The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-10-25
Actor YOun2'S Mistaken Act.

night James Young came before the
curtain and made complaint to the
audience OF certain grievances he had
against the manager Of the Hall. He
said that he had played under trying
disadvantages and difficulties, but had
done the best they could under the
circumstances \ lengthy bill of COM
plants was named among them the
fact that Miss Johnson had fallen at
the afternoon performance and severely
hurt herself, as a result of poor accom-
modations. The carpet used on the
stage having holes in it she had caught
her foot in one of them and been thrown
heavily to the floor. A number of
other items were named in which it
was alleged that the manager had failed
to comply with his contract. and then
the fact came out that the difference
between Mr.. Young and Mr.. Hart was
a matter of 800, which the former
was not willing to pay for certain ex-
penses as the manager alleged he had
the written contract of his agent bind
ing him to do. Mr.. Young declined
to make a settlement on this basis. He
wanted this amount put in with the
whole, 20 per cent. of the gross receipts
turned over to him and all expenses
incurred under this head assumed by
the manager of the Hall. TO this Mr..
Hart demurred. Mr.. Young said he
would stop the show unless this were
done. He appealed to the audience to
know what he must do-as if he did
not know what his duty was. His
s9use Of right and justice should have
prompted him to 90 on and conclude
the pertOrmance-tO give the audience
the full benefit of what they were
entitled to. They had paid their money
to see the show and whatever the
far as he had. he could not afford to
fail to keep faith with them They
were not responsible for any pecuniary
loss on his part the difference between
him and Mr.. Hart was a matter with
which they were wholly uncolcerned-
something they had nothing whatever
to do with, one way or the other and
regretful as they might be that Mr..
Ioung's reception was not more gener-
Gus and enthusiastic, so that the house
would be crowded las the performances
merited) and his coming here salts
factory and pofitable instead Of disap-
pointing and unremunerative, they had
shown their faith by their presence and
he should have done the same by his
works. When he appeared not to
know what his duty was by asking
what he should do, (having intimated
his purpose to stop the performance
some one in the audience remarked
that the quarrel between the manager
OF the company and the manager of the
Hall was something they had nothing
to do with. and if that was the end they
would retire and leave the gentlemen
to settle the matter between themselves,
whereupon the people with one accord
arose and departed. We much regret
this occurrence, because we had enter
tanned a very high opinion of Mr..
1Oung both as an actor and as a man.
And we believe if he had considered
the matter less hastily he would have
pursued different course. Indeed, we
understand he expressed regret later at
OF concluding the performance. He
can not afford either in Justice to him
self OF his audience to act as he did,
and we feel sure he will not do so
again. But we venture to offer him a
little advice, as one older than himself.
He has adopted as his motto-and a
beautiful and commendable one it is
this in JUNCTION of Owen Meredith
Have no half dealings. with thine
art And that he has earnestly and
conscientiously lived up to this is
shown by the high place he holds
among the leading actors Of his day.
Now let Mr.. Young adopt another
motto, perhaps less poetic but no less
essential to success to life: "Have
no half dealings with they patrons.
Mr.. Hart says in his own defense
that he was not to blame for the things
complained Of by Mr. Young. He did
the best he could with the property
and furnishings of the Hall at his COM
mand. He had the dressing rooms and
stage swept, but it is impossible to
make the bare floors absolutely clean.
He showed the carpet, called attention
to its dirty condition and holes in it,
and as it was all that belonged to the
house was told to it down, and did
so. And as for the gas lights going
out Mr.. Hart says the fault lies not
with him but in some defect about the
gas pipes or oil tank. He had man
to wind up the machine three times
during the performance but in spite of
this precaution the lights went out,
although there was plenty of oil and
gasoline in the tanks as shown next
day. While he admits there was cause
for complaint, by both Mr.. Young and
the audience, Mr.. Hart insists that he
did everything he could, and that the
owners of the Hall and not himself are
responsible for its not being better
equipped with stage furniture, fixtures,
&c. But it appears after all that the
500 in dispute was the bone of con-
tentlon. If Mr.. Young had played to
profitable business we doubt if any
kicking would have been heard by the
audience.