The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-05
IN THE LAST ACT.
It Was Real Love That Won the
Applause.

Miss Raybourne's able managers were
discussing matters relating to the well
fare of their poclsetbooks. As the pros
perity Of their purses depended upon
the financial success of Miss Raybourne
and her company, she and the company
were under discussion. As Charles
Standard, Miss Raybourne's leading
man, just now threatened to affect their
pocl1etbooks in way that would cause
sleepless nights to the two able mana
gers. they were talking about him in
very earnest and business-like terms.
Hes been doing wretchedly of late, :"
said Mr.. Smile ''He hasn't the life
about him he had when we first picked
him up. In the love scenes with Miss
Raybourne he acts miserably. He's
lame in all the emotional pasts. In the
second scene where he meets Miss Ray
bourne for the first time after their
angry parting, he acts like schoolboy.
He seems to have no enthusiasm and
goes through the act just as if such oc-
currences made up his everyday lie
He deliberately throws away fine OPP
portunity for effective acting.
Then, in the last act. the closing
scene, where the lovers happily terni-
nate their troubles by becoming en-
gagged and kissing in the most approved
/ fashion, Standard acts like STICK.
He is awkward, stiff, clumsy, embar-
rassed-he seems afraid. He kisses
/ Miss Ray bourne like man would kiss
I his mother-in-law and puts his arms
around her as if she We're labeled
! handle with care or as if he thought
she would break. It's Giscouragiug
The critics have already picked him out
as a mark"
That is true" assented Mr.. Crisp,
slowly. He had discovered Standard, d
young student. full of ambition and, as
he thought, talent, and being always
eager to bring out eTnbryotic stars, he
had engaged him. Standards first
work had caught the public. He
worked with a freshness and energy
that was inspiring. He was quick tc
learn and for the first few months gave
Mr.. Crisp ample reason to congratulate
himself upon his new protege Mir
Crisp was slow to admit that STANDARD
was failure, but at last the truth be
came too evident. Standards worl
menaced the success of the play anC
the failure of the play meant loss L
Mr.. Crisp. His interest ia the youni
actor ended when the latter ceased Il
be successful. or no longer promised i
succeed. When he was thus brough
to view the matter from financia
standpoint he had 10 agree with Mr.
Smile. You are right, Smile: Stan
6ard is of, badly off. am disappoint
ed in him. He has not justified the ex
pectations his first work created.
thought there was something IN TIN
fellow: there must be something ii
him he did so well at first. hare neve
! seen more promising beginner. H
may improve.
NO; I've lost faith in him Fo
awhile ! thought like you. that h,
would get better, but all the time h
steadily grew worse"
Has Miss RaybourGe ever said any
thing?''
No; not word can't see why
for she never seemed 70 fancy Stanaar
treated him indiGereatly from til
start. She IS never backward IL kick
ing when the others do badly, and
don't understand why she hasn't give
Standard piece OF her mind
say. Smile. il can't be that Mis-