New-York tribune., 1902-07-24
TALE OF HONEST MAN.
AN ACTOR INNKEEPER WHO LOVES HIS
FELLOWS-A STUDY.

Long Beach. Long Island. July % (speciaD.-The
best time TO the old actor innkeeper is just be-
fore supper time. after party of fishermen have
come in with good catch. supper comes any
hour of the night or early morning. that the
best time is at time particular. But it doesn't
make any difference to Jack Wright Chat is not
his name, but enough for present purposeS)
what the hour is so long the men hun
cry as their many fish little earlier in the
day He cares not for night day-its the meals
that take his time Burdened with the care of sup
plying score or two of famished fishermen with
the proper relief. he hustles about his house the
busiest this side of Oyster Bay. He greets all
his guests by name Some of them he has played
with on the boards, others have been his boon
companions for years. Ii is a novel and not alto
gether unpleasant sensation to feel himself occupy
ing the position of host to these gentlemen well.
jim" says he have some of that lobster like we
used TO have it down there? Ha, ha! Do you
member first there? And you, Tony. how IL
you have your clans? Boiled? Whoever heard of
boiled clans? Oh. roasted? Sure; just minute.
Then he rushes off to the kitchen. Back again in
a jiffy. he goes the whole round of guests get
ting their Individual orders and carrying them out
to the cook All the time the bar has been fire.
quently visited. Never cent" yes Jack. this
is my treat. The that dares offer me
penny for the cool stun tonight gets out o here
quicker'n the ghosts exit. Come. here's to the
tragedy of the fish and the comedy of the fisher
men,
Then the supper comes on and the indefatisable
host joins with the rest in eating drinking and
singing. Great stories of catches told, the
mishaps and victories of the day rehearsed TO
Jack. and tales each other passed off. amid
general hilarity If the supper began late in the
evening ii would be long after day appeared that
Jack would go to the door, and, standing for
a while the threshold looking out the inlet
and swamps. come back and announce TO his COM
rades that it getting kind o. late" But it
very likely they were all to take early
morning train to the city that friendness would
continue until the whistle blew.
But, though this might be the best time to
Jack Wright. there is another time nearly as
good. That is during evening $ he stands out
his piazza scanning the bay for any signs Of his
fishing parties. He is patient. for he knows how
easily day is prolonged with Jealous fisher
man. So a friendly caller is warmly welcomed and
made at home Immediately. Old Jack in spite of
his new business is an actor through and through.
Simple hearted kindly. confidential he is no longer
the hearty Faistaff Of the supper time He pats a
little boy on the head. comments life after the
With as much simplicity and frankness as he Would
reCite the biography of a fellow that died a
year ago. He recognizes and admits the sins Of
his profession hut makes ire nobier e5a NO. obIa
by taking that phase of 1t matter OF course.
HIS own shortcominss and past mistakes he CON
virtues That he has any probably never entered
autobtographicaly inclined, confidential. simple
happy in the memory Of few past triumphs and
they go right home when they don't get anything')
the old actor innkeeper had many things tell me
His big round face grows serious he forgets even
the fishermen for while as he comments. and
strengthened there and yet not in a pessmistic
way for life is. on the whole. he thinks eX-
interesting anecdote when suddenly he cries:
There she comes: there's Molly J. And dye
good mess HalIoa. halloa, there. how many?
What'li You have?"