The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-28

of the others became hopelessly. tan
gled, she quietly and patiently
Strengthened them out.
noticed that Robert B1aylock "boss-
ed" the North brothers as much as any
of them. He was familiar with the
play, while they had only their 'cue
books" So when they read lines in
way that didn't suit him, he stopped
them, and gave them his idea. But he
was a kindly boss; they all seemed to
| like him. 1 soon remarked, also, the
| gentility of all the members of the
North Bros Stock company. The
| leading woman is Miss Genevive Rus
! sell, wife of Sport" North, and Mr..
| Blaylock bossed her, too. He called
| her "Genevive" and she called him
Bob. They all seemed fond Of each
! other and were very polite and gen.
teel
! 1 was soon taking an active part in
the rehearsal. The play is opened by
big ADAM and he has a converse
| ton with his little wife, "Margie." who
| is hidden in the flies. Within a min
ute after the rehearsal started, I was
! showing "Margie'' how she was to act
| and talk. Then I sprang out, and de-
livered big Adams lines; the ex-
! idity. And the members of the COM
pany took my suggestions kindly.
Sometimes I sat in the auditorium,
and would say to the actor reading:
BEG pdrdOn5 just a moment.
Then I would hurry up to the stage
and go through the part being repre-
scented, Or portions Of it. The actors
were studying their parts while wait
| ing to go on and often came to me
to ask about certain lines. 1t was
very interesting and unusual expert
ence for a man from Atchison, and I
wonder now at my boldness in boss
ing the actors; [ was almost as boSSy
as Mr.. Blaylock. But, when I apollo
Il cJiz he sol tod "
suggestions; that the rehearsal was be-
ing held for the purpose Of getting
my suggestions. represented
Joe" in the tragedy; I represented
Big Adam in the comedy; 1 tore
around so much that 1 caught AIDE
laide quietly smiling, and reprimand-
ed her for laughing at her Uncle Ed,
| when he had lost his head from see
ing the first rehearsal of his first play.
But Adelaide said she was smiling be-
cause she was pleased; that I was do
ing fine
Will the reader pardon me for say
ing that the other actors actually
Big Adam" and s.MaTgie?" They
didn't smile: they roared. Ask Ade-
| lalde; men always exaggerate, but wo-
men are truthful Every little while
1 saw the actors go over and talk to
| Adelaide, who was sitting on a stage
sofa. When we came home, gradu-
, ally heard what they said to her. Har-
ry North. who was the Joe" of the
piece. beading MANI said to Adelaide:
Il am an old actor, but these lines
(pointing them out in his cuehook, and
reading them1 are the best ever read
r in my life" q hope Adelaide will re-
member that, and tell Uncle Bruce and
Aunt Fanny.
> The lines are from the book. chang
ed slightly to fit the play. They are
spoken after Joe and "Mateel' are
: unhappy; after joe receives the fatal
g letter. The lines Mr.. North admired
occur in the second act, near the close.
He Is talking with "Mateel;'' of his I'M
e happiness because of the fatal letter;
OF his regret because he has failed to
= make her happy. as he had hoped to
9 DO. The lines read:
When I think of you now, the pale
fretful women of Fairview, who talked
in church of heavy crosses to bear, pass
me in dim procession; and. staggering