The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-22
1.-THE SUPER. :"

Channing was a simple, serious, mis-
taken young man, yFhe had come to New
York to learn to act and subsequently to
go on the stage When man is so I'M
sophistieated as to think that acting can
really be taught, there is small chance of
him ever getting upon the stage, except
as ssupe'' This was how Claiming
got on and went out every night at 2 30
to make the Same remark and go on, ieIt,
by the same pasteboard door and come back
again to wonder when he wonld really do
something greater.
Charming had always been cast for old
mems parts at the school of acting, and he
played them Observation-Disclosures con-
scieutiously than necessity required, Tor
nature had partially equipped him for the
task by giving him asthma and only one
whole lung, and the cough which old men
on the stage always suffer from didn't
have to be counterfeited in Channing's
case. Moreover he caught bad cold be-
cause there was no heat ia his hall bed
room (you can't get heat for SS a week.,
and this would have made his ''old man
representations very realistic Ii he only
had a real part to play, but he hadn't. He
had to sit in his overcoat and study his
part-which didn't take him long, being
only six lines, and the most vRpid six lines
possible-and between times he would go
and read at public libraries, for this is not
only improving TO the mind, but also
warm. The sudden changes from the in
tense heat of the public libraries to the in
tense cold of the hall bedro01n-and there
is nothing colder in the world than that
gave Claiming pneumonia because he
didn't have enough troubles, and when he
went to rehearsals he couldn't get through
his six lines for coughing.
Claiming played a gentleInan's part,
and consequently dressed well, because he
L. ESr~v.xx Ar
actresses receptions and went to them in
dress suit. Accommodating young men
who will pass round tea and claret cup and
give recitations are so rare that they are
sought after, even if they are poor as Job.
Besides, if you meet young man at q re-
ception and he is attired like other young
men and talks in an educated way, how
are you to know that he has just pawned
his watch and fears thc6 he will have to
pawn his overcoata When you meet a
young man who throws money away on
learning to act, how are Jon to know but
what he lives at the Waldorf?
So that to Gwendoline Ma1tFavers, who
took the ingenue part in the play in which
Claiming ''suped,' he seemed no poorer
than other young men. Gwendoline Nal
travers was really Bessie Brown, for the
! smaller the part the stage the bigger
the name. Bessie Brown was not as old
| as ingenues are popularity supposed to be,
but she played her part just about as badly
as third rate ingenues generally do and
overdressed to the same extent.
She was pretty and had loud voice,
evidently proceeding from perfect lungs,
and Claiming, having only one, admired
her. Her careless generosity had some
| thing fine about it, and when she ran on
to the stage and Rugged another man he
| felt jealous
Bessie's father was pawnbroker, which
is one way of saying that Bessie was well
off. She acted because she wanted to and
| got an engagement because she knew a
| theatrical man.
"Under the weather, aren't your" she
asked Charming one day when he was
| coughing. You need quinine.'
! Claiming said that he would get some.
| He would have got vitriol if she had recon-
| mended it. He remem bered as he said it
! that he had big bill at the drug store,
! and is heart sank.
It was then that he decided to pawn his
| overcoat. 1t WAS the kind Of overcoat that
| actors favor, fur lined and fur collared, as
| effective as an ingenue's stage name. OF
| course the day after he had pswned 1t it
! turned bitterly cold. A man misses his
topcoat on su.h a day, and other people
miss it, especially when it is such pre-
tentious garment. Bessie missed it. She
was not taotful, but good hearted.
care you madf' she said. 'Going
| around without q topcoab! AND she
added that he was a ''juggins, - which is
playful term signifying fool"
Some people can stand being poor, as
| long as they are not thought SO, just as
! some people are contented to be thought
| so as long as they are not. Charming be-
| longed to the first class It was his one
| weakness.
81 had it stolen,' be said, lying.
| Bessie said it was too bad. AS she made
| the commonplace, vulgarized remark her
| eyes redeemed it. They were full of pity.
| She thought minute, and then, having
| no false pride and a heart as big as stage
name, said:
But, say perhaps can help you to re-
cover it. Papa is in partnership with
| Isaacs, the pawnbroker, you know. They
! often have stolen goods brought to them.
| 1 could identify your coat-the one with
| the fur collar, isn't it? If it hasn't gone
| to one of papa's shops (she pronounced it
! popper) may be it's gone to one of those
he knows. Oh, Well get it back, never
| fear!"
Claiming blushed. There wasn't much
| blood in his poor body, but all there was
| rose to his hollow cheeks. 1t is hard luck
to have the girl you love on the road to
| proving that you have told lie, and e
| silly lie, too about something that no one
| ought tC be ashamed Of
Don't he said in a choking voice
that would have made his fortune on the
stage. 81 pawned it myself"
It was soon after this that they were
married.-Exchange
Admiral Jervis and Captain Ra1lOwe1l.