The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-09-06
A LEADING PART.


was given in these columns.
His story ran thus:
GAS you are aware, Jack, l left col
lege when was within little of Is.
Well, had always a great desire to
emulate those sterling heroes Of old,
whose proves 1 had studied 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 l had voluntarily imposed
upon myself.
"How few of the outside world know
of the incessant toll of an actors life
HE is nothing but schoolboy. For
as soon as one piece is committed to
memory another is placed in his hands,
and SO on-a life of perpetual study and
labor
after some trouble / 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 the plots and schemes
dramas.
81 assure you that by this time my
ardor had cooled considerably, and
many time while porting over my part
In some new piece I have sincerely
wished that had chosen some other
means of earning a living.
1.-THE manager saw that I possessed
more than ordinary talent, so he in
trusted me with part in which I play
ed second to the hero of the piece.
81 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 hne-we will know her as
Louisa Dietz-was engaged to play the
principal role In drama which the
manager intended to open with and play
during the Christmas holidays.
at inclined rather to the Thespian
style in the opening, but ended up as
usual, with virtue triumphant, and all
the villains either shot or sent to state
prison for life.
1.-THE piece required a 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 l could not tell.
Sometimes, when alone, l would
call myself fool, mailman; 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 hero
of the drama was tall, fine, dark look
ing man, and it nearly set me crazy to
see him (when the business of the piece
required it, clasp her to his breast.
In my fevered imagination, l thought
that he used more earnestness than the
nature of the occasion required.
Well, at last the final rehearsal but
one was over, and the following Mon
day night (Which was Christmas) the
drama was to be presented to the public.
Monday dawned fair and bright, the
air was cool and crisp.
The last rehearsal had been called for
this morning at IL o'clock.
Upon reaching the theater what was
my surprise to find every one, from the
manager down to the callboy, running
about the stage and talking in the most
excited manner.
Upon inquiry found that the per-
son who was going to play the leading
character in the piece had the night be-
fore fallen upon the icy pavement and
so injured his ankle that it rendered it
impossible for him to appear.
"The manager upon hearing it had
dispatched his messengers to all the
theatrical agencies in the city to, if pos
sible, obtain person to play the part.
"But without success, for those who
were competent would not risk their
reputation in performing piece upon
such short notice aud those that we're
willing were not fit to successfully rem
Ter the lowest part in the whole drama
"This was the state of affairs when l
came upon the stage.
1.-THE manager was in a perfect
frenzy, and Louisa Dietz sat near one
IF the fats. silent and pale as marble.
This was her first appearance at
this theater, and to have an accident
occur like this was enough to stupefy
any one under similar circumstances.
81 pitied her from the bottom of my
heart.
81 was standing at the prompter's
stand, when suddenly wild thought
shot through my brain.
"Why couldn't play the part? For,
/ having such number of rehearsals, l
was as perfect in 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:
| huOW GulS Jttrb, anu L udN6 no
doubt if you will intrust it to my care
l can go through with it satisfactorily ,
He grasped me warmly by the hand
and said:
Thanks, thanks, Mr.. Thomas.
have every faith in your ability
But cared more for the grateful
look in Louisa's eyes as she walked by
my side and said:
al too, will ever owe you service,
which will be impossible to repay
$50 it was decided that 1 should as
sumo the principal role while a 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 fiocked from
/ all quarters.
AT 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
unteered to play the part.
! II, all this time, had been looking
through small hole bored in the pros
/ cenium
1.-The house was packed from parquet
to dome with as refined an audience as
ever l have had the pleasure to play to.
AT O'Clock precisely the curtain
was rung up and the play commenced.
| Neither Louisa nor appeared until
the second scene.
L was standing in breatbless anxiety,
leaning AGAINST Of tho Antc