summoned. He (
and almost fell when he "
topped upon the stage. He forgot o
lis few lines and in his red confusion, ID
asped like pig. The audience was q
1lld. The host made him take II
eat, and missing the chair he sat on ID
ne floor. The audience fell from one
cstatlc tit into another The pCor Il
elbow scrambled to his feet and fled tC
! loud and prolonged yell came from
ne audience. The poor fellow was nt
etermined, in the depths of his ol
jernal disgrace, to throw himself
IL into an alley and let a milk
agon run over him. The stage 49,
aEager seized him by the hand. ~ q,
''ETurn me loose" ~
My dear fellow, let me congratu- ga ga
tie you. You must come back and - ~
Nv to the audience. Listen, they TT rT1
e wild. You have proved your 80, =
MUS Come" col
He was dragged forward and he ~ ~
undered a bow. The audience o,i on
outed.r The young fellow ran away. Uol M
om the theater and went to his ~ ~
ardlng house. He wished that he ~: 80
Ight die before the newspapers came -; ;,oi
t. H.
1ne next morning his eyes bulged inn
Tn astonishment. The newspapers IT, To;
alSed him. They declared that he 49, 49,
q given the most natural and deli - Snl !
'uS testof acting ever seen on the ~
icago stage. He was unquestion- tptt 10Y
ly genius I'LL
tie went back to the theater that n, ~
sht The manager bowed pro- e,n'
lndly, 81 thought you were a mere ~ ~
vice" said he ''but you are an ~ ~
ist." tne
The young fellow was swollen with tLH pLH
de. IL was not at my best last thn thl'
ht, said he, "but tonight | will Can Une
Nv you something" eIie @
That night he waited as con- one
'rer might wait. He was full of vi. vi
Ihdence, and, when he was called. E4. "nu
smiled Then he stepped out and "a,1 -, =,
an TO act The house greeted him = en- ~
a applause, but soon fell into a. " IL
nee. He sat down as though he dr.
missed the chair and the gallery
seq. lie crept out Of the theater. A
the next morning the papers nal
"'Oeu Co YIN. ing
OF WA. - W.. 1,- Bav
olono1 proa sudt
Sbi,.o n,aSa - ,?rn cui i"oS' whose rlde The