Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-24
sReEsE's CHRISTMAS STORY.
Well Known Actor Tells How His
Luck Stared.


Edmund Breeze. the tar Of The
Thru Degree" compan, who is best
known 10 the theatrical world as the
creator Of tn" |, ion roll Il The Lion
and tn" Mouse" and who IS remember
ed here a. Il member q h" Shlphlan
Stock Company, tells h" following
story
Christmas never mca much to
me- orner than one Of 4" days tha'
the actors had to play wo perform
ances, until one year ! was playing
en- uninterrupted serito OF ohe-hlgh'
stands in The Middle " 81. Salaries
had not been coming at r"&ular inter
walls Business was ba!. and finally
we were dGwn 10 harn rh. Our ohiE
way OF getting frCm in"n TO tow:
rested entirely on the nhiltty OF our
advance agent 10 per>il:i" III" rail-
ROAD company that if ii money was
not fort Incoming. the b 2saSe OF the
actors would To- good aeclri'y.
Farmingdalr was Crr Christmas
date. and here it was "Xpected mat
The tide would turn. 'rr Christmas
Dav is always sure OF Gooh houses
As usual. "" were TO "prn with u
uatinec. lat our train did not get
in in time. We played The night per
formance. and | never Jaw the Oh
plav 20 better. After he show was
over and the lights were turned o"t
of the theatre walked out
into tn" cold Christmas night. AS |
wandered down towards my motel
NV thoughts reverted I" my boyhooo
,!avs. and what Christmas meant 10
me then. | thought that there wa
nu more lonesome crra III" on earit
than l. nor none so untOrtunate-a
thousand miles from home aud not
enough money to get there. 1t was
Unly a ques ion of few more da!s
until the company would he STRANDED
and ! would be- absolutely wlthout-a
ppnnv. turned the corner only 10
fall to NV knees. Looking aroma
found that | had tipped over IL
tie child that was hutiled next to
the wall in order 20 project her from
the Geld My sympatheo being arous
ed spoke to the little mite and by
dint of persuasion | learned That h'f
errand was to find Santa Claus TOT
her little broth"r Wiu' vas home with
her mOthN" Ii. child was more than
Interesting. and the inspiration struck
me to 20 to her home Entering the
little room that served as their abode
a most pitiful sight vas displayed
The MOI her. a widow. ly' lg on SICK
bed, the last piece Of money spent,
lit was only the though of a NONE NJ
that impelled me to provide htt!e
Christmas cheer for these untor'u
mates. whose condition Was Tar worse
than mine Excusing myself for a
moment | left the room. and going
down on the street. IAN into gro
cery store that was still Cpen, walt
ing for helated purchas ers. return
ed in few mumens. my arms full
| of packages. varying f!om turkey ano
| cranberries to fruit cake. bag oil
candy and nuts, and q small sized
Christmas tree Centering the door
! found in the looks Of gratitude that
gree ted me ample recompense for all
that had o9de.
| fingered but a little while. and
ms I left these nnfortunates. | press
ed into the hands OF the sick woman
the last five dollars that | had. Ever
since that night good fortune has at
tended ME and am quite sure thaf
the grateful thanks of that mother
and her little Children have done
much to earn for me the success that
has been mine ever since.