Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-11-03
SAIIIE.


reading Of any part he undertook but
never seemed to create in his audience
enat intensity of attention, that .screepy
sensation up the back" which comes to
one when listening to an actor of great
talent or genius.
Tom was leading man at the old Ho,-
Dorm theater in London some fifteen
years ago. That was before It was
burned down and when it was devoted
10 the production Of sensational melo-
dramas. think it was then under the
management of Clarence Holt, but am
not sure of this.
| Tom played heroes. He was a fine
looking, handsome fellow, and when he
enacted the part of Jack Tar, and Just
as the Villain with capital v please)
was about to rush off with the sweet
heroine, weighing hundred and sixty
pounds, after having instructed his
band to carry off the treasure and muir
der the old "parients," Tom ALWAYS
was sure OF tremendous roar of an
plause from the gallery by rushing down
tne stage from some unexpected locality,
shouting: 'Never! finland the girl.
ruffianl Never shall it be said that a
British sailor deserted his ship or failed
TO rescue pretty girl in distress!" Then
ne would go for the villain and beat him
and his "dastardly crew" off the stage.
Tom Clarkson was married man
with one little daughter, poor, delicate
little thing OF six years, who worshiped
her father in way simply rivaled by
his own alteration. There could not be
many more completely attached families
than Tom Clarkson, his wife and little
Sallie 1t was positively beautiful to see
them sometimes when at rehearsal Tom
would bring little Sallie Ito keep her
out OF harms way" as he said, "while
the wife is doing the marketing" 1t was
a question which loved Sallie more, the
father or the mother, and it was pretty
to notice how the child endeavored to
share her favors equally between them.
80 sweet, too, were Sallie's ways and
80 amiable and loving was she. and SO
patient when all knew how she must
suffer at being unable to romp and plav
like other children, for her mind was as
bright as star, that every member of
the company down to the meanest super
and smallest stage hand was in love with
her and ready to go to the other end of
London, or England for that matter. for
the sake of "Mr. Clarkson's Sallie. i
"Our little Sallie" most of them called
her, for she seemed to belong to them
Two years ago, when in London, the
xHyoc fptA hxy,,
at the Adelphi, who had been member
OF the Holborn at the time Clarkson was
"in the lead"
"We were going to produce a new
play that night" he said, 'and Tom was
in high feather, for he had part which |
suited and pleased him and he thought
his chance had come at last. Something
else excited pleasurable feelings within
his breast. He had obtained couple of
dress circle tickets, and his wife and our
little Sallie were to be in front to see the |
first performance.
tom came down to the theater in |
great spirits. We all knew in very
short time what was the matter. He |
had all sorts of funnylike yarns to tell
about Sallie and her excitement and de.
light at the idea of coming to see father
act. He told us fellows in the dressing
room how she had put her little arms
around his neck and had insisted upon
giving him the last kiss before starting
him off to his work. That's for good
luck, father; don't you wipe that off
I'm coming to see you tonight; mind,
you make big hit. And Tom laughed
with delight as he initiated the baby
voice using the quaint theatrical slang
expressions.
1.-THE play was highly sensational
one, and Toms big voice and fine figure
had plenty Of opportunity to make CAPT.
tai for themselves. This was always
source of great fun in the theater, for
we knew Tom to be the most gentle
hearted fellow that ever breathed. As
the saying goes, he wouldn't have hurt
a fly. Why, he was tender and kind as
q woman, and a kinder nurse never
lived. was only playing walking on
parts at the time, but he had always a
kind word, a gentle suggestion of advice
for me, and had been to his little home
in Holloway several times He was like
q big elder brother to me. Little Sallie
used to call me her sweetheart.
tom was dressed quickly that even
ing and down ON the stage looking
through the peephole to see his darlings
arrive. 1t is not always SO very easy to
distinguish people in the front of the
house from the stage, though, and when
Jhe first act was called Tom had not yet
been able to find them. He knew they
we're there, though, and full of the feel
ng that he was acting for their delight
ne did his very best.
81 never saw him act so well before
The manager was heard to remark that
le didn't believe it was in him. We
'ellow actors knew all about it, though,
md when the applause came at the end
II the act, and Tom, nervous and ex-
;ited, stepped before the curtain, he and
We felt sure we could hear above all the
loise the clapping of a tiny pair of
lands in the dress circle, and little
,aby voice saving: Look. motherl
There's fatherl Isn't he beautiful. Oh
IN so happyr
by and by some of the rest Of the
company began looking through the
'eephole for Toms wife and child but
10 one could see them.
"Then as the play went on we noticed !.
hat Tom himself was getting anxious.
lie had not been able to find them either
nd no had begun to wonder why they
vere not there and what had become OF
hem. Still hope had not left him. He