The times., 1899-09-17

'Edna's Vest" ''Edna's Last" Aetna S
| Blast, 'Edna's Giant" Edward Gloot,
Eddie Green" and "Edna's Goat" On
the following morning the aforesaid author
| bought typewriter.
Or. at least, so says the agent.
| Parrot stories are not the newest form
Of comic literature. but Joseph Buckley,
manager of Otis Skinner, has one that de-
serves to be repeated notwithstanding.
Mr.. Buckley did repeat it on last Wednes-
day night at the Academy. George Mon
roe had one OF the green birds in box
on the stage and on three occasions it
came dangerously near to stopping the
performance This fact brought an an
ecdote into the head of the aforesaid Mr..
Buckley, who told it as soon as the cur
tain had fallen
1T was good many years ago. he
said, and Mr.. Skinner had not yet be-
gun starring. Instead he was playing a
small part and directing rehearsals with
an actor who has since sunk into oblivion.
During the second season Of his engage
ment a comedy that, for manifest reasons,
shall be nameleSs, was put on and Mr.
Skinner was in charge of the work. The
task was rendered unpleasant by two
things-a woman and a parrot. Polly had
been purchased to lend realism to enc of
the scenes projected and had become such
a pet that he was always brought to the
theatre and invariably was responsible Tor
lost cues and badly given lines, He was,
however, a silent creature and this was
more than could have been said by any
one of the woman. There was no single
individual who had ever worried Mr..
Skinner as that woman did. She had been
signed for leads and was nightly con-
scious of her own Importance Whenever
a suggestion was made to her Or bit
of advice given she would pause to argue
the point and these discussions invariably
ended in the same way. MIR. Skinner
who has a very hot temper, would finally
lose his patience and make remarks,
whereupon the object of his wrath would
glance up in a provoking sort Of fashion
and comment Mr.. Skinner, if you'll wait
an instant I'm sure you'll be sorry you
said that
This sort of thing was especially dis
agreeable to my star, whom you ali know TO
be very sensitive, because of the fact that
in the first act of the comedy he had love
scene with the girl and he did not think
that he could do his best in it. feeling
toward her as he did. And yet he could
not avoid the outbreaks in question. Even
then he had studied hard and could not have
been expected to tolerate the batting Of
mink who was not only ignorant but
lonely. Need l tell you that any man will
take more from a pretty woman than from
homely one?
Despite this continual trouble, rehearsG.s
went on. and the night of the first produe-
ton came. The piece was given in New
Haven. and the house was crowded. Mr.
Skinner was in high feather and felt certain
that he would make a nit. He did, too, his
first speeches convincing the audience OF
his earnestness and ability. Minutes passed
and the time came for the love scene. The
actor was nervous but elated the actress
confident and sneering; the parrot minding
his business. The audience laughed a bit
when the heroine entered, for she was ex-
ceedingiy ugly, and might not have been
retained except for her friendly relations
with the manager In no way disconnected.
however, she advanced to the attack, and
the performance went on.
Everyone knows how Mr. Skinner can
make love. and he did that then as we'll
as now. The lines were good, and he
fairly reveled in them. In a low, tense
voice he repeated a tale Of ardent PAS
sion into the unwilling ears of the stars
opposite. He took her hand in his and
leaned close to her while he almost whis-
pered what the author had given him.
The end came with a powerful reading of
the words, VIII you be my wife?' When
LudL cue udu D6en Spoken MI. Sh1UDGT
paused but received no answer The wo-
man. who was neither earnest nor con-
scientious, had forgotten her part. She
was prompted but failed to respond. Then
Mr. Skinner made another effort and went
through his speech again-.Will you be
my wife, This time the stop was more
noticeable. The crowd began smiling.
Perhaps the parrot had a dim sense that
something should be done. Perhaps it
was mere deviltry. Perhaps he remem-
bered what had happened at rehearsals.
But with deliberation and malice afore-
thought that quiet bird poked his head
between the bars of his cage and squeaked
loudly, Mr. Skinner, if you'll wait an in
slant I'm sure you'll be sorry you said
that
you can imagine what happened. The
house was conyulsed and the stage hands
went into Mysteries. 1t was hard on Mr.
Skinner, bat it was doubly hard on the
woman because of the manner in which
she had been greeted before and because
of her appearance. She left the company
two days later in preference to being laugh
ed at, and I'm sure her going was balm
for Mr.. SINNERS wounds -
The curtain had gone up and Mr..
Buekley's story was not enjoyed as it de-
serves to be. For 1T is good story, and
what is rare in parrot jokes-there is no
reason why 1t should net be considered
a true one.