The times., 1899-01-08


had been made on their place.
They were not very successful in thefr
efforts, though both found employment IN
a big department store there, and would
probably have lost their home had not a
friend Of Mr. Cooper had his attention
called to the saleswoman and her perfect
figure. He telegraphed to the artist, who
was then in search of a model for Trl =
by and that individual came on at
once. He saw the girl, Was lost in ad-
miration at her wonderful form. met her
and dsftly suggested that she pose for
his painting This offer was Indignantly
repelled and it was not until some weeks
after that the little woman yielded to the
persuasion of her mother and friends ana
accompanied Mr.. Cooper TO his studio IN
San Jose Here, in the company OF her
parent, the girl posed. finally becoming so
interested in the glorious work that she
was rs anxious for its successful Gu NINA
tion as was the artist himself At its
completion she was paid sum amply
sufficient TO raise the mortgage on her
home and returned to Kansas, where she
has since married well. The story is
romantic one and should add new charm
10 the picture which it concerns.
There are few actors in this country
who have not, at some period OF thcif
lives, been amateurs in the fold OF Ihes-
pis Frank Mordaunt, who is appearing
this season in The Village Postmaster,
was kept away from the theatre during
his early youth by the fact that near his
country home there was nothing that re-
senbIesi a playhouse in sufficient degree
10 inspire the slightest ambition for MIS-
tricliic success. Now and again strollers
came TO the little town in which Mr.. Nor
daunt had been born and reared. but their
business was never startlingly large ans
so they seldom returned. But one even
ing this state Of affairs was changed in so
far as the green" little rustic was con-
cerned, and in his mind was planted de-
sire for the stage that was not uprooted
even by the harsh treatment he received
in trying to crafty it.
A minstrel show had come TO town dur
ing the week and was billed for three per-
formances. II was a cheap combination of
poor talent and trumped-up gaudiness, but
10 young Mordaunt the rattle of the bones
the beating OF the tambOurines and the
Jokes of the end men appealed strangely.
After q moments hesitation he sought the
manager Of the show, 4 corpulent individ-
ual who wore a checked suit and dozens Of
diamonds and asked for Job At first
this individual seemed surprised at the ig-
norance OF the lad before him. then amused
and finally ne accepted the boys services
and told him that he might sit in the circle
that night
Mordaunt went home and spent two
hours ia dressing himself. He could not
eat his dinner for excitement and when he
finally turned up at the little hall he was
so myst titled at what he saw and so charmed
with the rough conversation going on about
him that ne did not notice how much fun
his new found friends were extracting from
IL 1.
finding that someone had removed his shoe
laces poured water in his hat and other
wise entertained himself.
But when the time came TO make up
Morcaunt was at a loss. He saw that the
other men had blackened themselves but
could not tell how, and finally was con-
strained 10 ask TWO or three OF the rOgues
10 help him. This they did with a will.
Having found a bottle Of shoe polish some
where they obtained a sponge and with it
put seven coats of the indelible liquid on
his face. Then they secured a brush and
rubbed the skin until it shone. a shampoo
of the eb0n stuff followed and then Nor
dauHt was permitted TO go on. He suspect
I'd nothing until the next morning. when
the work OF two hours proved futile IN re-
moving the backing II was several weeks
wearing oil and during that time Mordaunt
was tho laughingstock of the village.
N itE lie = u Ohe 10 IHe IAGt mat ali the
minstrel men were not eternally negrofed
and that IN all probability a trick had been
played upon him his friends were gone.
Otherwise murder might have been done
And speaking of experiences in rural
localities reminds one of something that
befeil Lecn Hermann not very long ago.
The train on which the trickest was
travelling had been snow bound and be
the warmth of a big stove in the COM
bined grocery store and postofice that
served for a depot. Quite a motley assem-
bly, lad gathered in the room and many
Of It's constituents were discussing in loud
voices the death and funeral OF some one
who had evidently been very popular in
the neiPbborhood. In the midst of the con-
versation wagon was driven up 10 the
door and = tall, plainly rural fellow jump
ed out and entered the establishment
Conversation had died down and, after
looking about an instant. the stranger ap-
preached another rustic and remarked
cheeriuliy. Il bear Bill Jones is dead"
Yep" remarked his vis-a-vis.
The ques'ioner added a zone of sorrow to
his voice. is Biii Jones really dead?" he
asked
YEP"
Tho Lew arrival did not seem able to
comprehend the frightful news. He
glanced about the room, walked up and
down aEd then returned to his informant
Did you say Bill Jones was dead?" he
queried.
Mn"
BIN Jones goner." The shorter man
was growing impatient and made no an
swer. The gentleman with the doubling
disposition bit a chew of tobacco off his
plug and looked heartbroken. Then he
eyed his informant narrowly and calmly
rcmal he'd. SO Bill Jones is dead"
Well. replied the other man disgusted-
ly. Il don't know whether BIZ Jones is
really dead or not. but he's in a damn
bad fiN II he amt. just saw him buried"
Thcre was a roar Of laughter and the
nkeptic left the room and mounted his
wagon. Herman says he doubts that
he was Convinced even then.
That entertaining and jovial good fellow.
Al Primrose, has an anecdote this year
concerning Lew Dockstader that is just a
little too good 10 keep. AS Mr.. Primrose
is the press agent for next weeks attrac-
tion al the National, and as the average
press aren't cannot hold his peace and his
place al one and the same time the story
has reached the ears of several local news
paper men. The advance man says, to be-
gin with, that Dockstader is one of the
soundest sieepers in the world. He re-
mains In bed twelve hours every day and
loses large slices OF temper If anyone both
ers him.
This being true the burnt-coriist was