Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-11
OUT Or IT

ne snlleu ana accepted With aiacrity.
He had always taken an intelligent in
terest In the drama. AS an amateur ac-
tor he had never had scope, but now
his chance had come.
But at his first essay, flushed with
enthusiasm and fired with hope, he
went at once to invoke the aid Of the
Parkinsons.
Would they help? OF course they
would. Further, they would get the
Maxwell Smiths to help, too, and the
Maxwell Smiths were splendid, espe-
cially George. Between the Parkinsons
and the equally numerous Maxwell
Smiths there were an alliance and q
friendship Of long standing, and it was
possible that one or two Of the younger
members, especially George, might fur
Their cement 1t in the blessed bonds Of
matrimony. So here Mr.. Tarraway had
his company made to his hand. So he
went home happy and dreamed of
playful wherein was written:
Romeo (son to Montague), Mr.. J.
Ashton Tarraway."
And a little farther down:
"Juliet daughter of Capulet, Miss
Agnes Parkinson"
Agnes was certainly the prettiest Of
the Parkinson girls. The Maxwell
Smiths were all good looking, especial
ly George.
But at the very first meeting of the
alliance and Mr.. Tarraway he saw his
hopes dashed They listened with re-
spect to his statement that he was dis
posed to fly somewhat high. But they
were opposed to Shakespeare. George
thought the fairest thing would be to
put 1t to the vote. For Shakespeare
voted Mr.. Tarraway from conviction,
and Miss Parkinson from tact In
favor of a good old farce and some
thing sentimental to follow voted ev-
erybody else.
And that was the beginning Of the
end. Against the family alliance Mr..
Tarraway was powerless. They fiat
tered him hugely, and the more they
flattered him the less did they do any
one of the things that he wanted. When
it came to the selection of piece, it
turned out that George had already
lOOkeu OUT tWo ilttic things that hC
thought would do, though he wished it
clearly to be understood that he did not
want to force them on anybody. The
first was that old fashioned. rollicking
piece, "Wooden Heads" full Of fun and
always a success. The second was that
sweetly pretty little thing in one act
entitled IAN April Love Story"
+hfnfr
insist. Mr.. Tarraway is organizing
this entertainment. and Mr.. Tarraway
must have the right Of veto. We all
value his Judgment, and it must over
rule any opinion which we may form
ourselves"
This was agreed upon at once with
out a single dissentient vote, and Mr..
Tarraway was pleased. Then the two
plays were read.
Mr.. Tarraway did not like either Of
them. They were not his idea Of the
legitimate drama; neither did they con-
tain a good Tarraway part, as he had
conceived it. But he was made to I'M
derstand that If he did upset every
body by going against the majority and
vetoing these pieces he would be
poltroon, an ignoramus and heartless
cad. He did not exercise that veto.
"Of course" said George, II don't
dream Of asking Mr.. Tarraway to take
any part in the farce. That is quite
beneath his attention. 1t is all very
well for us beginners, but | shouldn't
like to see a man like Mr.. Tarraway
waste himself on It,"
Il don't mind a little harmless fun"
said Tarraway feebly.
No" said Miss Agnes Parkinson;
there must be a limit to your kind
ness"
As to the sentimental piece, there
was unanimous cry that George must
play the hero. Tall and handsome, he
would look the part to perfection. Miss
Agnes Parkinson said:
Unless Mr.. Tarraway wishes to play
It himself. We must not forget that he
is organizing this entertainment"
Mr.. Tarraway disclaimed any desire
to play the part wherein he lied.
George accepted it on condition that
Mr.. Tarraway played the manservant,
which in Georges opinion was much
more important part than you would
think from hearing the piece read. He
has seen a great success made with it.
After the second rehearsal they all,
especially George, said that, though
Mr.. Tarraway did the part to perfec-
ton, 1t interfered with his duties as
stage manager. They could not afford
to lose BIN as stage manager. At the
next rehearsal he was asked to give up
the stage management though for the
life of them they did not f-9w where
to find another as good. The fact was
that his clear enunciation and his
splendid Judgment marked him out as
the ideal prompter. He resigned that
post later, when it was found that Mrs.
Minslow. who had taken f5 worth of
tickets, wanted it for her son. As
George said with fine public spirit: 1T
ia not as If we were doing this just to