The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-09-09
HE LED THE MOB.

HE LED THE @
"Wanted.-Twenty-f five tall and we'll
huilt men. Apply at the stage door Of the
Adelphi theater at l o'clock today"
This advertisement in the "want
eolumn'' attracted the attention of Jim
Eccles, upon whom, like many another
good fellow. the general depression Of
the country had brought enforced idle
ness.
His attachment for Miss Polly Bod
man made him all the more anxious to
be at work, that his castle in the air
might materialize into a neat little
cottage where Mrs. Eccles should ad-
minister to him all the comforts Of a
home.
Surely he met the requirements,
measuring, as he did, 6 feet O., of fine
physique and erect bearing. Jim at
once decided to respond to the advertise
ment, and l o'clock found him stand
ing, with a large crowd of applicants,
outside Of the stage door of the Adelphi
theater.
Jim, by dint Of skillful elbowing,
made his way within close proximity
of the stage door and set about his in
yestigations.
"What's the job?" he inquired of a
tall, cadaverous looking individual who
stood next to him.
"There's going to be a big show of
Julius Caesar. All stars in the cast
and a big gang of supers for the Roman
mob,'' replied the man.
Jim, not being well versed in Shakes
peare, obtained very little information
from this reply.
"a mob!'' said Jim. whats the
pay? A black eyer?
The man addressed glanced at Jim
with something akin to pity in his look
and replied: 81 guess you've never trod
the boards, have you? Don't you know
that Julius Caesar is a tragedy, and
that there's a big mob at his funeral?
We're wanted as chief mourners."
"Not a particularly cheerful occupa-
tion," replied Jim.
He would have continued his in
quiries, but was cut short by the open
ing of the stage door to admit the first
90 in line, among the first of whom
was Jim.
As Jim had seen very little of a thea
ter, even as a spectator, the scene now
presented to him was most bewildering.
He was admiring the decoration of a
drawing room scene, when he was rude
ly interrupted by a poke in the back
from a tree which the stage hands
were shifting.
The appearance of the stage manager
just her put an end to any further in
vestigation on Jim's part. The appli-
cants were assembled in line, while the
manager ran his experienced eye over
them. Something in Jim Eccles' figure
and bearing seemed to attract him and,
calling his assistant to his side, he said:
Put this man in for First Citizen.
Holbrook's sick and won't be able to go
On, and there's no time to hunt around.
This mans about his size, so the COS
tune will go all right"
So saying, he thrust a book into the
bands of the much astonished Jim, tell
ing him to get the lines marked First
Citizen" and to be on hand the follow
ing morning for the rehearsal.
Jim, overcome by this sudden great
ness thrust upon him, e~ndeavored to ex-
press his ignorance of the duties of the
First Citizen, but the manager rushed
away, leaving the selection of the other
citizens to his assistant. Jim was about
to follow him, but felt himself pulled
by the sleeve and, turning, found it
was the man whom he had questioned
outside the theater, who also had a
playbook in his possession.
Here! This is all Greek to me. What
shall I do?'' said Jim.
Ssh! Don't give it away that you're
no actor" said the man cautiously.
tI'll put yea through all right. You're
in luck to get a speaking job"
The novelty of his situation moved
Jim to make the most of what chance
had thrown in his way, and he decided
that be would essay the part, of First
Citizen and endeavor to prove himself
equal to this greatness thrust upon
him.
Accordingly the two aspirants for
stage honors Withdrew to the home of
the Second Citizen, and the rehearsal
was soon under way. There must have
been some histrionic ability latent in
Jim, for he soon caught the spirit of
the tragedy and, under the guiding
hand of his instructor, made rapid prog
ress. After two hours of hard work the
First Citizen took his departure, fully
convinced. that he was a born actor.
Jim, highly elated with this new
found talent, lost no time in bearing
the news to his sweetheart, Polly. As
he rushed into the house he exclaimed:
"Comei Away Away Well burn
his body in the holy place and with the
brands fire the traitors houses.
Polly was too overcome to speak for
a moment. but when at last words
came to her she said: For heavens
sake, Jim, where did you get it? You
promised me you would never touch
another drop"
"Behold in me the First Citizen. To-
morrow evening ! lead the mob at