Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1898-10-01

But without success Tor those who
We're competent would not risk their
reputation i'll performing piece upon
such short lit tice, and those that We're
willing were not fit to successfully reu-
DIR the lowest part i'll the whole drama.
"T.is was the state of affairs when l
came upon the stage.
1.-THE manager was in Il perfect
frenzy, and Louisa Dietz sat near one
of the flats silent and pale as marble.
This was her first appearance at
this theatcr, and to have an accident
occ1r like this was enough to stupefy
any one under similar circumstances.
81 piticd her from tie bottom of my
heart.
II was standing at the prompter's
stand, when suddenly wild thought
shot Though my brain.
"Wby couldn't play the part: For,
having such number Cf rehearsals, |
was lis perfect i'll his part as l was in
my own.
"No sooner had the idea entered my
mind than | acted upon it, and going
up to the manager | said:
"'I know this part, and | have no
doubt if You will intrust it to my care
can go through with it satisfactorily
He @rasped me warmly by the hand
and said:
Thanks, thanks, Mr.. Thomas. l
have every faith i'll your ability
But l cared more for the grateful
look i'll Louisa $ eyes as she walked by
my side and said:
81, too, viii ever owe you service,
which will be impossible to repay.
$50 it was decided that | should as
sume the principal role, while person,
after some trouble, was obtained who
could, no doubt, by gagging and being
followed closely, put through my part,
Well at last the evening arrived and
with immense crowds that floclied from
all quarters.
cat Il quarter before the manager
stepped before the curtain and narrated
the accident to the audience and then
begged their kind indulgence in my
behalf, who at the last moment, rather
than have them disappointed had vol
untcered to play the part.
u, all this time, had been looking
through small hole bored in the pros
cenium.
The house was packed from parquet
to dome with as refined an audience as
ever have had the pleasure to play to.
AT s O'Clock precisely the curtain
was rrng up and the play commenced,
"NCither Louisa nor | appeared until
the second scene.
Twas standing i'll breathless anxiety,
leaning against one of the flats, upon
the prompt side, while she stood slight
ly flushed but perfectly collected, upon
the o. p side
Il had perfect confidence in myself,
but every actor, no matter how perfect
he may be, will feel an indescribable
sensation of-you hardly say what
when he is about to stake his reputation
III a new role before the public.
"Well, at last the first scene was
called in.
And amid deathlike silence the
star Of the evening walked on.
'lnstantly Il storm of applause greet
ed her, and echoed and re-echoed around
and among the scenery like the rum
bling of distant thunder
1.-The scene represented a garden in
which she was soliloquizing us to
whether her lover (me) was true to her,
or whether he was playing Eer false.
''At last | received my cue, and went
on.
my entrance was again the signal
for deafcning applause, which was con-
tinued for nearly five minutes and it
gave me time to fully think over what
l was about to say.
''Finally all was once more quiet,
and | commenced my delivery.
1t abounded i'll protestations of my
undying fidelity and love for her.
AS | continued | warmed up with
the subject. | was almost carried away
by the intensity of my feelings.
81 forgot that hundreds of eyes were
critically watching every gesture and
that attentive ears We're devouring the
words as they fell from my lips.
81 saw only before me the woman |
loved. And the passion which | was
outpouring to her ears was not the love
of the hero of the play, but simply the
love Of Harry Thomas for Louisa Detz.
"Whcn | had finished the curtain
descended amid showers of bouquets
and dcatening applause.
1.-The latter was continued until we
both appeared before the curtain.
81 need not dwell upon the remain
del Of the performance. Let it suffice
to say that we both received a perfect
ovation.
''Aud that night, when the curtain
had descended for the last timo the
manager came hurrying i'll to where |
was i'll the greenroom, and seizing me
by the hand he said his voice trem-
bling with emotions:
"'You have saved the reputation of
my house.
And thereupon he drew up papers
of agreement trebling my salary and
engaging me to play leading business.
81 need hardly add that my fame
was at once established, and short
time afterward Louisa and l We're mar
ried"
And now the names of Mr.. and
Mrs, Thomas displayed upon the bill
boards Of any theater are sufficient to
cause the manager (long before the
hour Of commencing to put out the
sign of Standing room only. Mia
neapOlis Tribune.
Unstable.
Woaver-Poetry is something that is