Evening star., 1897-05-29

he was connected with theatrical enter
prise. He could not be accused OF a lack
of modesty. 1t would he hard to find a
gentleman mere resigned to self-effacc-
ment and more Industrious In promoting
the regulations of other people. IL was
his sole ambition in life that the public
should les rn the truth, the whole truth and
a great deal more than the truth about the
merits of the show which he represented.
1t would be difficult to regard. man of
such unassuming and yet noteworthy quail
tiles otherw Use than with kindly and defer
entail feelings. The newspaper man who
had meant to reproach him bitterly found
his harshress melting beneath his genial
manner like ic.cle in The sun. Tie
frown faded from his brow. and what had
started as cyclone of wrath breathed it,
self out only as a zephyr of regretful pro-
test.
You shouldn't have done it," the news
paper man sighed. You know yourself
that you shouldn't"
whats the trouble. old chap" was the
query, in tones of sweet Innocence. HAS
somebody been misrcpresenting my behav-
ior to your
mo. L refer to something the RESPONSE
bility for which you cannot deny. L loved
and trusted you, and you betrayed me. You
lulied me with sweet sentences, and then
turned in and gave my gentle confidence
le1t-hand jan over the SOAR plcNus-
You're doing me an injustice. I'm sure
that il you will give me a chance can ex-
plain everything to your satisfaction"
Didn't you write this advance notice for
your show
Yes. And 1 regard 1t as an achieve
ment"
1T was more than an achievement. IL
| was triumph. What object to Is being
dragged by the heels behind your chariot
OF mendacity"
Come. come. my dear fellow. You know
that you're one OF the last people In the
world 1 would treat in any such fashion.
Didn't you write this paragraph" and
he produced a clipping which read:
The entertainment Is one of the most
remarkable theatrical enterprises that the
century has developed. The actors have
impressed the public as no actors have
ever done before. Strong men have been
visibly moved and women have been found
| In tears. The company has begun the sea-
| son under very favorable auspices. People
Are being turned away every night"
Well said the theatrical man. You
can't find any fault with that There isn't
| a word of deception in it. L held myself
| right dowr to a plain unvarnished state
ment of facts"
Don't try to keep up the fraud. I've
seen the performance. The idea OF calling
| Il one Of the most extraordinary enter
prises OF the century,
| Dent you think it requires any remark
| courage. on the Fart Of the management
to take a bunch Of transformers like that
| out through the country to play them In
| frst-class theatersy
| standpoint, l suppose II is extraordinary.
And / presume that when you say that
| the actors impressed the puplic as no
others ever had before. you meant that
| they were superlative and unapproachable
In their badness"
| Exactly.
'.rn admit that you have some ground
| for arg, ment. But 1t was no more than
4 tiresone. You shouldn't have gone iato
detail to the extent Of saying that strong
| men we're visibly moyed!'
| That happened in Cumberland. II took
four policemen to move the men from the
4 orchestra chairs out on the sidewalk"
4 And the women in tearsT
They were features OF our engagement
1 In Hager stown. The ladies were members
of the company. They were weeping for
their salaries.
And that's what you call beginning the
season under favorable auspices" was the
| steering comment.
/ THAT wasn't the beginning OF the season.
| When we started we had seven trunks
| and four thousand mile books In the party.
| Il don't suppose there's any use OF try
/ ing - pin YOU down too closely to the
| truth. The next time You send me any
| facts I'll know how to enalyze them.
louye gotten out OF II all SO smoothly that
4 / won't say a word about the likelihood Of
your having turred people away from the
theater.''
aNo," vas the resclute reply; II refuse
| to stir from this spot with single sr1irch
4 or my character fer truth and veracity. L
can't afford to leave a single shallow on
| my reliability. although II grieves me to
| fnd you developing a suspicious nature.
| When say we turn people away nightly
| i mean every word OF IT. You can come
| and see for yourself that everybody In the
| house goes home when the curtain de-
| scends otter the last act. You didn't ex-
pect they were going tc sit there TIL the
| rext u,orning. did you? I'm glad you
| sroke so frankly and gave me chance 10
| yipdicate my self. Don't worry, old feli5w.
| I won't treasure any hard feelings All
| ask is thar YOU will remember this incident
| and never doubt me again..
The vfIlaia Foiled.
| From puck. &