Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-04

''bad business and by the robberIes
of rascally managers, so that If debts
were but assets here would sit a COM
pany Of affluent persons sponging for
drinks in the Crown. Scarce a town
in the kingdom but u or other had
been stranded in it. They counted tia
successful engagement that brought
first to last half the stipulated salary,
and, though 1t was held "too bad"
when a manager bolted with the
money bags, the thing was so common
as scarce to seem worse than a piece
Of rather sharp practice.
Last, poor old Leatherby himself, a
sad figure of a stout man worried thin,
joined the group and drew another
round of drinks. 1t was hard, very
hard, to maintain the dignity proper
to n proprietor and manager conscious
the while that he, ~ he, had fallen
to "press" for a drink among stran-
gers, though in truth he did his best.
That night they played "The Ticket
Of Leave Man'-played 1t with the en-
ergy of despair. Whatever that per-
Torrance might bring was oil that lay
between them and the lack of a
Christmas dinner, and worse lack than
that. Hendy played Bob Briefly to
bis wife's May Edwards. Leatherby
doubled Meter Moss and Mr.. Gibson,
with a rush round the back and a
change Of coat in the office scene,
played with a cottage interior. Billy
Mack doubly. too-Maltby and Green
Jones-and Leatherby's daughter was
Sam WilIoughby and Miss St Eyre
mond by turns, while Mrs. Leatherby
as Mrs. Willoughby. Teddy Norton as
Hawkshaw the detective and Davis
as Dalton had only n part apiece to
think about. So that on the whole the
play was fairly complete and regular,
save for a cut or a botch in rare
places and a lack of crowds here and
there. 1t was not a comforting play
altogether for the players. Money had
to be f1ourished recklessly in some
scenes, and a basket Of trotters made
Of rolled rags. and once Hendy had
to pretend that he couldn't eat a bis
cult.
But the house-well, it was better
than last night, by e~ighteenpence. The
butcher came and brought a friend.
He was not SO bad a fellow after all
In his ovSl way, and he did his best to
applaud for the whole house. Butshalf
the rest were boys, disciples Of the local
vr,{% n I,0c%lo,,a frpr, tho CY.nrUn and
these made the nights work harder.
Hawkshaw was called "Lockjaw" or
"Lockjaw the Defective" and the sally
drew yells of delight at every repeti-
ton. A certain frock coat that from
time to time adorned a different char
acter, in accordance with necessity,
was greeted with cheerful recognition
at each temperance, and "Garn, 1t
amt your t~urn-you've 'ad it on twice"
was the indignant reproof that met Mr..
Gibson in the Office scene. And toward
the end Leatherby (as Meter Moss
came forward with injured. IiA,nity and
a large potato, which he prAEsted that
no gentleman would have thrown.
All was done that Leatherby's could
do, and all was done In vain or very
near 1t. A few pence apiece was oil
the poor strollers had to see them
through Christmas and to get them
away from this abhorrent town. The
men shared a screw Of tobacco and
turned in as best they might. Mrs.
Hendy was hear to tears as she left
the stage, and she INDUCED In a pas
sionate and re%proachful outbnrst as
soon as she and her husband were
alone. For his part, he could but feebly
protest that it wasn't his fault.
Mice situation this is for me-" she
scolded; "and then to be told it's not
your faultl' Here she wept afresh.
"Of course you put on to me-like q
man. Oh, oh, to think / ever was such
a fool as to bring 1t on myself"
But, my DEAR" Hendy began, with
entreaty in his voice
"Oh, don't talk to me" she answered,
pushing away the hand he had put on
her shoulder. ITO think I should come
to this! And then you tell me it's my
fault"
Hendy drew of to sulk alone. Weak
characters both, their sentiment Qike
most sentiment) was rooted in self
pity, and this, their M remaining lux
ury, was best concentrated when they
quarreled. The last embers of the coke
fire gave the sole light, and the woman
sat before them with her face upon her
knees.
Suddenly a loud burst Of singing star
tied the pair, for the sound came, as it
were, out Of nothing, and it was close
to their ears:
The first good Joy that Mary had,
1t was the joy Of one,
To sec the blessed Jesus Christ
When he was first her Son. III
When he was first her Son, Good Lord.
And happy may we be! I
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
70 all eteruityi
The carolers had come over the snow
uphoord md now choirbOyS' voices