The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-14

unregarded for a week. Never had Leath-
erbys so little encouragement to stay,
never so grievous lack Of means TO get
away. Business had been bad, and worse
than bad even for q strolling company
And now!
the whole concern was fallen on evil
times and its early welfare was gone
with its early paint All show of sal
aries had been dropped months ago, and
equal division made of what poor sums
might remain after expenses. But now
II seemed that an end had come to all
things. Once upon a time the show had
been wont to travel by rail and the
buskers to take cheap lodgings; now It
moved as il might, and sheltered the COM
pany itself. 1t had crawled into Crow
prldse drawn by two angular horses hir-
ed in the last town, but there seemed nc.
possibility of its ever crawling out I'M
less the company harnessed themselves
ana dragged 1t. The load of one van
stood more or less erect, with groan and
nap at each stir of wind. and was the
theater in the other Leatherbv himself
and his wife had taken to lodge with
their daughter of II, Lou: called in print
IN the DAYS when 1t ran to bills Miss Sv-
b.lla de We're
1t was horrible place this Crowbridao.
NOBODY would trust, nobody would SUPPORT
the drama. As for trust gallant cent
Teddy Norton, general utihty-all the com
pany were general utility-was endoed in
the best mixture of clothes the show wo,,l1
get together, and sent forth TO pledge tbe
creolt or the concern with butcher and
baker. He did il all with an air moor
fel'ow-somewhat the air Of a private seq
rotary comforting royal appointrnent in
person; and he was careful TO stfDuIafa
Tor the punctual presentation of bills nexr
saturday But the Crowbridge shop
Keepers We're a stony-hearted. even a
stony-faced, lot. and they wanted money
down, and made no bones Of saving 80
without circumlocutlon. And as for the
drama, they would nave none of it-it
would seem, indeed that most of them
judged it sinful; for Crowbridge was a
most duh and proper place and the money
II sent to Leatherby's doors scarce pail
for lamp oil.
Patronage" too. failed utterly. and ev-
cry cover was drawn blank Chiefly and
first, Leatherby attacked Barring Spencer.
Esquire. and alta cked hiIa again and
again. Barring Spencer. Esquire. would
neither send his servants, nor support a
special performance nor presently. per-
NIT Leatherhy staining room on his doo~-
step. II seemed thGt something must be
got out of Barring spencer Esquire; il
only he were pes.ered CROUCH. For he
was man Of vast projects in money and
companies and he vas here at Crow
PIhAF WncI@ ne udd taken a turnls he'd
house for a few months. with schemes N
bicycle factories that would make the
place sch. Indeed it was said that ne
was buying the house outright. and would
some day go to Parliament for the county.
The local paper was full CT Barring Spen-
GER Esquire, his undertakings and his de-
signs for the nourishment and glory Of
Crowbrdge, He "patron.zed" everything
and his name was everNWLt re. So that 1,
was dorlly maddenins 10 find him re o.
Lutte not to patrOnize the drama as repre-
sented by Leatherbys. There was his
house, almost in sight Of tho pitch" ana
his fame and his .dorS pcrvaded Crow
bride. II would Sc an that every apAli-
cant might tap him if not for money, for
his name, except Leatherby. Him ne
would not even see.
Last night had been bad indeed at the
show. They had tried "A wonderful YER
sion of "The Courier of Lyons" slashed
and battered out of an recognition. to ut
the five male ana three female members
of the company, and the only two scenes
available; and the house" 1.-TWO ana four
pence and few passed-in loafers) had
merely staggered and ratified Ills feet To-
morrow would be Christmas and unless
something occurred desperately like a mir
\ acle. the festival must be celebrated by a
total fast What could be done? A des-
peIate suggestion Of carol-snging had