Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

literature, courtesy, all are served by quick
tongue and ready word.
ACTORS, as well as business men, have
special use for quick wit, so often do
they need help out of difficulty during the
play. college performance was saved from
wreckage by one of the young actors.
One of the cast, boy easily upset, had
just given his line, "AIl I need is an adver-
tisement," when half of his stage mustache
fell off.
"Oh, no." said the ready youth beside
him, seeing his embarrassment, what you
need is a hair restorer."
And under cover of the laughter the vic
tim had a chance to recover himself.
1T was surely the same readiness that en-
abled Rose Eytinge to 60 through one of
the most extraordinary experiences any ac-
tress ever had. In San Francisco she was
once asked to fill Mary Anderson's place at
short notice, appearing with the local stock
company. The play was to be East Lynn"
By singular chance, no prompt book could be
found, nor could they secure copy of the
novel Miss Eytinge protested that it would
be impossible for her to play, as she had
never so much as seen the piece. That
fact they refused to believe. Moreover, to
add to her difficulty, though all the COM
pany claimed to know the old drama back
ward, no one seemed to have an idea of the
lines she, as Lady Isabel, would have to
speak.
"Oh, thatm be all right" said John Nc
Cullough, the manager, to whom she APP
pealed. "Just you sob and look sorry, and
it will &C"
So Miss Eytinge, rather than cause the
loss OF closing the theater, went on totally
fp
play.
Tom Keene, the Archibald Carlisle, in
structed her in the proper emotion from
scene to scene. Now she's a jealous cat,'
a jealous cat he would whisper "Now
she's kitteny. -" Now she's sorry she was
such fool. Now she wants her young
ones. -" Now she up and dies
The performance seemed to cause entire
satisfaction to the audience, and McCul-
Tough, as he generously handed over half
the receipts to the heroine of the hour, de-
clared, Well, you may have had to vamp
that part; but I've often seen it played with
less soul"
THE story of an experience demanding
similar readiness of wit is told of John
Brougham, the early American comedian
and playwright. On one occasion, when his
own clever burlesque "Pocahontas had
been billed and the house sold out in advance,
the leading actress left without warning to
take another position in Baltimore. The
audience had assembled before her absence
was discovered by the manager and star
As it was that play or nothing, Brougham,
who was famed for his witty impromptu
speeches. went before the curtain and sug-
gested giving the piece without Pocahontas
He recalled the old story of the actor who
played Hamlet so execrably that on the fol-
lowing night the tragedy was given with that
character omitted by request.
"Now if Hamlet can be acted without
the hero" he remarked, why not 'Poca-
hontas without the heroine? Of course you
are all aware of the fact that Pocahontas
is much greater play than Hamlet Even
if you do not know that, do, and ought to,
for | wrote it myself. Are you willing to
try it?''.
go ahead!'' came the cries from the
audience, who settled themselves back to see
the result.
The burlesque proceeded as usual until
the entrance music was played for Pocahon-
tas; then, turning toward the audience,
Brougham, as Powhatan, sadly began. LA
dies and Gentlemen. that sweet strain is sup
posed to bring my daughter Pocahontas on
the stage. You are already aware that she
is in the city of Baltimore, and the stern law