Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-09-29
HIS LAST ROLE.
Story of the Rise and Fall Of an
Actor.

The curtain had already been raised
three times and still the applause was
prolonged. They were compelled to
raise it again. DARTMOUTH, his left
hand pressed against his heart, his
right holding several gilt laurel crowns,
bowed, while his eyes filled with tears.
The braves increased to storm; he
wanted to say something to express his
thanks to the public, but the old come
dian could only open his lips and utter
mumbling sound. He was overcome;
his emotions were too deep to clothe in
words. e.~
Games beat on the floor with furious
noise. The entire theater shook with
the sound. Again and again did the
ushers pass up to the stage paper palm
branches bearing ribbons on which the
principal roles of the actor were
printed. Meanwhile as Darzincourt
stood in the midst of the company that
had supported him the stage manager
left the group and embraced him in the
name of the crowd. At the same time
he placed one of the crowns on his
head. The crown, far too large, slipped
down to his shoulders, but what of
| that?--the scene was beautiful.
1t was on this tableau and amid fresh
and furious applause that the curtain
descended, leaving Darzincourt to take
off his crown and receive the felicita-
| tions of his comrades.
Never before in that provincial city
had a similar manifestation been made
over retiring actor, and as he was to
leave the stage permanently there was
no jealousy among his fellows. So he
retired to the Cafe de la Coincide, where
n second ovation awaited him, and the
fragrant smoke from the punch bowls
on the marble tables received the en-
thusiasm of those Who pressed for
ward to do him honor. And there
were toasts without number, you may
be sure.
The old habtues of the theater re-
preached him for leaving them so soon.
"Why, if one pleases the public, one is
always young"
| And he, rubbing his chin, that had
been shaved for more than half CEN
fury, was obliged to defend his retire
ment. His hair was~ white, he was
too rheumatic to kneel gracefully in the
love scenes. Resides, he made his
mark, his life had been passed on the
boards, Well, he needed repose. He
wanted to see the real country instead
of faded canvas. He had dreamed of a
little farm-a little garden where he
could smoke his pipe in peace to the
end of his days. 1t was time to think
of himself; he had given enough of his
life to the public. And it was amusing
to hear him speak of his farming prof
Gets, seated there in the costume of
Louis XIV, with the makeup" still on
his face, which in the heat of the cafe
glistened in oily lines.
At last the manager, with his majes-
tic gravity, and also moved by the
libations he had taken during that af-
fecting evening, declared that there
was no telling what the future might
bring forth. Who could say that Darz-
incourt would not come back some
day? But the latter shook his head.
No his decision had been made; he
wanted now to enjoy the luxury of do
ing nothing,
Two days afterward Darzincourt, in
stalled in his little house, his head GOV.
cred with large straw hat, wearing
linen suit and wooden shoes, began
to water his flowers in the midst of g
broiling sun, while chatting with the
little servant maid.
but You ought to wait till evening, y
she said. "They will perish.
BAH" he smiled. Flowers are like
women. You can't show them toe
much attention"
From that time a delicious life begar
for him in the peace of his rustic home
He thought with horror of the rehears
ais of other days, of the constan
changing of costumes and parts to b.
learned and shivered at the remem
| brance of those scenes which called foi
nervous action. A year of peacefl
pleasure followed. He was very'happy
and why not? he kept asking himsel
again and again--so often, in fact
that he began todoubt if he felt so sin
! cerely.
/ This happiness at the bottom wa
nonotonous. Yet he was not willing
TO acknowledge that ennui had crep
into that pretty little house which h
had longed for so much, and the NOR
he assured himself that he needed
nothing the more he saw that the day
that dragged by were abominabiy vol,
and dull
To-day, seated in an arbor taking hi
coffee, he allowed his pipe to go out a
he read over some old plays, occasion
, ally pausing to exclaim as be came t.
some familiar role: "Ah, / was grea
in that" And the old memories of tn
: past that he thought were buried cam
to the present and sang a siren song il
his ears All, the music of applause
, the shouts and braves that set tn
lights trembling after an impassione
: speechI And the little servant coming
? TO remove the dishes surprised hir
|. standing there flushed of face his hal
blowing in the breeze, apcstrophizinI
a an imaginary parsonage
D "Ah, monsieur lie comte-at last W
] are face to facet"
!. "A count herel Where is this conn
/. of yours?'
n And the girl laughed till the tear
s ran down her checks.
Q oh, these old habits that we ca
never lay aside! One fine day Darziu
court was forced to acknowledge tina
+ he regretted the theater Well, yes
I why not? One cannot live on tn
d boards with IMMUNITY and not suffe
from nostalgia He subscribed to tn
. I \ :.