The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-27
New York Sun.

Il was Win a aust SNOW 'OIlCe
that was saved from bankruptcy down
in these parts by a speech said an
old theatrical man, telling stories
in the hotel office. I'VE were headed
south when the manager was called
to Chicago by sickness in his family,
and I was ordered in from advance
work to take his. place. There were
ten or twelve men, including the car
penter and electrician, and three
girls.
I'm Texas we had a hard run of
luck, such as comes. to all show
men once in awhile, but I knew we
would pull out Of the hole when we
struck the big towns on the way back
to St. Louis, and succeeded in meet
ing salaries until we reached Shreve-
port, La, where there was a big lot
of paper, G.. O.. D., awaiting us. It
took nearly everything out Of the
treasury, but we had to have it.
1T was salary day, and called the
weeks extension. They granted it
with apparent willingness, and we set
out for Helena, Ark, where we were
billed for Thanksgiving. Night. The
box office showed $3.50 when the time
came to raise the curtain,tb 1t didn't
raise went back behind the scenes.
whats the matter? p asked.
t"S.Faust has vamoosed,' said Rob-
erts, who played Mephisto, and was
dressed ready to go on.
t II thought knew what the matter
was, and /. ran over to the hotel on
! the double quick. Faust was in the
office, his feet on the stove, putting
a cigar.
whats your game, Davis?' I
asked. rs.
/" 'salary-$6O. want it right now
| or I don't go on > said he.
"He got the stage carpenter and
J two others to join him, and l couldn't
| do anything with him. I only had a
+, few dollars, and if we didn't get our
part of the nights receipts the pros
i poets for counting the ties into st.
7 Louis were good
! II went back and told my troubles
(, to Roberts, and it happened that Rob
| erts was a fine hand at speech He
! said he would go out and Jolly the
audience bit. He did. I watched
| him at the corner of the curtain
| Roberts was dressed in red. wore
pair Of horns and looked horrible.
! "'Gentlemen and ladies' he said
we're in a devil Of fix.
"He looked the part so well that
the audience cheered the joke.
"'Faust has struck for his salary
and Marguerite declares there aim
another man in this show she'd LEI
kiss her We hate to have You &c
without seeing a play, for, to tell the
truth, we need the money.
There. was a good deal OF cheer
ing and laughter at this, and I guess
it elnboldened Roberts for the au
dacious proposition he made.
1--WE don't want to spoil your ful
and we don't want to Jose our money
Now, we haven't any other costumes
along, but if you think you coult
stand for a Hamlet dressed. in red
with horns and the gentleman VIII,
; produces the fiery flakes that fall int
! hades. with a white sheet over him
as the. Ghost, and a girl with fluffy
corn-colored hair and a white aprol
for Ophelia. why. we'll do our hes
: to deliver the goods.
: :.Amid the yells that followed
5 man arose in, the pit and moved tina
Hamlet be substituted for Faust
The motion was carried unanimously
Every player who had stayed wit
!, us was familiar with Hamlet. eve
l the, electrician who had been an acto
before he went into mechanics bein
a. pretty fair declaimer OF courst
!, there: was considerable doubling vi
: and some parts were necessaril
: omitted; but the audience stood 70
, 1T, and was more generous than
= would have been If we were bette
prepared to present the play. It wa
!. hard to give the scenes the. prope
: solemnity with. the grotesque costume
and the audience did more laughin
! than sorrowing over Han1let's trouble
= = II ..while the troupe was doing II
best to earn what had been paid int
q the box office, got busy. First,
. telegraphedas to Chicago for anothe
4 Faust to be in Helena by Saturda
: night without fail, and got satisfat
tory answer. Then I went with tf
manager Of the t11eater stosa Justice
the peace and had an attachment Il
:, sued against our property in favor {
- the manager, so as to prevent tt
striking hands from tying US up.
g got back Just in time to have Rober
announce to the audience that a brar
new Faust was on the way to tow
and that the play-Would be presente
with all it's magnificence on Saturds
night.
Next morning the fellows who he
left us; went to the justice to get o.
: an attachment only to learn they he
slept on their rights. Our new Eau
IS got in on Saturday afternoon, and
was a daisy-tall, ine-lcoking, ar
r with an excellent voice. The fick
X Marguerite took to him at once. II
house was packed, and we left TOW
the next day with $500 to the goo
4 The people of Helena assured us
al we ever came back and played Han
Ilet' in Faust costumes again they
+ = : ~