The times., 1898-12-25

Atr huSUdHU 10 neT on CnrlSt ndtIl
day. With muttered excuse to HIM
self about the cold bringing tears to his
eyes, he remembers how the twilight used
TO steal into the soft-carpeted room and
struggle with the red glow of a crate
fire. He pictures his little one playing
about the evergreen tree put up in the
parlor and dreams of the pretty young
wife clearing off the dinner dishes pre-
paratory to quiet chat with him be-
fore haby's bed time-at least, this is
what some actors do. Most of them
have been divorced from three different
helpmeets, and have trouble weekly in
raising alimony.
But divorce and alimOny do not go well
with Christmas and had best be forgot
ten. After time the light fails and the
player realizes that he must eat his din
ner and go to work. What mockery is a
festai dinner in good hotel, There
are hard wood floor and ? dozen walters
rugged out carefully in cheap dress suits:
there is shining pewter and cold-looking
glass; there are scores of strangers In
evening attire and perhaps a concealed
orchestra numbering a Strauss waltz in
the lobby. The guest hesitates and walks
TO his place. Having found a vacant ta-
BILE he sits down. after bowling 10 the
most cordial of the enemies he has In the
company with which he is employed
Then waiter takes his order-four small
oysters in bed of cracked ice three bits
OF browninsh celery, a cocktail with a
cherry in it, six softened olives. five ta-
blespoonfuls of thin soup in an iron
ware plate, some vegetables and a bit
of roast beef, white and dark slice of
turkey cut thin and laid on lump of
dressing, plate of nuts a dish of ice
cream, a cafe noire. a finger bowl and
memories
Generally the memories take up most of
the dinner-there is so much for the av-
erage actor to remember He may think
over his home and his people and his
struggles-he may feel bitter at his fall
ures and sorry of his successes-he may
even make believe" as Sara Crew used
to do. and try to imagine that the people
about him are relatives and that the for
NAL locking room is the homelier one Of
his own little place. Then, strange as ii
may seem, he often adds 10 this n picture
of Broadway with cutting wind blow
ing the snow about and the lights of the
theaters guiding the cabbies across Her
aid Square. There is much of which
man may dream when he is away on
Christmas with a fight ahead of him and
a defeat behind-with great city about
him in which not one of the passers-by
would even care were he lying dead in
the morgue instead OF nodding over an
ley repast.
Strange that the blues should be fed
by one thinking how little people would
care wee he dead. \ bad liver and n
cross woIf from the stage manager will
draw more scenes OF solitary funerals
and unmarked graves than might be used
advertisements by all the undertakers
In the country.
After the meal the disciple of Thespis
goes to work. He makes up in n dirty
dressing room and steps before those who
have spent happy day that he may por-
tray to them n story he does not feel and
which can never be true because on the
stage everything ends happily. And aft
er the performance Is over and the or
chestra is playing the exit march he
sighs and goes back to his compartment
to wash up. Then comes the hotel and a
chat with several unconsenial compan-
ions in the lobby. Afterward bed and
Christmas is over.
This program has its variances. of
course. as all things must II the day
be really spent in the one-night stand
aforementioned a small stove probably
takes the place of the radiator, and Z
smoky oil lamp supplies the light and
the smell. The walters wear striped
shirts instead of fun dress, and provide
some excitement by occasionally letting
a bowl of soup slide down the neck of
inoffending patron. Then, there is
yellow mud through which TO wade on
the way to the theater. and an un-e-
responsive and undemonstrative audience
to face afterward. Finally, there is
free-for-all packing match, in which the
best packer is sure to help himself at
the expense of his friends, and long.
dreary, slumberless ride to the next town
on the map.
Christmas in New York may mean a
comfortable fiat and an evening among
friends. 1t may mean LONELINESS and
quiet and all the actor loves instructive
ly. II may also mean continued
search for employment. and a cheerless
afternoon in some attic room. There
may be defeated hopes and weary long
ings and friendless solitude. Occasionally
1t means starvation and despair and a
plunge into the dark waters of the
East River-even Christmas Day may
mean that.
But in the city or on the road-here or
therein comfort or poverty-the Yuieiide
brings always a warmth at the heart and
a realization of the truth In
the line ut is more blessed 20 give than
to receive" Even the homeless actor cam
not help feeling the genial influence and
giving in to it, There is charm in the
words Merry Christmas no matter
where they are spoken or by whom. And
that charm rings out as the night falls
in a musical utterance of the words that
have made Christmas holy-''Peace on
earth, good will TO men"
Without changing too abruptly fiom the
good will clause. il is meet to remark