The sun., 1916-11-19

double jointed" peanuts up and down
the aisles. Mr.. Barlow's experiences
cover a wide range Of territory. but
the one he treasures most, although
fraught with nerve racking worries.
was when he saved UP what he con-
sidered q suflcient amount to take out
q company Of his own.
It was in his early days when a
boy in his twsnties he conceived the
idea that q repertoire company play.
ing at cheap prices. doing the small
towns in New England would bring
him in q return. He organized his
company in the spring and set out to
conquer the small mill and factory
towns Of New Hampshire. Massachu-
sets and Maine. In course OF time
things went from bad TO worse and the
repertoire. which at nrst consisted OF
six plays, finally dwindled for lack
Of funds to pay freight on the scenery
to one play.
This play really fitted into the con-
dition Of affairs Of the company. 1t
was called 1.-THE Actors Romance
and required no scenery except what
the theatres had.
1HSy WeI0 UIAICu w oRPC4s So w.
rem, Me-. aesmall town Of 500 people,
located three miles from the railroad.
As Mr.. Barlow expresses It. bad
news always travels in advance OF a
company" and when they got OF at
the nearest railroad station the hack
man refused to carry them unless he
wa paid In advance. He did concede
one point after . prolonged argument.
to carry their baggage over to the
town. The company. which had
started out with twelve people. had
now fallen away to seven. The three
miles was done on foot. Arriving In
Warren, f~ootsore and weary. they
went to the only hotel (~so.called for
q better name) and were greeted by
the landlord with the. remark that
"Twarn't no use to sign the book I'M
less they had the money to pay for
their keep" Not having the money.
they didn't register. That night at
the opera house they were greeted
with an S1S house. half Of which went
to the manager OF the theatre.
The 80 In his possession was the
nnal stroke to his beautiful canvas
that Barlow started out to paint In
brilliant colors. but which now was
an illustration In blacks and srays.
That night the company camped out
on the banks Of the st. Georges
River. They built themselves O camp
IRE and toasted bacon and roasted
potatoes, and to while away the time
they sang songs OF my Old Kentucky
Home" and other familiar ballads.
Attracted by the music a farmers
wife living near BY sent her son over to
see what IL was all about. Their story
was loon told. He away and re-
turned shortly with a pail Of milk and
some pies. 1t was In the spring OF the
year and weather conditions being IA
vorable the band Of actors concluded
to camp out until they secured sum-
cient funds TO get them back home.
They had been living this life for three
weeks when n night n IRE broke out
In the little town. which was located
Just across the river from their camp.
Fearing the opera house would burn
with their trunks. which the manager
had kindly agreed TO store for them.
Barlow and another member Of the
company rushed over and elected
themselves head OF the nre depart.
ment and put sui the blaze. The Mayor
Of tho town In gratitude for their
efforts. aided and abetted by his
daughter, who by the way had stage
aspirations. got up 4 beneht perform
ance. ostensibly to Ak up the stage OF
the opera house. which aroused the In
terest Of the t~ownspeople.
A play vas put oil called young
America" The Mayor and a number
Of the leading citizens volunteered
their service as actors. As a result Of
the performance Barlow. and his COM
pany received for their share sl34. suf-
Hcient to set them back 10 New York.