The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-05
"Too PROUD TO BEG"
The Latest Halstead Street Academy
Production


There's a theatrical company that
played TOO Proud to Beg" at the Acad-
envy theater in Halstead street last
week But that is not the reason it went
on the stage. Its mission is to show
how virtue backed by a bushel of six
shooters can triumph over a black
mustache and villainy, says the Chi
cago Tribune.
1t was close race that virtue and
villainy ran during the presentation of
Too Proud to Beg" Sometimes it look
ed as though virtue would win, and then
again it seemed for a painful few min
utes as though villainy would triumph,
and the gallery leaned over the railing
and groaned and Kissed in agony. But
just in the last few minutes virtue shot
Splendidly across the line and won out
Virtue and villainy started about even
with villainy few lengths ahead. The
villain was the first one across the line
He came on sloop rugged, carrying ball
last in the shape of black mustache
and cigarette. He was decked out as
police inspector and had his colors fly
ing. The villain stood away on the port
tack after hurried consultation with
some stagehands disguised as thugs, it
developed that there was a bold, bad
band of sandbaggers and porch climbers
In the city, of which the inspector was
the leader There was detective named
Jack Carr in the inspectors office who
the gang, and the inspector told his
faithful band that it would be fine
thing to lure the gallant Carr to a gas
house and then turn out the gas or else
touch match to it. or do something
anyhow so that the future usefulness of
Mr.. Carr would not amount to a gred
deal.
After full arrangements for the fun
eral of Mr.. Carr had been arranged that
gentleman suddenly sailed into view
with top halyards and sky sails set and
lee ScupperS awaSh. The gallery hOWled
with delight. and all of the matinee girls
stopped eating peanuts and chewing
gum for full half minute while they
patted their hands together and said:
"Hain't he sweet F" 20, he's just love-
ly."
The hero and the acknowledgements
from sight for time, and the hero's
two children, aged and 4, came on the
scene. The boy, who was the Oldest,
instructed his young sister in regard to
shooting villains. The two then secret
the inspector and his gang make a few
more arrangements touching on and
appertainin' to the funeral obsequies of
Mr. Carr. The boy runs out of the door
to warn his papa and the villain, chew
ing great holes in his black muStache
and swearing "S'death,' starts after
him. But just at that moment the lit
tie girl jumps from behind a chair, and
holding up a young cannon about as
big as herself commands the villain to
stop or die. The villain shrfnks back
while the curtain goes down amidst
whoops and cheers.
| In the next scene we have view of
the gas house and see the villains max
ing the funeral arrangements for Mr.
Carr. They disappear and the gallant
detective hoves in sight. He says, This
must be the place." and goes In.
The villains meet him at the doorway
and hit him with a stuffed club. The
hero shrieks I'm stabbed" and falls tc
the floor, while a sympathetic matinee
girl down in the audience wipes her
streaming eyes and murmurs, We'll
wouldn't that frost you"
Flame and smoke burst from the gas
house, and 1t looks as though the fu-
neral were going to be pulled Off ac-
cording to the schedule. But, Ia! there
is a shout from the gallery. The small
hoy rushes madly az the scene and at