The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-02-25
which found him sitting in Mrs. Jen-

which found him sitting In Mrs. Jen-
nings' parlor
do yon remember that night Jon got
out Of window. and took you to the
theater? Well. you see, | didn't care
for the printing business much. | had
a soul above scraping rollers and rolling
ink; and, from the first night | went
into the theater l was stage struck
1t seemed such a jolly. easy life; and
such n glorious thing to see ali the
plays. and act in them. and get rounds
of applause. and wear fine clothes, so
determined to be an actor. | had the
impudence to apply to old Tomkins, the
manager of Bury, for an engagement.
His answer was to kick me out of the
theater as a presumptuous young ape.
But. although this hurt my pride, it did
not damp my ardor. l heard of booth
two or three miles off. One evening
I walked over to the village and offer
ed my services there. They happened
to be i'm want of some one to pull up the
scenes. deliver the bills and go on for
small parts. l was engaged at once.
The printing business saw me no more.
SO instead of rolling ink. | rolled up
scenes. l was very happy for time,
especially when | got a few lines to
speak. BY and by l grew ambitious and
scared in imagination from the first off,
Ger to Macduff, and even to Macbeth. l
got disguised with the mental portion OF
my work; and one fine morning, at a
fair, deserted to an opposition show,
next door, where. in spanged tunlc,
and a pair of russell boots. | scowled
ferociously at my old companions. Then
l managed to get taken on as super at
one of the big theaters, and knowing
something about the business. got pro-
noted to super-master. There met my
esteemed friend, the Professor a gem
tleman who can write B. A. after his
name: who has moved in the most dis
tinguished circles. but who, being at
present under cloud. is compelled to
play General Util at the Royal Corin-
THAN Theater."
"But what sort of characters do you
take?" l inquired, referring back. in
my mind, to my solitary theatrical ex-
perience.
ooh. l veer between the heavy bust
ness and the light comedy he answered
carelessly.
Eyes: between carrying on the chairs
and tables and the candles" dryly re-
marked his friend. speaking for the first
time.
"Oh hang it. l say. now" expostuiat-
ed Josiah. You know the stage man
ager is very much struck with me. and
intends giving me small part in the
new piece. Once let me get my nose in,
and I'll show them what | can do"
you may more correctly say that
the stage manager was struck by YOU"
again remarked the Professor, in the
same sarcastic vein. Il thought you
the other night; in his best scene too
just as he was working up. He ex-
pressed his admira ton of you in very
strong terms; it is a wonder you did not
get your nose between his fingers"
Josiah was getting very angry. To
avert a quarrel, l asked who General
Util' was.
"a person who's supposed to be able
to do everything, and consequently do
nothing, and who's bullied for every
body else's blunders," spitefully replied
Josiah.
After little more pickering. the two
friends, as | suppose l must style them,
went out for walk. l felt quite re-
lieved at being freed from the strange,
scrutinizing glance of Mr.. Montgomery 8
eyes. that had scarcely ever been taken
off me the whole time he remained in the
room. After this, Martha came, and /
had a little quiet talk.
81 couldn't go to sleep for hours last
night. thinking of what you'd better do"
she said. "A clerkship is what you
want; but. you see, you've got no rtser-
ences. and it is so hard to get stua-
tion without them-and, indeed, with
them, for the matter Of that. think
you ought to try and find out your
friends; you know the name Of the law
yers that Mr.. Porter drew the money
from. think yo1 ought to go to them"
Suppose they were to hand me over
to that man again. / said. shuddering.
'True!-and not being ope-and-twen-
ty vet, you are not your own master
Now. there was thought came into
my head, though l scarcely think it
worth while to mention it. as | should
hardly like to advise you on such a
point"
IT,