The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-25
AID FROM GALLERY
Old Actor Richly Enjoys
Watching Spectators.

Eyes" said the old actor. as he washed
the .greace paint off his face after the
matinee the other day. Eyes, we do see
some funny things on the stage The
INES OF the author are frequently anus
ing, as they are meant to be- and we
laugh at the odd conceits which the lines
OF some of our comedies contain. Some
how or other though, they frequently
smell of the refuse box where thew have
lald for years. But, after ALL the funniest
things come from the audience i'm
promptu. Then the spectators really add
10 the enjoyment of our patrons. Why, 1
remember one play
But I'll begin at the beginning and tell
you funny thing that happened one night
when we were playing in a city not 100
miles from Newark 1 have seen many a
humorous situation on the stage but they
are usually thought out well in advance.
1t is when you get id-bit from the other
side of the footlights that you really
laugh.
And didn't the audience howl! But
I'll tell you.
"A few years ago. when 1 was with a
three hundred pound star in a series of
rather blood curdling plays, we struck the
city of x. We We're playing of course
the leading theater, ana as both plays and
actress were popular and-though maybe
1t don't be to say it-she had first-class
company, 1T Is not strange that We had a
week OF great prosperity.
Wei, everything went along smoothly
until the very last dash out of the box
that is to say, till the final curtain was
night.
And then
I'VE finished the weeks programme
with thriller. The play closed on field
covered with dead, down a slope and into
the midst of whom the dying heroine rolls
Just as the curtain falls. Now, our lead
ing lady, as L have said, was not what
you would call featherweight. and 1t
was an unluc6ly super of a soldier that
this night CHANGED to be lying right In her
path as she came down the decline. There
was grunt that reached the furthermost
seat IN the gallery as her massive form
struck him and a yell of joy from the
audience as she rolled squarely on top
OF his PROSTATE foTm-and stopped.
but the worst was yet to come. Gasp
ing for breath, the dead man waited for
the curtain to fall.
Down it came, foot at a time. while
he gasped on and wondered if he could
reached the floor
Consideration! It had stopped. and
moment later went shooting upward
"A moment more and it made another
brave attempt and the stage hands man
aged to half lower it before it again shot
upward. A final and a fourth trial. but
to no avail. The poor fellow who was
pinned to the floor was in almost his last
breath, the dead soldiers were beginning
to raise their heads in an endeavor to
locate the seat of trouble, and broad
smile was on every face In the house
LAS usual thing at least third of the
audience never waits to see the curtain
drop. but this night they all seemed to be
glued to their seats.
What We would have done I really
don't know, but suddenly, from the top
most gallery; came a piping voice:
down the azbestus curtain?'
THE fight was won, and the fast expir-
ing super was saved. With bound one
of the slain was on his feet and, amid a
shout of derision from the orchestra seats
as well as gallery ran from the stage and
down came the asbestos. Newark
News.