The Washington times., 1906-02-04

inadequate bows TO the applause,
and next night he Gons a white tie
and brushes his hair to CLASSY
smOorhness and happily waits his
call, and that audience has fun with
his feelings by not even noticing the
scene at all-Oh, mystery OF crowds.
Again, almost any actor of expert
ence can recall nights when he has
gone TO his work suffering in body
and mind; cast down spiritIess, and
10. the hearty greeting from the
house, the swift recognition of a
clever touch, has warmed his heart.
aroused his ambition, and forgetting
himself he has rushed at his work
eagerly, even joyousiy, and carried
ii TO d triumphant end, so wonderful
is the influence OF the audience. AS
an instance OF individual missionary
work let me offer this. / remember
We were doing Camille" The house
was full but it was the proverbial
dull Monday night audience. We sat
heads dolefuIly Olympic said TO me,
I wouldn't like to be in your shoes.
Five long acts 10 those blank faces
will give you very tired feeling"
And dear heaven, what a dready
undertaking It seemed. The act went
biithely on its way. but all the gayety
Was on the stage. The peopie in
front might have been under con-
Vlction Of sin from their dreary
stlence. So 1t was a heavy hearted
Ctmille who entered upon the second
act, TO be amazed by a long and
heartily greeting from one single pair
OF hands down in the right hand cor
ner Of the parquet. Mercy, I thought
how mortified that poor man must
feel 10 be left applaudiLg alone.
Presently a hearty laugh al Madame
Prudence came from the same quar-
ter, It was supported by some giggles
from women Then a bit of silent
business received instant recogui-
ton. that was timidly joined in by
the Darquet. Then there came a
strong speech and swift and true
came the mighty clapping Of those
hands. that this time barely led the
entire house. People began to glow
to watch eagerly the action of the
play. and when Camille tore De Var
ville's letter TO shreds and hurled
herself into Armand's arms the
house went quite wiId-eaH upon
call and always those tireless hands
70 the fore, Clapping like cymhaIs
and rousing the people into a whirl
Of excitement.
For heavens sake, what Will
they do at the fourth act If this is
what they do for the second >" asked
the stage manager
The quiet cottage act was barely
started on its way. wnen the man
with the hands proved his apprecia-
tion OF delicate pom5s-ndthing es-
capped him By that time the audi
and bright, equally ready TO weep or
TO laugh. Not a one-part audience,
either, but generous 70 all the ac-
tors and every one was wunderinglv
searching for the man VINO had
worked this miracle. At last nv
leading man said 10 me: He is an
actor, that fellow you can tell that
by the things that he spplauds."
mot much, " answered CASTOR. no
actor ever app1auded others SO gener-
ously, and worked up an entire house
90 a fuFore."
Oh, that fourth act, Calls and calls
and at last standing oeIore the cur
tain, tall. thin fellow rose. and
gave the first cneer. I saw him
plainly, He was a person of great
efIeminacy, dressed with doll-Iiks
pTecfseRess Of fashion. and from his
pJpe-stem wrists protruding from
glistening white cuffs depended the
mighty ffail-Iike hands that had done
such yeoman's service for. me that
night l smiled could not help it.
The great hand was waving hand
kerehief-and out came a cloud of
mandkerchfefs- Oh, ii was mighty
night. At the last call I stood and
watched to catch his uye, and kissed
my hand, ana cried. Thank you'll"
across the uptaurned faces, and he
dropped into his chair as if shot
And when some o. Jae actors
found him later he exclaimed. Dear.
dear! I never came so near fainting
in my life as when she spoke across
the house to me. My gracious! how
unconventional she is-she quite
startled me-"
Oh. dear, all powerful public, the
actor has no home life for the great
er part of the year. He grows round
shouldered from much strapping of
trunks; he grows dyspeptic from
moor food at irregular OOurs All