Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-06-23
THE ACTOR AND
THE SMART SET
By w. N. MAXWELL
(Copyright, by Joseph b. BowIes.)

God bless you, my little lad" his
father, the tragedian, had said, one
night, land make a good actor OF
YOU
"Oh, sure!" said his faded mother,
the ex-columbine, STOPPING to pick the
steak from the little stove. Sure, it's
in the blood"
No, wife, said papa, in booming
tones: lit is in the brain and in the
heart" and he tapped his forehead and
placed his hand upon his chest with
grand gesture. Il attribute a large
measure of my success in life to always
coming straight home to supper Be
ware of the smart set who would be
amused. Society is slow poison to our
art l made my rigid rule when
STRIPPING, and have adhered to it till
brown locks are silvered. Don't ac-
cept their invitations their fiattery
Be the host, not the guest 1 entertain,
or SO endeavor, every night at eight
1 do not care to be entertained when
my party breaks up. My friends, if
have any, can always see me-by pay
ing at the door. But to your pillow,
my young fellow"
Now, troupe of theatrical fairies,
flying over the town that very night,
came down the chimney of the humble
lodging house and left for the sleeping
child all their richest gifts. They gave
him a fine voice, keen observation,
sympathy and intuition They gave
him the gift of laughter and the gift
of tears; and then> flew off without
waking him.
He grew up, became a good actor,
and soon began to draw big money"
THE Dads voice had ceased to boom,
and Nuns had danced her last dance
with Death for her harlequin.
He owned theater himself. AS he
said, in confidence to a journalistic
friend, he very soon could not keep the
money out.
He now only wanted leading lady
in his theater and in his life also
for all to be well; some one to act the
adventures in the spangled frock on
the boards, when she was working;
and to play the wife at home, when
she was resting. But before he found
her he had received his first invitation
from the smart set. One Sunday night,
he found himself at glittering board,
surrounded by lords and ladies and fine
personages. Their faces glowed like
the dull gold plate on the sideboard;
their conversation did not sparkle like
the effervescing wine. They were wait
ing for him to amuse them.
''Affable party of deadheads as ever
I've met." he said to himself, and was
somber and mOrose-till the saddle of
mutton. Then he began to tell an an
ecdote to the lady by his side, and the
whole room fell more silent, hanging
on his words. The voice which the
fairies had given him had tones of the
grave double-bass and the laughing
bassoon, and rang clear and true, like a
fine old bell, setting the Bohemian
glasses tinkling in sympathy as he re-
lated how the fuddled old supe said,
stand back and let the parsOn cough"
How that anecdote went! 1t was i'm
possible not to be pleased. The buffers
all hid their faces; one footman stood
paralyzed, with the asparagus protrud-
ed between a countess and a cabinet
minister; another forgot the beans, a
third carried the tomatoes out into the
pantry and frankly exploded with
them.
The other guests chirruped like
happy birds. After his trained bull
below, their weak bleatings struck
chill on the ear and the glasses ceased
to throb Ripping! 1 shall die OF
laughing, What was it? Didn't quite
catch the point, but the delicious
mimicry," and so forth
The ladies refused to go to the draw
ing room until they had compelled hin
to give the Parsons cough just once
more Its a privilege" said lord
offering his shaking hand, ito NEE
a great artist thus" and the poor OLE
chap meant it.
On the following night he went from
his theater to hear a little music il
a ducal mansion, and when in tn
small hours. he reached his rooms, n
gave the supper waiting for him to tn
landlords cat.
Now at the Actors club the oil
barbarians saw at a glance that tn
man was poisoned. The poison cam
out in his talk. He was full of it
Business dear boy, businesst" b
called it, knowingly
Bad business said the savages-
He bought white waistcoats, cease
to quote Shakespeare; shook hand
Just under his chin, and would sd.
Dear lady, remember have only
Sundays. cannot cut myself
pieces." Heaven knows where he ha
got Dear LADY, from; but he alway
used it now.
You must know that the fairis
meanwhile had visited the theater an
become so displeased that they WEI