The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-24
A FAIR SUBSTITUTE.

heu 10 TWO discoveries one Ill support OF q
physical law, the other semiscientific. The
physical discovery, so to speak, was that
small mouse can effectually prevent the
passage Of q large human voice. How the
rodent came to make the speaking tube a
hiding place matters not. 1t had forced
Its way some 10 feet into the tube, and, as
Lord Dundreary would say, "The CONVEX
aation ended" The second discovery was
an accidental resultant of the useless con-
dition of the speaking tube.
Forbes Henley, the stage manager of the
Folly; Corbett Kenyon, themusical direct
or, and Kelley, the gasman and %electri-
clan, were laughing over the mishap to
the tube, and Henley remarked:
~ don't see, Kenyon, how you caught
the signals Il you didn't use the tube"
"That's the oldest thing of all" said
Kenyon, taking hold Of the electric light
which hung over the conductors music
rack. "This lamp did il. When | didn't
get the signal for the overture, / happened
to lean over by this light, and l heard a
small edition of your voice say, what the
deuce is the matter with the band? Why
don't they beginP' | didn't wait to ask
questions of myself, and as / couldn't ask
any of any one else through the tube | be
gan the music. Well, l found ont that by
listening at the electric light ] could hear
everything said on the stageat the prompt
entrance. l can't account for it, but it's
So"
"Ah," said Mr.. Kelley, breaking into
the conversation, 81 understand it all.
Tho alpptric wipaa aolipr fro,,, INV o1oot rio
and gas table to your light form an acct
dental telephone. 1t often happens. Why,
I've seen an ordinary gas pipe which would
lot you hear conversations held two or three
floors away-something like those whis-
pering galleries I've read about"
"Well, Kelley, l don't think Wen trust
to the accidental telephone. You'll patch
up the tube before night, won't your" said
Henley.
"All right, sir"
"And see that the opening to the tube is
kept shut hereafter, please"
"All right, sir, " again replied Kelley.
This conversation had been held after
one of the rehearsals of the new opera
which the Folly management was about
to produce. The members of the company
had departed some time ago and the stage
had been cleared" Up stage, however,
during the progress Of these discoveries
and the talk relating thereto, q young wo-
man had been modestly waiting. Kenyon
was the first to notice her and remarked
in an undertone to Mr.. Henley:
FORBES, | think there's some one wishes
to speak to you"
Henley turned and spoke up quickly
after recognizing the young lady:
Did you wish to see me, Miss Mar
riott?"
IF you please, sir" replied the young
lady, coming down stage hesitatingly.
"Have you been waiting ever since re-
hearsal? Why didn't you speak before?
Pm sorry to have kept you waiting, my
oear, " using the meaningless term of adj
dress in universal use upon the stage.
VI didn'tlike to interrupt you, she an
swered.
"Whnt can l do for your" asked Henley,
looking quite earnestly Mt her. And he
could have looked upon few p%rettier, more
Iadylike or more modest appearing dam
sells in the entire dramatic profession.
With evident embarrassment Miss Mar
riott answered her manager: Could you
and Mr.. Kenyon do me a great favor-a
favor to MY mother as well as myself?
Mother, as perhaps you know, sir, was
once well known as a singer. She's an in
valid now, and all the pleasure left her in
this world is music. I've told her about
the new opera, and she wishes she could
see the score for only one day. Then, too,
although Pm only in the chorus, 1 like to
run through all the operas we sing.
Mother helps me, and l somehow feel 1
can understand my own work better when
! know the whole opera"
do you mean to say you study the
whole of the operas we sing2" asked Ken
yon, here joining the conversation.
Yes, sir" replied Miss Marriott, turn
ing to Kenyon. 'Ive studied all we've
played so far"
There was a short silence before Henley
spoke, saying: "I'm sure | don't know
what to reply to your request. It's against
the rules, and"--
"Oh, bother the rulesl" interrupted
Kenyon. 1.-THE operas ours, isn't it2 By
Jove, such interest in her work by one of
the chorus deserves some recognition. Let
Miss Marriott have the extra score. Tll
trust her."
well" said Henley, with q frightened
face, "pm glad to dose if you're willing"
lie went away, and soon returning handed
the young lady n thick volume of manu-
script. "There, my dear, that's the piano
score. You'll be careful of it. | rely on
your not letting any one but your mother
and yourself see it. You can keep it till
after Sunday. We shan't reed it,"
'Oh, thank you SO muchl I'll keep it
sacredly. I'll promise no one shall hear
or see a note of it but mother andmyself.n
And with an uncommon look of thank.
fnlness-and something zorro divided
0ne-third to Kenyon, ~two-thirds to Hen
ley, she FASTENED away. Henley and Ken.
yon soon followed.
or all the provincial theaters in Great
Britain the Folly of shire was perhaps
the most successful. All the London pro-
ductions had found a quick reproduction
here, and unvarying prosperity had attend
every venture. The company had be-
localized, so to speak, and was a unit
diligent and admirably constructed
Continued success had made the
management bold, and now n distinctly
daring attempt was on the boards-name-
ly, an entirely new and original opera.
THE Wayside Inn" was in rehearsal for
early production. Furthermore, the au-
thor of the book Of the opera was Forbes
the composer of the music was
Corbett Kenyon, stage manager and mu-
steal director Of the Folly respectively.
these two gentlemen, both young
and energetic. were douhly Interested in
Tie coming event. Everything thus far
had tended toward thoroughly good pro-
duction. The entire company-principals,
chorus, band-all acted as il they had,
each member, n personal interest in the
welfare of the new work. All-with the
inevitable one exception. That exception
was the prima donna of the Folly compa-
ny, Rose Blanville. Now, It must be con-
fessed that Miss Blanville was good sing
er, a clever actress and, moreover, n great
favorite with the patrons of the Folly.
Butch, how those three letters do inter
fere with the even current of life's affairsl
she was not a true artist Mt henri. She