The herald., 1894-10-16

and probabilities OF the coming event
A few claimed to have, at some previous
time in some place or other, witnessed
the performances of one or more of the
great players who would appear that
night, and perceiving that the fact
marked them with distinction. they were
soon induced to give mp all other labor
for the day and devote themselves to the
task Of scquainting others, less FORUM
ate than they, with the great delights
in etore for them that night.
Among the fret to arrive at the hall
was Elder Peabody, accompanied by
Mrs. Peabody and the six children. The
elder was a good man, but liberal in his
views, and while he did not care for
such worldly things himself, he liked to
see the children amused. Soon after
the elder arrived Deacon Fitch came in,
with Mrs. Fitch and the Fitch children,
! five in number. The deacon was also q
great man for seeing that the children
enjoyed themselves. The Widow Med
10y and her three boys came early, and
90 did Mr.. and Mrs. Todd and the
OF people was flowing in through the
doors until the hail Was filled to over
| flowing.
l.
resist certain feeling of pride at the
great outpouring of the Jaytown popu-
| lace. The intellectual wart who edited,
or rather played at editing, the vile rag
| across the street from me had refused to
have anything to do with the chow, and
had not even announced its coming in
his sheet, 30 it was apparent that the
advertising done in my paper had
brought the crowd. l resolved TO write
an editorial to that effect for my next
Issue.
The advance agent collected the
money at the door. A great many, es-
pecislly the ladies, actually pitied the
poor fellow. who was working 40 hard to
make the show a great success. When
the tide of humanity had ceased to flow
inward. because there were no more
people in Jaytown to come, the adj
vance agent closed the door and made
his way behind the curtain stretched
across the front OF the stage in the rear
OF the hall, all put up for the occasion.
Now all was eager expectation Every
person in the audience sst up erect and
gazed fxedly at the curtain, expecting
to see it Withdrawn and the play begin.
Bat there was q vexatiouH delay; wait
of 30 long a time that some were in
clined to lose their patience, notwith-
standing the great treat now 80 soon to
come after they had anticipated it 80
long.
After while, seeing that the curtain
did not stir. Blakeslee. the hardware
dealer, and a leading spirit OF the COM
munity, left his seat and went over to
confer with Flint, the banker, a man
whose opinion was always sought on
great occasions. This afforded the
audience some diversion at least, and
Billings, the proprietor of the hotel,
helped it by joining them.
Presently the three left their seata
together and hesitstingly proceeded
down the LETT aisle and around behind
the curtain. The audience accepted this
move as on indication that the trio had
taken it upon themselves to investigate
the cause OF the unwarranted delay, in
the interest Of all concerned, and such
was really the fact.
Once more a great silence fell upon
the assemblage, while every eye was
fixed upon the curtain.
Suddenly low murmur ran through
the hall. The curtain had stirred. 1t
moved with a jerk a few inches at one
eide and then stopped. Then it moved
little further, and again it stopped.
All at once something gave way about
the fastenings above and the whole
( thing fell in heap and revealed-Flint,
the banker.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he began.
SIT becomes my painful duty-that ie, l
we, should say all of us are sold
That interruptions rascal is gone. and
-" here his voice was drowned in the
din.
Elder Peabody preached a powerful
sermon the following Sabbath upon the
evil OF playgoing, which was listened
to by very large and attentive audi
ence.
There have been days aince that time
when have doubted If Joseph Jefferson
could have come to Jaytown after that
and played to an audience large enough
to pay for the wear and tear OF his false
whiskers.
Even now I could furnish the address
OF a party who has a bill of $40 against
the New York Specially company which
he would gladly swap for toothbrush
in Uond ordar