The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-02-23

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IyTSrTNI critical opinion of New York
S9 city are generally snugly
asleep in their little cots when the
lnomentous decisions Of which they
have been delivered are being read by
the anxious and nervous authors, who
sit up ever until dawn to learn their
fate. Kind newspaper publishers
more kind probably than they intend
cd TO be to these nervous folk of the
stage-have in recent years adopted a
their various newspapers for what is
known as the midnight sale-a sale
that has grown with the all night cafe
and tile development Of the restaurant
section, that has kept a large number
Of citizens out Of bed if not out of mis-
chief. The philanthropic results Of
these SO called early editions have
been ut least the shortening OF the tor
ture of the actor who has had what
is 50 blithely called his broadway op-
portunity."
Despite the many friends who con-
graduated him and the applause of the
uSherS. IIolcomb knew that his piece
had not succeeded. One or two former
associates in the companies that he
had beer in called loudly for Il speech
Of the end of the second act; but, de-
tpite all this and even Ludlow's eff
fusive praise. he knew that his play
had not got o~ver"-that is. over the
f~ootlights.
He had been surprised at Dora's
prompt appearance at the rehearsal.
He had taken an opportunity to thank
her formally. and she had replied to
him with equal reserve.
Before the curtain went up on the
night performance he went back to
her dressing room and spoke more
frankly:
Dora, you have beer more than
kind. I showed myself very weak last
night. and you showed yourself a wo-
nan with great courage. Whatever
the outcome of this, | shall never for
get it,"
They were talking through the half
opened door of her dressing room.
with but a few minutes left for her
final preparations. so that her THANK
you, Mr.. Holcomb," left him still in
doubt rs to whether she had under
gone any change in feeling.
He had gone back at the end Of the
play mainly to thank her for going
through the big scene" as he had re-
hearsed it and hoping against hope to
get some expression from her that
found her dressing room besieged by
the Winthrops, Elliott. Professor Full
lcrton and the haunting Aunt Cornelia.
The little conversation that they had
was therefore brief and formal. and.
while there was some talk of n supper
party after the theatcr. he was quick
10 observe that there was no calcula-
ton about having him in it and little
enthusiasm about his part OF the even
lng's venture. Vavin had left the
thcater after a friendly handshake to
catch a train for Boston. where he was
to deliver n of his 'irreprcssible lee
lures"
Il will return tomorrow night on the
II o'clock train. DO me the honor to
have supper with me | will talk with
you Of your play and other things" he
had said to Holcomb
In "A way IIolcomb had expected that
the play would not be Il great success,
but he had hoped that it would sufi-
GENTLY establish him in Dora's eyes by
its reception TO bring them closer to-
gether. He was genuinely diSappoint-
ed that the Winthrops and the Fuller
tons bad not invited him to their sup
per party, ana. strange as it doubtless
would have seemed to the many
friends in the thpatcr who would have
liked to have him for guest or host, he
wandered out through the stage door,
where the deuce lie would go to get
the bite of food and drink that he
needed and yet not run into some gath
ering connected with his own produc-
ton. He was bitterly commenting to
himself on how lonely a man of pride
can be when he met two or three Of
the minor actors Of the company and
joined their party gladly, and with
them he sat up until those fateful
early editions were spread before them
and he knew that his play was a dis
astrous failure.
He would have given n great deal
to be able TO talk to Dora that aft
ernoon. for the evening papers only
REINFORCED the Judgment of the morn
ing papers. AMI the ''sale" ut the box
office indicated that the public had no
intention Of quarreling with the critics.
He was in and around the theater
most of he day. hoping that Dora
might come to the playhouse or that