Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-08
JOHN !. P !! !!NG
CHANCE
0y Alicia Ramsey.

John PfinKle was u man Win sdu
face and curious eyes. His wife said
that he was a genius; his friends said
he was a fool; ne himself said he was
an ass. As a matter Of fact. he was
all three. but II there WAS anything
to judge between the definitions. II
was John Pringle who was right.
When he was boy. John Pringle
wanted to go into the church. Ills
ambition was to be eaten as mis-
sionary by the gentle savage beyond
the southern seas. His mother. who
had dreamed dreams Of seeing her
son in a round collar and soft felt
hat, openly encouraged the boy to put
his pennies into the missionary box.
and wept in secret at the thought OF
her Johnnie being roasted on a spit.
Three years later. however, having
visited the wicked pantOmime by
stealth for the first time. John Pringle
Informed his Mortified parent on his
return that ne didn't want to be mis-
sionary any longer. but intended to
be clown. John Pringlc's mother
made the boy write out the Ninety
third psalm. and fell on her knees and
thanked Heaven privately when her
Johnnie had been dismissed to an
early and impenitent bed.
At the age of l6. John Pringle sold
himself body and soul to a touring
theatrical company for three dollars a
week.
For Ave years John Pringle re-
manned In the same company; then ne
fell in love. She had an arttfcial
color, an unnatural waist, and know
ing eye. She agreed TO marry John
Pringle when his salary should reach
the fabulous salary Of ten dollars
week Meantime. she carried John
Pringle's ring In her purse instead OF
on her finger. She said that II the
stage manager knew Of her engage
ment it might spoil her chance.
| While he looked his betrothed ran
away with the stage-manager. She
also ran away with John Pringle 8
engagement ring-not inside her
purse.
Az the reward of virtue John
Pringle spent five weeks in a hospital.
The doctors said 1t was nervous ex-
haustion; John Pringle knew 1t was
wounded heart When he got up
John Pringle's eyes were still more
curious and John Pringle's face was
still more sad.
Fifteen years passed, and John
PrfneIe was still waiting for his
chance. 1t was a pleasantly among
his fellows to send him humorous
postcards from managers OF theaters
asking him to give them an inter
view with a view to his playing the
leading part. John Pringle invaria-
bly, answered the postcards. and IN
variably smiled pleasantly when the
indignant managers inclOsed his post
card in their reply letters. 1t was
while he was answering a bogus ad'
yertisement, indeed, that John fringe
met his fate.
John Pringle's fate was young and
slender, with a fluctuating color. an
oyerstreined heart, and a sensitive
mouth. Within a month John Pringie
had married her. Their joint incomes
at that time represented the interest
ing sum of 81 a week. During their
waits" at rehearsal they would SIT
and hold hands in corners. and WINS
per together of what they should do
when John Pringle got his chance he
was to play Hamlet, and she was to
wear white satin and diamonds, and
sit in a box and applaud.
Meantime Mr.. and Mrs. John
Pringle starved.
At the end Of Q year John Pringle
became a father. Basing his claim
To consideration on the merits OF that
interesting fact, John Pringie laid his
long apprenticeship before the man
aeer and asked him for a rise. The
manager ~clapped John Pringle on the
back. gave him whisky, and told
him not to talk such rot. John Pringle
refused the whisky and went home
TO Mrs. John Pringle and He'd. He
said that, by virtue Of becoming IA
Their. he had been raised. Mrs. John
Pr!ngle had beef steak to celebrate
the occasion, and chatted gaily in the
twilight Of the future that awaited the
baby now that his father had begun
to get his chance. Four days later
John Prtngle. who had starved him
self to q shadow. tainted ut rehearsal
and was sent home In cab.
The shock upset John Prfngle. j
also upset John Pringle's wife A
week or two later. John Pringle wen'
about birmingham In Q brown coa'
supplemented by band Of Grape. A
week later. the little John Pringie. no
finding a patent food rs administered
in,ermittentiy by an intermittent
landlady sufficiently interesting, mos
coaveniently died. The ladies and
gentlemen o; the company and tha
manager sent q wreath OF orchids
which. converted into food wouk