Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-03-20


agreeable and I could not get hack,
tut I was obstinate and persisted in
ny Intention.
went out in the wind and rain to
Rreymouth Theater.
1t was possibly the smallest thea
ter in England, although quite large
enough for ordinary occasions to ac-
commodate the whole play-going
public to be discovered at this unap
preciative watering place.
There were half dozen boys lott
ering outside the doors, Willing
away their time by friendly showing,
or pitching each others caps into the
pit, box, and gallery entrance-it
was all one--and my appearance be-
side them was the signal for minute
attention.
Here's another cove!" was the
first exclamation of surprise, and
"Give us your pass, sir, when you
comes out again?'' was the mild re-
quest, extremely significant in their
belief of my ability to endure the
performance for any length of time
A froWsy female, pinched with cold.
and smelling of gin, took my money,
volunteered to mind my umbrella
and ulster till I came out, and then,
opening a door at the side, I found
myself at once in the theater, with
out any superfuous passages and box
Hobbies to confuse the mind of the
stranger as to the right way to go.
The entertainment had commenced
the preliminary stage-worn ghast-
ly farce of '"The Specter Bride
groom" was being performed as l,
startled by my sudden advent into
the theater, subsidized into one of the
empty seats which constituted the
back row, and which I ascertained
later on formed the upper boxes"
the dress circle being the row imme-
diately in front of them AS there
were only four persons in both these
aristocratic portions OF the house
and they all turned round to inspect
me as [ entered-I felt that l was
taking a prominent part in the even
ings proceedings; and [ am much
mistaken if the actors on the stage
did not glance toward me gratefully
and curiously before | had sat down
1.-THE Specter Bridegroom" as
many of my readers may be aware, is
not a lively, genial, happy produc-
ton under the best of circumstances;
under these it was blOOd-curdling
The acting of one man was so forced
and unnatural and 1nane that | turn
ed to the play-bill pasted on the back
of the boxes-the management had
not ventured on programmes for this
occasiOn-With an instructive knOWl-
edge of the actor. Yes, it was Kench
John Kench (by particular de-
sire.) Mr.. Noah Nash was not libel
GUS or jealous when he had asserted
that very morning that his manager
could not act.
When the piece was at an end
there were a few more persons in the
house, and they and | were left to
stare at the drop-curtain-the new
est bit of canvas on the premises
representing view of BreymOuth
Town Hall, and the opening thereof
by his royal highness, the Prince OF
Wales The colOring seemed to raise
the spirits of the audience, few of
whom sang while the orchestra in
dulged in popular airs. Still, we got
tired of surveying the curtain, and
when I had fallen into a reverie, and
had forgotten where [ was, | was
aroused from meditation by several
angry oaths from the gallery at the
diIatoriness of proceedings behind
the foot-lights. looked at my watch.
Yes. They were not very rapid in
their movements, the members OF
this company; they took their time;
they had been a clear half hour and
five minutes fiddling away below
there. On the stage I could hear
more than one voice murmuring, as
though a strike were impending, or
an accident had happened.
An accident! Yes; that was 1t.
Something had occurred on the
! stage, very much out of the common
way, for here was Mr.. Kench, in his
costume for the next piece, suddenly
| darting before the curtain with
red, excited face, and holding up his
| hands to allaY the small tumult
| which had arisen in our midst.
Ladies and gentlemen-ladies
and gentlemen, beg your polite at
tention for one minute only. For one
minute, please; If you have a spark
Of consideration for me you will
surely listen. Won't you, you
brutes?" he added, In burst Of pas
sion that was very natural, and
which silenced the auditorium at
| last. "I am sorry to say deeply
regret to say" he stammered forth,
that Mr.. Nash, your favorite come
dian, has been taken suddenly ill
and that it is impossible to go on
with the performance this evening.
! We have sent for urgeon-but-
but if there is one in the house.
and here he looked at me very APP
1 - or nfu1 1OY1f