The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1898-11-24
A LEADING PART.

The following was narrated 70 me by
an old friend Of mine, who upon leav-
ing college had adopted the stage as his
profession. His name is-well, we will
know him by fictitious one-Harry
Thomas, for he is at present in the
zenith Of the theatrical world, and thou
sands would recognize him if his name
was given in these columns
His story ran thus:
GAS you are aware, Jack, left col
lege when was within little of IS.
Well had always a great desire to
emulate those sterli' = heroes of-eld,
whose proWess ! had oudied so much
about.
"And there being no other opening
in which to test my abilities deter
mined at once to adopt the stage and
make it the field Of my mimic con-
quests, little dreaming of the difficult
task which had voluntarily imposed
upon myself.
''How few of the OF ,ide world know
of the incessant toll of an actors lifel
"He is nothing but schoolboy. For
as soon as one piece is committed to
memory another is placed il his hands,
and SO on--a life of perpetual study and
labor.
'After some trouble ! obtained the
unenviaDle position Of 4 .pe' in one of
caE prlHcissa I'D afEeE spand: J
ing two years III this branch was pro-
moted to play sszsttiill:asF ztilaSF hr-siness'
"And here ! remained three years
more, listening to the plots and schemes
Of the villains and heroes in different
dramas.
II assure you that by this time my
ardor had cooled considerably, and
many time while poring over my part
in some new piece I have sincerely
wished that Ihad chosen some other
means of earning living.
The manager saw that possessed
more than ordin' ~ talent, SO he in.
trusted me with a art in which play.
ed second to the hero of the piece.
II carried myself through very cred
itably, and the journals the next morn
ing in their criticisms said:
Mr.. Thomas is young and very
promising actor: good in gesture and
correct in delivery.
Well, at this time young lady-a
star in her line-we will know her as
Louisa Dietz-was engaged to play the
principal role in a drama which the
manager intended to open with and play
during the Christmas holidays.
1T inclined rather to the Thespian
style in the opening, but ended mp as
usual, with virtue triumphant, and all
the villains either shot or sent to state
prison for life.
''The piece required great deal Of
study. In short, we had rehearsal every
day for nearly month, and during
that time / fell desperately in love with
Louisa Dietz, the heroine Of the play.
"lt was love at first sight, but whether
my passion found an answering thrill
in her bosom could not tell.
Sometimes, when alone, / would
lt4l myself fool, madman for how
could ! for moment expect an alliance
between myself--a newly pledged
knight Of the dramatic art, and Louisa
Dietz, whose name was sufficient to
cram any theater with the wealth and
beauty of the land.
The actor who was to play the Zero
OF the drama /as tall, fine, darlr5k-1
ing man, and it nearlH1set me crazys.. y
see him (when the business Of thes piece
required it) elaep her to bis breast.
In my fevered imagination, Ekonpht
that he used more earnestness th,saTn the
nature Of the occasion required.
Well, at last the final kabear,al but
one was ever, and the follbwing Mon.
day night (Which was Chnistmasl the
drama was to be presented to, the nublio
Monday dawned fair and hrieht. the
air was cool and crisp.
The last rehearsal had been t.alla5 for
this morning at II o'clock.
Upon reaching the theater Whist was
my surprise to find every one, frbm ths
manager down to the calIboy, Running
about the stage and talking in the lmost
excited manner.
Upon inquiry found that the par.
SON who was going tc play the leading.
character in the piece had the night be- I
Lcre fallen upon the icy pavement and |
30 injured his ankle that it rendered il
impossible for him TO appear.
The manager upon hearing had