Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-19
SARA LAWS FAREWELL.

1t was nearly haf-past eight: th,
house had been open since seven; ant
still queue ran from the gallery door,
to Broadway. The lobby itself wa
crowded to suffocation with an occi
dental durbar of barbaric magnffcence
the city's supreme manifestation O.
its religion, the ultimate rite In tn,
worship Of the pomps of the flesh.
Look at that" Max grumblet
through his cigar. "Ain't it a shamef'
'What?" Whitaker had to lift hi:
voice to make 1t carry above the buz
zing of the throng.
THE money I'm losing" returned
the manager, wildly disguised. 20
could've filled the Metropolitan opera
house three times overw
He swung on his heel and began 70
push his way out Of the lobby. "Come
along-no use trying to get In this
way"
Whitaker followed, to be led down a
blind alley between the theater and
the adjoining hotel. An Illuminated
sign advertised the stage door, through
which, via a brief hallway, they en-
tered the postscenium and-Max drag
ging him by the arm-passed through
a small doer into the gangway behind
the boxes.
Curtains just up" Max told him
Sara doesn't come on till near the
middle Of the act. Make yourself COM
Portable; I'll be back before long"
He drew aside curtain and ushered
his guest into the right-hand stage-box,
then vanished. The few empty stalls
were rapidly filling up. There was q
fluent movement through the aisles. A
subdued hum and rustic rose from that
portion of the audience which was al
ready seated. The business going on
upon the stage was receiving little at
tention-from Whitaker as little as
from anyone. The opening scene in
the development OF the drama inter-
ested the gathering little or not at all !;
1t was hanging in suspense upon the
unfolding Of some extraordinary devel-
opment, something unprecedented and
extraneous, foreign to the play.
Max slipped quietly into the box and
handed his guest a program. Better
get over here" he suggested In a
hoarse whisper, Indicating chair near
the rail. You may never have an
other chance to see the greatest living
actress. Won house." he whis.
pered, sitting down behind Whitaker
M hao xnf% oh
though"
"That SOP" Whitaker returned over
his shoulder.
Yes; It's funny: never knew him to
be so late. He always has the aisle
seat, fourth row, center. But he'll be
along presently"
He glanced idly at his program, in.
differently absorbing the information
that Jules Max has the honor to pre-.
sent Miss Sara Law In her first and
greatest success entitled Joan Thurs
day-a play In three acts"
The audience stirred expectantly; q
movement ran through 1t like the
movement Of waters, murmurous, up
on shore. Whitaker's gaze was
drawn to the stage as If by an i'm
placable force. Max shifted on the
chair behind him and said something
tndtstinguishable, In an unnatural tone.
A woman had come upon the stage,
suddenly and tempestuously, banging
door behind her. The audience got
the barest glimpse of her profile as,
pausing momentarily, she eyed the
other actors. Then, without speaking,
she turned and walked up-stage, her
back to the footlights.
Applause broke out like a thunder
clap, pealing heavily through the big
auditorium, but the actress showed no
consciousness OF 1t. She was standing
before cheap mirror, removing her
hat, arranging her hair with the
weary shopgirl; she was acting-living
the scene, with no time to waste In
pandering to her popularity by bows
and set smiles; she remained before
the glass, prolonging the business, un-
til the applause subsidized.
Whitaker received an impression as
of tremendous force at work across
the footlights. The woman diffused an
effect as Of a terrible and boundless
energy under positive control. She
was not merely an actress, not even
merely a great actress; she was the
very soul of the drama of today.
Beyond this he knew In his heart
that she was his wife. Sara Law was
the woman he had married in that
sleepy Connecticut town, six years be-
fore that night. He had not yet seen
her face clearly, but he knew. To find
himself mistaken would have shaken
the foundations Of his understanding.
Under cover of the applause, he
turned to Max
"Who is that? What is her Manner
'The divine Sara" Max answered,
his eyes shining.
II mean, what is her name of the
stage, in private lifef"
1.-THE same" Max nodded with con-
viction; "Sara Laws the only name
she's ever worn In my acquaintance
with her"
At that moment, the applause hav-
ing subsidized to such an extent that 1t
was possible for her to make herself
heard, the actress swung round from
the mirror and addressed one Of the
~W W