The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-31
RARE GOOD STORIES OF
STAGE LIFE IN SCOTLAND.
]. II. stoddart, Who Comes to ST. Louis This Week as the Star Of
"The Bonnie Brier Bush" Recalls His Early
Experiences as an Actor.

our meager supply OF properties. Howevef,
the curtain finally went up and in the first
act came the first duel when the Leading
man. talking the center OF the stage. I'M
sheathed his sword ard in a loud tone Of
voice read the line:
Demon OF death. come settle OF me
sturdy blade"
Never shall I forget the tone OF voice
this actor used. nor the manner in which
be glared at HIS small audience. Two OF
the five grabbed their hats and made for
the door. The traged!ar. with a snort. took
one step nearer The footliPhts and, waving
his weapon. continued the speech IN this
amer
And to the double slaughter guide II
home
Again the glare a: the remaining three
ana t~o more fOl!owed the example OF the
rest of the audience. leaving one nervous
little red-headed man sitting in the front
row and tWir,.ng his anEers in a manner
which indicated anxious apprehension. The
acton continued for a couple OF mo-
meuts. and then the hero bounded down tbs
stage 10 the f~ootiights. pointed his sword ~
the little red-headed man and shouted:
The lover and the husband both muA
pCr'sh"
This was too much for the rest Of the
audience. and. taking its cap. II mads .
front Of the house. the t~ragedian, with .
graceful wave OF the arm and In q calm
voice exclaimed.
Good evening. sir
All. me-" continued th. old actor. That
was an odd season. II was during this year
I Joined another troupe that was presenting
the Shakespearean tragedy. We were play
ing in one OF the provincial cities In Eng
land when n new actor. an inexperienced
amateur. Joined the company and was as
signed the role OF RatcliHe In which to
make his debut in the play Of Richard NJ
During the progress OF the piece there 10
one line. after a quick entrance, and ad-
dressed to King Richard. in which he saysf
My Lord. the Duke OF Buckingham n
taken"
Il can remember on the frst night Of hss
appearance he was frightfully nervous and
was anxious 70 proclaim the fact that tbs
Duke Of buckingham was taken. as he had
been practicing It and studying Il for sew
cral weeks. The result was he got the
wrong cEe and made bis entrance befors
time. crying out: My lord. the Duke Of
Buckingham Is taken"
Richard turned to him and IN an mds-
tone said: Get Off Get on! Yours toe
soon
THE actor Iest the stage mortified and
more ratified than ever-so that scarcely
was he in the wings than he again macs
the mistake and proclaimed that the luke
OF Buckingham was taken. Richard turned
upon him for a second time and told him %
ieaNe the stage he also whispered. some
body take care OF that idiot and tell him
when to make his entrance The prompter
grabbed the actor by the hand and when
the proper time came, said: Now is your
time. Tell Richard he's taken
The actor rushed on the stage, hedtatsA
looked at Richard. and then in a m~esaphonf
tone OF voice exclaimed: We have him ~
George. and we have him surer
It believe the curtain went down. and .
I remember rightly, the curtain was IA
the only thing that went down"