The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1894-01-18


sight" Never, even when Barnum ad-
vertised the place for Little Rock, had
Philadelphia been so extensively or
richly billed. The main street looked
like rainbow-a rather straight rain
bow-but still about the only thing Il
resefnbled. Darkness had now set in,
and the very tired agent sought his
couch.
At seven o'clock next morning he
was again ut work, as he still had q
dozen three-shects and four big stands
of paper in his possession and, as Il was
root hog or die In Arkadelphia with his
attraction, he determined to put Il all
up. by the issuing of two more comps
he secured one side of the leading drug
store-the side being built of clap
boards. very old and warped. No bill
poster was TO be had and the agent,
after much explanation, made n bar
gain with the one restaurant man OF the
town to make flour paste at the rate OF
two bits per pail payable in tickets nj
their full value. No suitable brush was
to be found and an old broom was
finally pressed into service. Next two
small boys were hired on a promise OF
ticket apiece and, mounting a step
ladder, the indefatigable agent bespat-
tered himself from head TO foot in put
ting up the paper. II was hard work.
and, before night, his back was nearly
broken. He had the doubtful honor.
however, OF being followed about by
nearly the entire colored population OF
the town, who gaped in admiring won
der at the gaudily.colored paper and
the agents ingenuity in utilizing the
old broom.
The paper up, the reserved scat sale
was arranged and the town ''dodgercd"
with small bills. This brought on
another night. The next morning was
passed by the agent in bed, as he was
almost paralyzed with WEAKNESS. Aris-
ing at noon he proceeded TO talk shop
the only method now left him to
further excite the populace. He talked
all afternoon, rapidly and necessarily,
to anyone and everyone who would
listen TO him, until at night, he
ran across the leader OF the town
band, with whom he made decker to
have the band play in front of the ope-
ra house in consideration of their be-
ing admitted free and one extra ticket
apiece. The following day at noon tho
company was due, and at eleven o'clock
the agent reached the depot, mile out of
town, and, seated in the midst Of will
derness of cotton bales, waited. by the
time the train was due his thoughtswere
suicidal, as, after mentally summing
up the company's expenses in the town
and comparing the sum with the prob
able business, he could see nothing but
overwhelming disaster for the doomed
players. On the other hand rose the
uncertainty Of their coming, Us he had
left them playing to very small houses
and the chances were that they could
not raise money enough TO leave Little
Rock. However, to his unspeakable
relief, the train finally pulled in with
two members of the organization sai
luting him through the windows. His
loleful misgivings were partly realized
when but eight members OF the com,
pany stepped off the train. They es,
planned that "0ur Boys" could be done
with eight people and, as n clincher,
they added that no more of the compa-
ny could have come anyway, as getting
the eight there had been pinch. Pro,
ceeding up to and striking the main
street the company were greeted by the
extensive and gaudy billing-the most
novel their eyes ever rested upon. Man
tell, Davenport, Barrett, Rose Coghlan.
Mccullough, calvin Joslin," J ulia Mar
lowe, Sothern, Annie Ward Tiffany
Seaman, Mary Anderson, 0'Neill,
Keene, Robson. Rhea, Sully, and host
Of others equally well known, stared
them In the face from every poin. OF
vantage-all TO appear in "Our Boys"
that evening The sale ut seven o'clock
amounted TO six dollars and half with
prices at fifty cents and one dollar,
Proceeding, after an carly supper TO
the temple Of last resort, the company
arranged the stage and assisted the
Pooh Bah Of the theater TO light up
This was simple affair, as foot-lights,
side-llGhts and all other lights consisted
OF tallow candles. The manager and
agent took their stand ut the head Of
the ancient stairway, and awaited the
public's pleasure, Two rickety chairs
and an old dry-goods box comprised the
box Office. The discordant footing Of
tho band without distracted any sad or
npprehensive thoughts they might have
entertained as TO the immediate future,
and at s:i5 p. IN. forty-four dollars had
accumulated - just about enough to
square all debts OF the agents contract
ing In the town outside OF board bills
and return trip to Little Rock. As they
were obliged to go ahead the manager
disappeared back upon the stage and
preceded the entertainment by appear
ing in front OF the curtain and diplo-
that twenty artists were billed and but
eight would appear After thoroughly
mystifying and muddling the audience
he retired, made up aud Our Boys
was presented,
Arriving nj the hotel after the per-
Torrance council OF war was held
Their total cash consisted of not quite
seven tollarG-this total being made up
from their 81 .'i.t poc!,ct changr ;ni The
few dollars remaining of the door re,
ccipts OF the night. They lad, after
breakfast next morning, when they
hoped to leave for Little Rock, an eight
dollar board bill TO meet. Then came
the difficulty OF railroad fares, Not
much, TO be sure, but they had II not
At this gloomy hour the agent, sudden
ly recovering from q brown study,
darted from the room and shortly re-
turned bringing with him the marshal,
to whom, in the presence Of the entire
company, he appealed in Il long and at
fecting speech relating to their pecu-
MARY standing,
The marshal never weakened until
the agent pathetically referred to the
ladies OF the company, three in numbers,
when he produced une-half OF the rent