Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-04

had Of referring to female clerks. 1t was
an undeserved rsprM$hd. for these fellows
about women in the departments But
that was long ago. and there were some
people whose consciencesS were not so rigid.
But what I mea2 p say is that beauty
painters might choosekfor models, is a rare
commodity, but noble. honorable, patient,
toiling women. with all the attributes of
goodness about them, are in every office Of
There was general assent to this and the
old clerks remarks received applause,
which La not common in the "Reminiscences
pene and h not the haze se p
the eulogium was mas in the nature of a
speech than "REMINISCENCES.
A Thespian Experience.
The evening was yoiingsyet and there was
time for further entertainment. This was
furnished by rather stout young old fell
low. with a red mustache. very percepti-
BILE limp and wearing a bronze button in
dicating that he was a member of the G.
A. r. He told story of his experience as
a Thespian and member Of one of John
T. Ford's companies before the war. Here
Is his narrowing tale:
There was to be q great performance of
Hamlet one night at the old National
rest. the great, in the title role. of course.
Joe jefferson was the first grayedigger,
Humphrey Bland, known to all old Wash
ington and Baltimore theatergoers, played
Polonius and the beautiful Charlotte
Thompson was the 0phelia Of the eventful
occasion. aT
IT was not originally in the cast. but the
fellow who was to be the ghost got sick or
sent for early IN the morning-it was the
opening performance of the week-and told
to study up the ghost, 1 would have to
play it. l protested. but protests were not
good, and I went to work and studied faith
fully. all day. When the curtain arose that
night 1t went up before a magnificent audi
of Representatives, diplomats. justices OF
the Supreme Court and digntaries in abun-
dance were present. Horatio and Marcellus
and Bernardo were on watch. and as had
nothing to do with those fellows but stalk
about and scare themfI got along very well.
Soon. however. entered the melancholy
Dane. the great Forrest. The applause that
greeted him nearly took my breath away,
but it was nathing to what followed, when,
after acknowledging with many bows the
thunderous reception, he turned upon me
and in voice that l will never forget
moaned out, Angels and ministers of grace
defend u.s. and demanded to know if I was
"a spirit Of health or goblin damn'd,' and
asked why l revisited the glimpseS of the
moon and made night hideous and all that
sort of thing. ] didn't know l didn't
know anything. l didn't know enough to
beckon to my son, as the ghost always does
at this partof the proceedings. just wob-
L
prompter came to the rescue. He grabbed
my helmet and scepter, got a white sheet
and played the ghost, while had played
the devil-with my future prospects as an
actor. 1 did apply to old man Bland, who
was stage manager, for further employ
ment and he said they were about to pro-
duce Uncle Toms Cabin soon and posi-
bly, I might have a chance to appear as
Little Eva. Not long after that went SOL
diering." ~
The member from the city hall district
related briefly an incident that happened
when Imprisonment for debt prevailed in
Washington. This was to the effect that
on a certain occasion during that period a
woman, long a resident Of the capital. who
enjoyed vastly more notoriety than respect
of the jail. and among the prisoners she
and general air of niaserV attracted her at
tention. What is that cd mans indebted
ness" she asked thf 5aEer NJ en- I'D dol
friend in the world, to help him out of his
scrape," she was tod. We'll, will be his
friend that far" said lthe woman. She
paid the debt and the old man was set at
liberty. (which shows" said the club
member. that theEesqIs some redeemfng
quality in almost every bosom. That wo.
man is now resting inothe Congressional
cemetery with a massive marble monument
weighing her down.. he concluded.
Here Tuscarora. the wicked, noted that
the venerable party with his. scythe and
the retiring hour. The youth then. who
had taken little interest in the evenings
proceedings after the lgeftfema from Ire
land concluded his story of war, proceeded
Not long afterward the members of the
"Reminiscences Club-wi their clear con-
sciences and healthy bodies, were In the
land of Nod