The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-04
REVOLT OF THE ABUSED ACTOR.


and endeavored TO finish Ignatius Donnel-
ly's socialistic novel, "Caesar's Column.
Presently the words faded before my
eyes. ano in their place arose a vision
1 seemed to see Union Square and ar
immense crowd OF people. which eventu-
ally drifted toward the Morton house, in
front OF which the crowd slowly and de-
corousiy formed into a procession. Some
of them bore garlands.
Then spake one of their number.
We will stop first at Union Square
and there on the ancient shrine of the
actor we viii lay our offerings.
The procession moved slowly forward. II
was arranged as a play would be cast
First came the leading men, then the
''heavies' closely followed by the juye-
niles, in whose footsteps followed the
comedians, and lastly came a miscella-
neous collection of old men and eharac-
ter actors.
Among the women the same order pre-
vailed. and the long line of peroxide SOU
brettes looked strangely wierd with the
expression of stern determination which
marked every face.
They appeared as ordered al Union
Square, the women laid down their gar
ands, the men barred their heads, and
some of the old timers wept as they
thought of the Rialto of the past.
This duty performed they moved stead
lily onward TO the Rialto OF the present
So quietly did they conduct themselves
that, though many stopped TO gaze, none
interfered, for who could guess that he
meath their calmness and order lurked a
fell purpose-that of exterminating every
manager and agent who had turned them
down.
They stopped AT every theater along the
line; the heavy men detached themselves
from the procession. entered the theaters,
and at the muzzles of some prop" pistols
conducted their victims. who were given
the option of going or being shot. into the
street
When they had secured al their victims.
with bated breath the order was given:
"On 70 the Empire"
At this theater almost the entire body
filed in. On the first floor they captured
a booking agent, and the memory of some
of the routes over which he had sent
them filed them with such uncomfortable
rage that they half killed him. then drag
ged him upstairs to witness their fiDal
triumph.
Then with this unfortunate and the va
rious other satellites of that great court
they poured into the office. where sphinx
like sat Charles, the Emperor of the En-
pire and ruler of the Theatrical World.
eating chocolate creams.
They surrounded him. He was about to
beg for mercy, only his elder brother
threw him one of those stern and pene-
trating glances. for which he is famous,
and this nerved the emperor to calmness.
The emperor once secured. they turned
his Office into a court OF justice and pro-
ceeded then and there to try their pris-
oners
1t was decided they should engage capa-
bic men to manage the captured theaters.
The agents were condemned to come
every morning, and after waiting half an
hour would be told: There is nothing
doing today" If they failed they were to
be quietly put out OF the way by the
members Of the society.
The managers were sentenced to read
all plays submitted, and to see all appli-
cants for engagements, but after all none
OF THESE things were of any Importance,
as compared with the trial of the en-
peror, his court and his brother
The brother came first, as he operated a
small kingdom on his own hook. AS he
stood forth one of the light comedinans
murnured: "A Daniel come to judgment"
but he was speedily hushed, for the prince
began to speak.
Il am ready for any fate, for nothing
you can devise can be worse than the
cares and anxieties of a manager forced
made mistakes in the past have suffered.
l resign my kingdom gladly if in your
mercy you viii spare me my wheel
On his swearing never to dabble in the
atricals again he was banished 10 his ma
tive city.
Then the eyes OF the mob feI on the
booking agent. Howls OF -age arose, ana
the trembling wretch was dragged before
the judges. One of them spake sternly:
Before We pronounce sentence upon
you. you must make known to US the
method whereby you were enabled to
book the horrible routes over which you
sent us.
elf me pistol and I win show you"
quivered the unhappy wretch.
''Delsarte illustration is unnecessary: a
verbal Description will suffice Proceed"
Veil. hung me on der vail a map.
Then [ stood me off from it ten PAGES.
Then | fired me a revolver. and which
ever town [ hit l booked me der com
pany. But hat mercy: | an poor shoti'
The judge answered sternIy: "Of that
we are unfortunately aware You are
sentenced to a life's season of one night
stands over o route OF your own booking
the season to begin next week IN e.
Dorah."
The souls Of the actors were filed with
horror as the CHASTITY sentence was melted
out. and the stricken agent was led forth.
a veritable wanderer upon the face Of
the earth.
As the emperor was summoned he turn
cd TO the ranks OF leading men. and.
singing out one who had once been a
leading man but who had now gone
higher, he asked:
Henry. cannot you. whom I employed
for so long a time. speak word in my
defenseY
Sire. quoth Henry. 1t is the memory
OF what I suffered at your court IN being
forced TO appear in such a long line OF
bad parts that has made ne Join in this /
uprising. Ny heart is stone"
After this futile appeal the emperor /
knew his case was helpless and steeied f!
himself 10 meet his doom.
Charles. Emperor OF the Theatrical 1
World, you are condemned 10 De taken I
this day 10 the basement OF this building. /
where you are 70 be kept in solitary CON
hnement for the rest u your natural Hfs. 4
save when. at intervals. your jaiiors shall I
conduct You forth to witness perform /
auce OF one OF your imported plays. the .
actors thereof to De the students from
your school Of acting. and may the Lord 4
have mercy on your soul
4 shudder shook the smperors frame
Then. wretchinE himself free from MS 1
captors. n rushed To Els desk seized a 4
japanese paper cutter. and stabbed him
SELF - the heart. Death was preferable +
10 such a fate
Thus ended the monarchy q Charles the 4
First. and Likewise NY dream VIVA {ig-
den n the Sew York Telegraph
Collection Of Kansas Comics.
The candidate carried a very ioag face.
For ne had been left By The way.
Cheer NJ. said a friend You have lost
IN u