Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-10-21
A LEADING PART.

The following was narrated ID me by
an old friend of mine, who upon leav-
ing college had adopted the stage as his
profession. His name is-well, we viii
know him by a fictitious one-Harry
Thomas, for he is at present in tho
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, l left col
lege when ! was within a little Of Is.
We'll. / had always a great desire to
emulate those sterling heroes Of old,
whose prowoss l had studied so much
about.
''And there being no other opening
In which to test my abilities l 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 outside world know
Of the incessant toll Of an actors lifol
HE is nothing but n schoolboy. For
IT'S bOOH Us Ouo DltCD 10 NbnlAlAblNA "
memory another is placed in his hands,
and SO on-a life of perpetual study and
labor.
"After some trouble l obtained the
unenviable position of 'supe' in one Of
our principal theaters. And after spend
ing two years in this branch was pro-
NOTED to play utility business
"And here | remained three years
more. listening to tho plots and schemes
of the villains and heroes in different
dramas.
81 assure You that by this time my
ardor had cooled considerably, and
many a time while porting over my part
in some new piece l have sincerely
wished that / had chosen some other
means of earning a living.
''The manager saw that l possessed
more than ordinary talent, 81 he in
trusted me with a part in which l play
oh second to the hero OF tine piece.
~ carried myself through very cred
itably, and tho journals tie next morn
ing in their criticisms said:
Mr.. Thomas is a young and worry
promising actor; good In gesture and
correct in delivery
"Well, as Ghis time a young LADY,
star in her line-we will know her al
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.
at inclined rather to the Thespiar
style in the opening, but ended up a
usual, with virtue triumphant. and al
the villains either shot or sent to stat
prison for life.
"The piece required a great deal o
study. In short, we had rehearsal ever,
day for nearly n month, and during
that time fell desperately in love will
Louisa Dietz, the heroine Of the play.
sit was love at first sight, but whethe
my passion found an answering thrill
in her bosom l could not tell.
Sometimes, when alone, I woul,
call myself a fool, a mailman; for HOY
could 1 for a moment expect an allianc
between myself-a newly pledges
knight Of the dramatic art, and Louis
Dietz, whose name was sufficient {
cram any theater with the wealth an
beauty Of the land.
"'The actor who was TO play the her
of the drama was a tall, fine, dark look
ing man, and is nearly set me crazy {
see him (when the business of the piec
required it) clasp her to his breast.
In my fevered imagination, / though
that he used more earnestness than tn
nature of the occasion required.
Well, at last the final rehearsal bu
one was over, and the following Nor
day night (which was Christmas) Ga
drama was to be presented to the public
Monday dawned fair and bright, I'll
air was cool and crisp.
The last rehearsal had been called Il
this morning at IL o'clock.
Upon reaching the theater what wa
my surprise TO find every one, from ii
manage down to the callboy, runnin
about the stage and talking in the mo-
excited manlier.
Upon inquiry / found that the pc
son who was going to play the leadin
character in the piece had the night b
fore fallen upon the icy pavement an
80 injured his ankle that IL rendered
impossible for him 10 appear.
"The manager upon hearing IL ha
dispatched his messengers 70 all II
theatrical agencies in the city to, If pc
sible. obtain a person to play the part,
"But without success, for those WI
were competent would not risk the
reputation II performing a piece upC
such short notice, and those that WEI