The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-28
THE CALL BOY AND
THE "0LD MAN"
How Dick Went on and Played the
Part when Granddad Broke Down.
By Douglas zabriskie Doty.

BY Douglas Zabriskie Doty
The call boy of Fraley's Theater sat on
an old trunk in stuffy little dressing
room lit by one feeble, Pickering gas jet.
In his hands were some pages of type
written matter and opposite with one
skinney hand resting on the dressing table
for support, stood an old man, very tall
and dreadfully thin.
mo. Granddad." the lad was saying.
Your cue is: All! Here is Sommers. he
can tell u.s..
Yes, yes! Dick. of course" the old man
mumbled, running one hand through his
thin white hair. And then l say-let's
see what do say then-I seem to find
it so hard to remember my lines. / must
be getting old. And tonight is the first
night of the new show play. l must
work very hard. If forget as did last
week I'll surely be discharged; Smalley
told me I'd get fired If l made another
balk."
"Ah! but you won't, you know. Grand
dad" the boy retorted cheerfully. THAT
was because you weren't quite yourself.
You had one of those dizzy spells. But
you're feeling strong to-day, aren't you,
Granddad land you'll lie down for rest
before going on tonight"
ITO be sure!" cried the other, straight
ening himself and folding his arms across
his chest, as he had been wont to do in
the old days when as hero of the piece
he hurled taunts and defiance at the viii
lain. II really feel unusually well to-
day. IL must feel well,' he nodded with
pathetic vehemence, as he sank back
YEARLY In the one chair the room pos
sessed. Dick pretended not to notice the
hopelessness of the others attitude and
he said nothing; but his heart was heavy
within him, for he knew that Smalley had
meant what he said. Only that afternoon
he had overheard the stage manager say
to one of the cast IT'S time Old Man
Williams was put on the shelf; his useful
days are about over"
With infinite patience the boy went
over and over the lines that the old man
must be sure of before eight that night.
AT times the poor. WORKOUT old brain
would show a spark of it's former quick
ness and William would spout" his lines
in way to gladden. Dicks heart. Then
of sudden, like the sun gone under a
cloud, the old fellows memory would fail
him and he could not remember a single
line
1t was very small part-that of but
ler-with only one important scene in
which the faithful old retainer is forced
to testify against the young master whom
he loves.
Dick knew the part by heart, so often
had he made his grandad go through it.
1t was a quarter to eight, the vast audi
torium was rapidly filling and across the
footlghts and through the green baize
curtain could be heard the faint squeak
of fiddles being tuned.
Dick, as call boy, was dressed as usual
in his tight-fitting suit of blue. smart with
nnumerable brass buttons, for Fraleys
Theater was noted for it's perfect APP
poantments and general air of elegance. It
was the boys busiest time. He flew noise-
lessly up and down darksome corridors
and lodged in and around moving masses
of scenery. 1t was his business to see
that all the performers were present and
ready to go on when their cue came.
For most of the actors 1t was a bur-
ried knock at the dressing room door,
and a quick call for the first act"
But with the star and the two or three
principal people it would be-: THE first
act is on if you please, Miss Adams"
To have the call boy mention ones
name in calling was always mark Of
distinction.
Long before It was time Old Man Will
Jams was dressed in the claret-colored
waistcoat, and lowering about the wings
mumbling over and over to himself his
opening lines.
The overture was ended: STAND readyv'
cried the stage manager. The bell In the
wings rang and slowly and majestically
the curtain rose on a handsome drawing
room scene.
Williams first scene was rather hum
orous one, in which he shows the door
oil FOL xyh fftef
been impudent to the young mistress of
the house.
Not for years had williams shown so
much spirit and quiet humor as he did
in this scene and as he made his exit the
audience gave him a hearty round of ap-
plause.
Dick caught the old man around the
waist and Rugged him as he came out
into the wings.
Bully for you. Granddad," he muir
INJURED excitedly. That's the best bit of
acting you've done In five years.
The old man was trembling violently,
and Dick made him sit down in a chair
to wait for his next entrance, which
would come I'm about twenty minutes.
'Did-did you hear the housev cried VIII
lisms. why. they greeted me like
prince. Haven't heard anything like II
since I played 'Mercutio in Romeo and
Juliet. 1t was almost enough for a cur
tain call. Pom my soul, IL I'd been a
principal, l believe that'd have had me
out!"
The old chap was trembling now as
though he had had the palsy. and as
Dick grabbed one of his withered hands,
Just to give 1t a congratulatory squeeze,
he felt his Granddad's pulse beating
beating-as though 1t must burst The
boy looked up into the others face with
sudden anxiety. Don't get so excited
Granddad!' he said. soothingIy. Just