Oxford Democrat., 1915-07-20

as little jostling as possible. The Scho-
neld & Williams military band Will
play before each pufformance, and each
and all are welcome for the same and
simple price of admission. Pray pass
out quietly and with as little jostling
rs possible"
Forthwith the Schofeld & Williams
military band began a second overture,
in which something vaguely like
tune was at times distinguishable, and
all Of the first audience returned, most
Of them having occupied the interval
in hasty excursions for more pins, Miss
Rennsdale and governess, however,
again paying coin Of the republic and
receiving Difference and the best seats
accordingly. And when third per-
Torrance found all Of the same invet-
crate patrons once more crowding the
auditorium and seven recruits added
the pleasurable excitement Of the part
ners in their venture will be under
stood by any one who has seen met
ropolitan manager strolling about the
foyer Of his theater some evening dur
ing the earlier stages Of an assured
phenomenal run"
From the first there was no question
which feature Of the entertainment
was the attraction extraordinary. Yer
man-verman. the savage tattooed wild
boy. speaking only bis native foreign
languages-Verman was q triumph!
Beaming, wreathed In smiles, melod1-
ous, incredibly fluent, he had but to
open his lips and dead hush fell upon
the audience. Breathless, they leaned
forward, hanging upon his every semi
syllable, and, when PenrOd checked the
flow, burst into thunders Of applause,
which verman received with happy
laughter.
Alas, he delayed not DER long to dis
play all the egregiousness Of a new
star, but for q time there was no
caprice Of his too eccentric to be for
given. During Penrod's lecture upon
the other curios the tattooed wild boy
continually stamped his foot, grinned
and gesticulated, tapping his tiny chest
and pointing to himself as it were to
say, "Wait for me; am the big show
SO soon they learn; 80 soon they learn!
And again alas) this spoiled darling OF
public favor, like many another, was
fated to know In good time the tickle
ness Of that favor.
But during oil the morning perform
ances he was the idol Of his audience
and looked 1t. The climax Of his pop
uhHty came during the fifth overture
of the Schofeld & Williams military
band, when the music was quite drown
ed In the agitated clamors OF Miss
Rennsdale, who was endeavoring to
ascend the stairs in spite Of the phys
ical discussion Of her governess.
II won't go home to lunch" scream
ed Miss Rennsdale, her voice accompa-
MED by q sound Of ripping. II will
hear the tatooed wild boy talk some
more! It's lovely-I will hear him talk!
I will! I will! I want to listen to
Verman-I want to-I want to-
Wailing, she was borne away, OF her
sex not the first to be fascinated by
obscurity nor the last to champion its
eloQuence.
Verman was almost uncomfortable aft
er this, but, like many, many other man
ayers, SchoHeld & Williams restrained
their choler and even laughed fulsome-
ly when their principal attraction es'
saved the role Of a comedian In private
and capered and squawked in sheer,
fatuous vanity.
The first performance Of the after
noon riyaled the successes Of the morn
ing, and, although Miss Rennsdale was
detained at home. thus drying up the
single source Of cash income devel-
oped before lunch, Maurice Levy ap-
peared, escorting Marjorie Jones, and
paid coin for two admissions, dropping
the money into Sans hand with a
careless-nay, contemptuous-gesture.
At sight Of Marjorie, Penrod Schofeld
flushed under his new mustache IRE
painted since noon and lectured as he
had never lectured before. A new
grace invested his every gesture, a
new sonOrousness rang in his voice, q
simple and manly pomposity marked
his very walk as he passed from curio to
curio, and when he fearlessly handled
the box of rats and hammered upon 1t
with cool insouciance he beheld, for
the first time In his life, purl of ad-
miratlon eddying in Marjorie's lovely
eye, a certain softening Of that eye.
And then Verman spake-and Penrod
was forgotten. Marjorie's eye rested
upon him no more.
A heavily equipped chauffeur ascend
ed the stairway, bearing the message
that Mrs. Levy awaited her son and
his lady. Thereupon, having devoured
the last sound permitted (by the man.
agers) to issue from Verman, Mr.. Levy
and Miss Jones departed to a real natl