The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-27
STRIKE LED TO FORTUNE.
Lawyers one-Night Appearance al
 Marks In "Uncle Toms Cabin"

From the New York Sun. They were talking about the strike down at the Lawyers club, when one of the company, now an ex-judge, told this story
 Tt was a strike that decided my des- tiny. l was verdant sprig of the law in county seat of what we now call the middle west. My shingle had creaked in the winds of dreary winter until 1t had lost its shape. and not client had called. foresaw that the time was near at hand when l should have to bolster my credit with my landlord or leave "A strolling Uncle Toms Cabin com pany came to town in search of food and rest and persuaded the sheriff to let them play in tthe court house for three nights. In the afternoon before the first perform ance the manager of the company clam bered up the rickety stairway which led to my office and informed me that one of the members of his company had struck.
 He wanted to know if there was any law which would compel the fellow to act. While trying to think of some statute that would cover the case 1 asked the manager what part the recalcitrant had played. He replied that 1t was Marks, the lawyer
  the manager added;
 "1 don't care so much about forcing him to do the part, If l could get any body to take his place. for he's the poor est stick in the company. He couldn't even play the part of one of the blood hounds
 'I then inquired how much of part Marks was. 1 had never seen the play but once, and 1 couldn't recall any char ba
 "I reckon there is nobody in your town said the manager, who could play the part
 '.I asked him how much he would pay for good man. He replied that 1t was his custom to pay on shares after the box office receipts were counted. He said that Marks had made $2.5O the last night he played, but that he had taken out as much as s35O on several occasions
 After further consultation agreed to do the act In order to work up good house l did little press agent stunt on the side I suggested that he get out some handbills announcing that young lawyer of the town had volunteered to play the part of Marks.
 '"rhe old court house was crowded. Curiosity in the town was on tiptoe to see the lawyer My makeup would have concealed my identity at a masquerade. l had reHeAfseu my part loI LWo hohiS- the first work I had done, by the way, since I opened my shop.
 "But I was not acquainted with the dog in the company. When l came on the dog got loose. and the part he played in trying to dsarrange my umbrella was not in the play In fighting him off, part of my disguise was removed and l stood before the audience, revealed.
 "The house howled with delight l went on with my part and got all the applause. The audience waited for me. After the show was over the manager handed me s5, the first money l had earned in town He offered me a guar antee of s for the next night if 1 would appeal, and promised to tie up the dog.
 But I had enough. l returned to my office. The next day l did some law business 1t coming my way, and inside of a year I had more than could do.
 "A few years later I became prosecut- ing attorney. and then went on the bench. I served three terms, retired, and came east. In a way, l never hear os a strike that I do not feel inclined to sympathize with it.'