Evening star., 1909-03-07

THE Grand Consolidated Monte Cristo Com
i pany had been IN existence two weeks
when We arrived, very sleepy, very much be-
,lragged, and, as far as most of us were con-
cerned. good deal discouraged at Mount YER
non. Il wasn't the Mount Vernon where the
father OF his country had received foreign dig
mtarieS and tossed dollars across the Potomac.
but, as Quintius Cogliostro hypnotist, ConJurer.
scientist and seventh son of seventh son, eX-
planned. one of the many other Mount Nernons
that add to the glory of our splendid country
Being in fiat, rather low district where 1t had
been raining for several DAYS, Mount Vernon
was not a cheerful looking town when We got
there The rain drizzled down through the bare
branches of the Scraggly trees that were scat
tered around where Nature had planted them
a loaded wagon was stuck IN the mud IN the
main street; few pigs that didn't seem to
mind getting wet were hunting around the de-
pot for stray grains of corn that had slfted out
OF passing freight cars. and man, who had
driven in from the country to meet some body
who was expected to be on our train and WASH t,
helped to make things look as dismal as lady
who has lost her alimony.
But | don't suppose we'd have been a gay
crowd even if the day had been bright and the
town beautiful. We had been travelling through
a country where the people were not hungering
for the drama. If there was Standing Room
Only" sign in any of the last dozen towns we
had PLAYED the manager of the theater in which
it was kept must have had it made because he
wanted to help some starving painter Still,
we had not given up hope The receipts had
been sufficient to pay our railroad fare from one
place to another, and now and then business
was so good that there would be few dollars
left over for the payment of salaries. We gen
orally drew lots to decide who was to get the
money The Doc as the head of the company
generously permitted us to do this. Once he
didn't get the lucky number. I'm not sure
whether it was accident or whether he fixed
it that way to ward off suspicion. Anyway
Clytie got it; so 1t was all IN the family Ange
Willie and his people were not enthusiastic ove1
the way things were going but they Couldn,
very well desert us, because they had nothing tC
desert with.
THE wizard rather liked the new arrange
ment. Zachariah, he said one day
there is dignity about acting that appeals tC
me. / think shall continue IN this line Wher
| tread the boards have feeling of self salts
faction that never comes to me when am pull
ing teeth or selling compound. There can be
but one reason for this. / am the possessor OF
an artistic soul. Art is sacred 1t should never
be denied the right of expression. The singer
owes it to mankind to sing The poet owes 1t tc
humanity to pour out his sublime thoughts II
rhythmic measures. The painter is false to him
self and to the world if he permits his brush tC
lie unused. And SO it is with the actor Wher
Nature has raised up man whose heart woulc
bid him worship at the shrine of Thespls, how
may he worship elsewhere with clear con
science? As the poet says.
1--WE come into the world not knowing whence
We travel through 1t at our own expense,
And if we fail to give to II our best
The public hangs our hide upon the fence.
The Doc had in mind noble plan for new
play which he hoped would arouse the enthusi
asm of the public and start us on the high road
to prosperity His scheme was to combine
Monte Cristo," Hamlet" and Carmen.
Our heavy man could sing the toreador song
fairly we'll, and Miss Fennimore, as the cigarette
girl would have chance to work in Spanish
dance that she did with great effect. The Do
himself was fine in the soloquy business ano
he had an idea that Clytie, with little prac
tice, would be able to play Opheha in the mac
scene so as to bring down the house. Ange
Willie wanted to have the death scene from
Camille put in some way; but the Do
didn't like the idea.
Let us not have anything depressing abou
our performance, he said. " 1t is our duty L
cheer and to comfort. Let the people rernenl
Der pleasantly when we leave. ] wish W