The record-union., 1898-04-10

give his son q big start in his chosen
profession.
/ He wrote at once to Mr.. Irving, and
was somewhat taken aback when he
received a courteous reply to the eff
] feet that Mr.. Irving's arrangements
We're complete.
! Nothing daunted, he wrote to MI
! Hare, and the reply was polite but
decided negative Mr.. Hare was not
open to accept the services of the
young gentleman, of whose histrlonic
ability he had never previously heard.
| Prejudice. exclaimed Mr. Cults.
Sr.: its prejudice and professional
jealousy. They're afraid my boy'n cut
| EN- out. Well, if they won't give him
a chance that's their loss. He shall
have a theater of his own
F., Mr.. Cults had his horses put to. and
! drove round to the various theaters.
/ He sent in his card, and, having OBJ
tanned an interview, astonished the
manager by making an offer for ale
house for month certain.
| The first manager he called upon
with this startling proposition was Mr.
Toole.
| That famous comedian was staggered
for moment. but quickly recovered
his self-possession. I'm very sorry,
he said, but I've only just produced Il
new play. and it's Il great success.
want my house myself"
oh WELL" said Mr. Cults, II can
take that into consideration. You see,
/ want house at once and this will
! just suit my boy. He's a low comedi-
an. and that's what they're used TO
here. You can go to Australia or AM
erica
Thank you said Mr. Toole. That's
a very thoughtful suggestion, but
what about the play? What will the
author say if I take it off in the hight
/ of it's Success?'
rs it a good play?"
"Oh, yes
Good low comedy part?"
"Splendid'
'Well, then, look here I'll keep the
play on and my boy shall play your
part"
"Ah! That never occurred to me,
said the famous comedian with a
smile, but I don't think I can accept
your offer. You see have to be care
| full of my reputation, and if your boy
were to come into my part and play it
better than 1 do where the deyil should
/ be? No, thank you very much; but
l don't think I'll risk it,"
Finding nothing was to be done at
| Toole's, Mr.. Cults went off to another
| house, only to meet with further re-
buffs. Some of the managers saw the
| joke and played up to it, Others look
! ed upon the sweetstuff manufacturer
as a harmless lunatic, and terminated
! the interview as speedily as possible.
| Eventually Mr.. Cults found theater
| which was to let and he Immediately
| settled the preliminarieS and took it
on his sons behalf.
The young man had in the meantime
not been idle. He had been to French S,
| in the Strand, and bought number of
comedies which he thought would suit
| him. His amateur experiences had
| taught him sufficient to enable him to
know a good low comedy when he read
one
Eventually he chose play in which
many years ago Toole had made an
| enormous success, and he determined
| to produce that. He arranged the
terms with the agent and took the
| play home and set to work at once
to write up his own. part, and cut the
| others down.
The business was put into the hands
of an agent to get company to-
gether. An acting manager was Sc
lected, and the Cults family started
full of hope and confidence on their
| first theatrical venture.
| It is not nowadays such an uncom-
mon thing for people who know nothing
of the business to embark in theatrical
speculation, and so beyond a certain
amount of comment in the press the
announcement of Mr. Timothy Cults
dramatic venture aroused very little
remark
The eventful night arrived at last,
the rehearsals had been of a hapy-go-
lucky kind, but the company were old
stagers and knew their business. The
only person who was not letter perfect
was Mr.. Timothy Cults, Jr., himself.
But he was brimful of confidence.
and felt that if the author failed him
he could come to his own assistance
and gag.
The house was fairly full. No ex-
/ pense had been spared in advertising
the debut of the new low comedian
who was going to set the Thames on
fire Portraits of Mr. Timothy Cults,
Jr., the great low comedian, adorned
the shop windows of the metropolis,
i and the. boardings were plentifuily
posted over with posters on which the
name of Cults appeared in letters Of
gigantic height.
Mr.. Cults, Sr., had determined to
give his son a good send-off.
The new low comedian had decided
to appear in his own name. That was
the name he wished to render famous
in the annals of the stage. That was
the name in which his father wished
4 him to dine with the Prince of Wales.
The first night was a complete fiasco.
| The audience laughed at first, then
they sat back on their seats and guyed
the new low comedian. He was not
! without certain amount of comic tai
ent but that he was raw amateur
was evident to every one. He might
| have been spared a good deal of un-
pleasant chaff but for the attitude of
Mr. Cults, Sr. That worthy fellow sat
in a box and leaned forward and ap-
plauded so vigorously whenever his
son spoke line that the audience
Nothing daunted he applauded more
vigorously than ever, and when the
curtain fell on the first act leaned out
of the box and yelled Cults! Cutts."
at the top of his voice
So did all the employees of the sweet
stuff factory, who were in the pit and
gallery This led to hostile demon
stration and eventually to a free fight
III the pit.
There is no need to dwell on the
events of that memorable first night.
The press slated the new low come
dian. but his father was not at all dis
| concerted. Don't mind it by nOy