The times., 1899-10-08

southern city the writer caIuS uptown
in crowded car and the only man already
seated who showed any willingness TO give
up his place to feminine arrival, said
You're welcome" with characteristic,
down East drawl. But there are some
Yankees who are sharp and thrifty ana
il is on one of these that Henry Jewett, OF
The Choir Invisible" is telling a story.
According to the gentleman in question,
he spent the summer in the Maine forest,
TO which retreat he brought camping
outfit and a gallon of sherry. The last
mentioned commodity proved of most in
terest to the natives and many were the
excuses concocted in order to procure an
occasional draught Of the precious liquid.
Egg and sherry, which Mr.. Jewett intro
duced into the country, was especially pop
ular, though 'hen fruit was so scarce
that the actor doed out the drink on rare
occasions. This very scarcity made him
jubilant one afternoon when local simple
ton. Hank Wilmer by name, put in his
appearance and gravely presented the Wis
itor with a newly-laid Leghorn egg. Mr..
I Jewett was delighted and was not slow
! in expressing his satisfaction. BY my
Halidom," quoth he. in mock heroics,
thou art a noble youth. For this goodly
deed of thine, but state thy reward an it
! be in my power to grant it thou shalt
surely have what thou askests."
WALL" replied Wilmer, quietly but
firmly, tibet bein' case. I'll hev a sherry
an egg"
Sam Harrison, who is now ''ahead" OF
! Herbert Kelley and Effie Shannon is the
/ best of good company. His long expert
ence On the road has endowed him with a
fund OF excellent stories, and these he tells
on the slightest provocation. On last Fri
day afternoon a Times man lunched with
the theatrical scribe and had his own
repertoire extended with a dozen of what
Mr.. Harrison declares are personal ex-
ploits.
One of the funniest of these concerns a
young actor, named Guy T. Henry, who
long ago crossed the great river. The man
was really an able fellow but so hard
1 drinker that he never held an engagement
for more than two months. and was in dire
distress when Mr.. Harrison's employer
I found a profitable play and determined
upon sending out second COM
pany. When this became known,
Mr. Henry approached the advance
agent and begged the use of his good
Offices in an effort 10 secure the position Of
( leading comedian with the combination.
! Mr.. Harrison was loath to accede to the re-
quest, knowing the habits of the applicant.
| but was finally moved to assent with only
a single condition TO his favor. Il do not
ask that you abstain, Guy he said, for
don't think you can do that, but l do ask
| that when you make up your mind 10 break
| loose you will telegraph me, in order that
/ / may arrange Immediately for an under
/ study" This the candidate promised with
many protestations and the press represen-
tatiTe subsequently secured for him the en-
gagement.
/ Three weeks later the Number Two"
took TO the one-night stands. month
] moe sod asad
came only one message-"Still sober G.
T. n. The IMAM behind" wrote that the
comedian had made a hit and was doing
well. Another fortnight went by and
despatch informed Mr.. Harrison that his
protege was Dry and keeping dry Fav
orable criticisms began pouring in and tie
recipient really commenced TO put some
I faith in his friend. He thought it posi-
4 bic that the actors ambition and honesty
had triumphed. And then came the in
E eyitabIe end.
! The original troupe was in Baltimore
when Mr.. Harrison was handed a telegram.
He opened it and read: Sober yet, but
God knows for how long. Have met
chums Am going TO dinner. G. T. H."
The agent pondered and then replied,
Don't CO. Too late flashed back the
answer, I'm gone" An intermission of
an hour followed. Mr.. Harrison began
to feel more at ease. He had implicit con-
4 fdenee in his friends promise and felt that
no news was good news. When, at half
/ past 6, a third yellow envelope arrived his
+ hopes fell however. and the contents of
/ the covering gave reason for the fall.
I They were: Last link gone, | think-bad
! a drink Mr.. Harrison sent back word that
/ he thought one was enough.
At seven, however, a brief message re-
/ cited the fact that Mr.. Henry had had
another" and ten minutes after a despatch
related, Still another and have ordered a
+ third" Just as the press representative
was considering the idea OF approaching
his employer and suggesting that the un-
/ derstudy be wired more explicit com
munication arrived. IAN imbibing freely, .
! it said, but have retained my balance.
Half an hour TO show. Don't tell man
ager." Mr. Harrison began to be hopeful
again. And then his trust was propped by
a later adyice-"Only tipsy. Don't let man
ager know. G. T. II"
20. K S. H." was the reply.
An hour sped on without further bulle-
tins Mr. Harrison was confident that his
protege had been rescued from the enemy
and had gone on with his part Nine
O'Clock came and ten and eleven. At mid
night the publicity promoter retired, posi-
{ tive that all was well. Just before three
he was awakened. A boy was at the door
4 and he had a telegram. The sleepy man
[ inside grew heartsick. Then he admitted
/ the messenger and seized the envelope He
paused a moment before tearing it open.
1 Finally he took out the slip of paper, still
hoping that nothing was wrong He un-
folded It, Then he read. Mr. Henry. eco
nomical at last, had kept himself within
ten words and every one of them had its
meaning. The words were these; Drunk
again and don't give a damn who knows
it,
Mr.. Harrison says that his sorrow was so
apparent that nothing was ever said about
the performance that was not performed,
l,rr4 n--nr, Aho annfh nf he nffnndn-. l,nc MT