Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03


which he drank as slowly as he could, put
ting in as much about the performance as
possible between sips, for he knew what was
to follow. When he had finished his last lin
gering sip, the light was turned out and he
was commanded to go to sleep, like re-
bellious child. And. like an obedient child,
he accepted his orders passively, and did as
he was hidden.
THE first call of the newsboys woke him in
the morning OF course he was wild to
know what the critics had to say; SO Lottie
went down to get the papers, after railing
against dramatic critics all the time she was
dressing.
a don't see what you want their opinions
for" she growled "You know you made a
hit, no matter what they say What do these
whippersnapper critics know about old come
dies? About as much as Jew knows about
the Vatican Ageneral TRADE against mod
ern theatrical conditions was kept up all the
way down the stairs and nearly to Third-ave.
The papers, without exception, lauded the
performance of Sir Harcourt Courtly, while
giving but faint praise to the other members
of the cast If this is specimen of palmy-
day acting, one par said, 1T is a pity that
we cannot have more of it..
But not one paper mentioned the name of
the old actor. Many and varied were the
guesses made. One paper had it that he was
a society amateur, who, on account OF the
opposition of his family, could not adopt the
professional stage. A second said that he
was "find from Western stock company,
that he was really young man, and spoke
of the marvellous makeup, and the wonder
full assumption of age. Still a third had it
from "a private, but indisputable source,
that titled English actor, himself dating
back to the palmy days, who was visiting
this country, had played the part to save the
management from closing the theater.
Although the disappointment was most
bitter to Arnold, he made no complaint.
Lottie, however, was not so amiable.
"Just like those managers she exclaimed
@They wouldn't care if every actor in the
company dropped dead, if it wouldn't close
the theater; and if they can get MIR. Man
ager presents on the bill they are quite
happy. Actors are not starred nowadays:
managers are. Managers! They wouldn't
know tormentor from horizon DROP
Perhaps the evening papers will have it,
Arnold suggested, trying to appease Lottie's
wrath. 4You know they didn't have time
to change the name on the program
3Rot!' When Lottie was angry she was
not particular as to her diction. She chose
the shortest and most expressive words,
rather than the most elegant. I'll tell you
one thing, Father: if they don't make an
announcement tonight, before the curtain
goes up, that you are playing the part, the
curtain doesn't go upon you! Under
Stando'
Arnold understood. No matter what his
own intentions might be, he knew that when
Lottie said, "Father, you don't do SO and SO
understand" he didn't do it.
A BOUT twelve o'clock a messenger
brought a note to Arnold from Lewis.
The note informed him that Allen had recov-
cred from his illness, and as he was under
contract to the management, and had been
specially engaged to play the part of Sir Har
court, he would play it for the rest of the en-
gage1nent, beginning that evening. If Mr..
Arnold would call at the theater he would be
compensated for his one nights performance.
"Of all the outrages!' Lottie burst forth.
ave heard of some dirty treatment in my
time; but this passes the limit
The old actor was stunned. After nearly
forty years of waiting, he had realized his
dream, and had made an unmistakable hit
and then to be robbed of all the glory!
Tears filled his eyes, and his voice broke as
he tried to pacify his daughter.
"Let us try to be just, Lottie.' He strug
gled hard to hide his emotion. "If Mr.. Lewis
has Mr.. Allen under contract, he can't afford