Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-09-14


was in vain that l reiterated my direc-
tons. The ghost would not give up.
And feeling that the situation was crit
ical l went on with my part and strove
with extra vehemence to carry the audi
ence with me, so that they might over
look the presence of the implacable shade.
Either the audience was not at home
with the text or looked upon the ghosts
remaining as a new reading, for they
gave no sign of disapproval. When Ho-
ratio and Marcellus came on, however,
their wonder almost brought on the ca
tastrophe, but l urged them to go on,
and the act drew to conclusion, with
the novelty of the ghost speaking his in
junction over my left shoulder.
The drop down, | showered expostula.
tions on my prosecuting fathers head
but he turned Il deaf ear to them ALL
"Ilf tell you what it is, guv'ner," he
said. Il amt wishing to be at all annoying
or ungentlemanly to you, but | had to
arrest gent in your profession once,
and obliged him by waiting until the per-
formance was over, when, blowed, if he
wasn't shabby enough to get taken down
n trap at the end, and bolt. | thought Of
that while | was on the stage Just now
with you, and if | leave you again, my
mother was a Frenchman." Without go
ing into the question of his parentage,
promised to surrender myself at the end
of the evening, but it was to no purpose
he was obstinate. In the absence of the
manager, who had been luckily called
away, | confessed by dilemma to the
prompter, and he, influenced by good feel
ing and the promise of 4 present on the
morrow. consented to allow the tragedy
to go on, in spite of my being perpetually
haunted.
In a few minutes the tale was in every
dressing room, and the company choking
with laughter, but as it was not an affair
OF theirs they did not offer any objection
to the constant Interpolation of my IA
Tiers accursed spirit. Polonius' inter
view was shadowed by his presence, and
although the ancient chamberlain took
his leave the substitute of Higgins re-
mained fixture. Plagued by Rosen-
cranz and Guildenstern. | was still more
bored by the abominable shade, who in
truded upon my interview with Ophelia,
listened to the scoding | gave the queen
and looked on while stabbed Polonius.
l felt like man who on the steps of
the gailows receives a repIeve Alas, my
head was not out of the moose yet AS
was standing at the wing, in readiness
for my entrance for the fifth act, no.
ticed the manager looking on from the
other side. | shuddered. | knew his
violence and tyranny, and / trembed Mt
his rage should he stay there to witness
the ghosts unusual presence. | spoke to
the bailiff's man; implored him to leave
me for the rest of the tragedy; promised
him money. anything he should demand
but it was in vain. My anxiety to be
away from him only confirmed him in
his suspicious that | wanted to use the
opportunity to escape.
Despair made me desperate. called a
scene shifter, and while | pointed to one
of the fly pieces, as if it was of that
was speaking, whispered words of very
different import in his ear. The man
nodded aud hurried away, while |, to
keep up appearances. again begged the
ghost to remain invisible, of course
without making any impression upon his
obstinate nature. In minute the scene
shifter returned. "It's all right. sir" he
said. at will be arranged directly" A
glance thanked him.
IF you still persist in being at my ell
bow" | said to my ghost, 81 must trou.
bic you to shift your quarters, as | enter
at the back OF the scene"
He accompanied me as requested. fol.
lowed by the scene shfter. and as we
stopped | heard the cue given for my en-
trance. | turned to my ally, who stamp
ed sharply on the stage, and a knock un-
derneath replying to his signal, he seized
the ghost as the trap upon which they
stood opened, and in a moment they
were both hidden from my sight. The
bailif's man knew enough of stage mech.
anism not to venture upon struggle
while descending n trap. and, although
he gave me parting look of reproach
and anger, he knew that he was unable
to oppose his fate.
Thus relieved in mind hurried on for
the grave scene with a lghtened spirit,
and everything went well accordingly
My quips with the gravedigger, my
Yorick speech, Imperial Caesar, dead
and turned to clay" all brought torrent
of applause, and when leaped into the
grave the whole house was enthusiastic.
had just said to Laertes, II, prithee
take thy fingers from my throat" when
| felt other hands besides those of
Ophelia's brother assaling me. knew
too well who grappled me, and, assured
that the time for eXpostulation was gone.
prepared for a short struggle TO get rid
of the ghost, at any rate for that scene.
AT the same moment | heard the deep
tones of the manager but in the CON
fusion | could not understand what he
said. had not long to wait, however
before I saw the execution of his orders.
The first gravedigger, advancing from
the back of the scene, seized the ghost
by the arms, and, giving him preparu-
tOrV swing Slunp him IN hic chouI,lar,