Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-02-25
HE WAS A TRAGEDIAN.

final repast Of slice OF cCrned bee1
and an olive, and thirstily watching
the concoction Of roseate study in
still life, when l first made his &C
Quaintance on a morning two years
ago.
He paid for his libation and its
more substantial accompaniment with
the last coin that he possessed, but he
did it with the air Of majesty which
characterized all his movements on
and off the stage.
He was presented to me as ''Mr.
Treadwell, the tragedian," which i'm
piled the compliment that he was
quite to well known to need any
further description. / will confess,
however, that / had never heard of
Mr. Tleadwell, the tragedian.
Mr.. Treadwell, the tragedian, was
sadly in need of a shave, and there
was a haggard look about his eyes
which bespoke hard lines Of fate.
A haircut would have altered his ap-
pearance greatly and would have
done him no material harm.
His long, fur-caped and fur-cuffed
overcoat was faded and threadbare,
and was kept close buttoned for the
reason, it may be supposed, that his
under coat was still less progressing
to the eye.
But Notwithstanding Mr.. Tread
wells seadV appearance and the fact
that he was almost a counterpart Of
many another stranded actor who
has haunted the Rialto in years
past, there was something about him
which impressed one favorably and
held the attention.
Behind that conventional guise of
back number ''tragedians" was an in
dividuality that indicated something
more than lost opportunity and "has
beenneSS"
"Genius is nothing without oppor-
tunity," said Napole0n-and Tread
well had been thus far without the
necessary opportunity to raise him
self to the heights which he felt en-
tirely competent to ATTAIN and
which he was modestly confident
that he should attain eventually.
For he was ambitious as few men
are. Ambition was the warp and
wool of his whole nature 1t was
honest, Legitimate ambition and it
was backed up by tenacity of pur-
pose that was somewhat remarkable,
considering the trials and tribulations
he had borne in the pursuit of his
aims.
Treadwell came to my Office one
afternoon looking more seedy than
usual, but graver, more austere and
more majestic.
81 have just been insulted," he said,
in suppressed tragic tones, as he sat
down in the easY-chaIr by the fire.
mo trouble, 1 hope" I said, by
way of encouraging him to continue
in explanation.
swell no; though l should have
preferred to have struck the dog
down. 1t was Conrad the manager
OF the Metropolitan Theater, where
a crowd of giggling fools are amused
nightly. You cannot imagine what
the despicable scoundrel said to me-
'Treadwell, he said, in that pat
ronlzing way Of his, you don't seem
to be playing in much luck of late.
Hang it, man. Slapping me on the
back with disgusting familiarity,
haven't you found out that tragedy
is dead and buried? You would
starve ten times over while you were
them that you were a
second Irving.
"The rattle-headed public wants
screaming farce-that's what it wants
That's what it's willing to shell out
its silver shekels for, and that's what
we must give if we want to live.
IS Now, I'll tell you what I'll do
I'll give you $50 a week to join my
Willy-Wally Company at the Metro
politan, and appear just as YOU are,
without one bit Of makeup. Your
duty will be togo on and act your nat
ural self Why, man, as the busted
tFagedian you would have the whole
town holding its sides You don't
appreciate what duce of guy you
are.
you mustn't even get shave,
you know. / want you just as you
are. You don't say no? There's a
good thing in it for you, old man, and
it's the only sensible thing to do"
stWhat did you say?" ] asked,
amused, but Disgusting the fact
Say" thundered TreadWelL with
a magnificent gesture. 81 told him to
20 and boil himself! was angered
as / never was before. wanted to
crush him to the earth.
tI may starve, sir; yes starve,' /
said, but / will not pollute myself
and desecrate my noble art by accept
ing such a diabolical proposition as
this OF yours You are a craven in
suffer, siri"
ssThe offer was very i'll advised" /
commented, shut perhaps he meant
well. You can afford to be charit-
able, Mr.. TreadwelL
/ soothed his ruffied feelings as best
] could, and presently he asked me