Evening star., 1896-09-26

and the other was as homely as a hedge
fence, and the third was as ugly as SIM
and whenever they all2 three walked out
together every clock in that place stopped
short. Their parents had christened them
Faith and Hope and Charity, but the boys
always called them Battle and Murder
and Sudden Death Now. don't you think
1t would help to bring out the point more
If the orchestra was to play Grandfather $
Clock very gently just as l say that every
clock In the place stopped short% What
do YOU think. That's my own idea!'
The dramatist said nothing for a sec
ond or two. and then told the actor to
consult the stage manager. who was just
returning to begin the rehearsal of the
third act.
The new scene had been set swiftly and
the furniture was already in place The
first of the actors to enter was the cadaver-
Gus and irritable Stark. He began glibly
and then broke out imDatiently, regardless
of the presence of the two authors: "Oh,
l can't get that line into my head! And
l don't know what 1t means. either! How
bish?''
AS before. nobody paid any attention TO
this petulance. and the actor went on with
his part without further comment.
Dresser then entered and the two men
proceeded to misunderstood each other In
the most elaborate fashion. The character
which Stark represented had reason to be-
lieve that the character that Dresser rep
resented was the uncle of the character
that Daisy Eostelle represented and was
also a soldier In like manner Dresser had
reason to believe that Stark was the lady's
| uncle and also sailor. They addressed
| each other. therefore. in sailor talk and In
soldier talk: and the fun waxed fast and
| furious At the height of the misunder-
standing Daisy Fostelle entered uneX-
| pectedly and found herself instantly i'm
| meshed in the humorous complication. with
no possibility of plausible explanation.
Once the stage manager reminded Dres'
| ser that he had omitted a phrase. You
| left out: 'Confound it. man! - he said.
IT know it," the actor explained. but
wanted to save 1t to use in my next speech
1t goes better there-you see IL II does not. "
| And Sherrington decided that "Confound
| 1T, man. was more effective In the later
| speech, so the transposition was authorized
to DresSer's SatiSfac ton.
The stage manager had this important
| scene of mutual misunderstanding between
Stark and Dresser and Daisy Fostelle re-
peated twice. until every word fell glibly
and every gesture seemed automatic. And
| so the rehearsal went to the end Sherring-
| ton applying the finishing touches. and
| seeming at last to be fairly well satisfied
| with the result of his labors.
The final lines of the comedy were OF
| course, to be delivered by the star; but
| when the cue was given to her. Miss Fos-
| telle simply said Tag" everybody being
aware that it is very unlucky to speak the
| last speech Of play at rehearsal-as un-
lucky as 1t is to put up an umbrella on the
stage. or to quote from Macbeth"
| THAT will do" said the stage manager
| II think 1t will be all right tomorrow
| night
And with that the rehearsal concluded
| and the company began to disperse.
| Il hope it is all right" Harry Bracket
| remarked to Carpenter, land / think it is
| But 1 shall have a great deal more conf
| dence after the man in the box office shake:
hands with me cordially. say, next Wednes
day or Thursday, and inquiries about m!
health. He'll know by that time whethe
we've got good thing mott"
Carpenter helped Miss Marvin to put OF
her light cape. Then, after her mother hat
| joined them, they said goodnight to tn,
| others and left the theater together.
| When they came out into the warn
night the street quieter than it hat
been when Carpenter entered the theater