The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-10-11
THEATER MAX
It T 7 II I TIT W TT
SARA LAWS FAREWELL.


THEATER MAX
SARA LAWS FAREWELL.
1t was nearly half-past eight; the
house had been open since seven and
still a queue ran from the gallery doors
to Broadway. The lobby itself was
crowded to suffocatiOn with an occi-
dental durbar of barbaric magnificence.
the city's supreme manifestation of
It's religion. the ultimate rite in the
worship of the pOmpS Of the flesh.
Look at that" Max grumbled
through his cigar 'Ain't it a shame?"
"What?" Whitaker had to lift his
voice to make it carry above the buzz
Zing Of the thrOng.
THE money I'm losing" returned
could've filled the Metropolitan opera
house three times over!'
He swung on his heel and began to
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
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
Il small door into the gangway behind
the boxes.
Curtains just up Max told him;
S'Sara doesn't come on till near the
AL rNft 81 cole
Portable; I'll be back before long"
He drew aside Il curtain and uShered
his guest into the right-hand stage-box,
then vanished. The few empty stalls
We're 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
it 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 n program. Better
get over here" he suggested in a
hoarse whisper, indicating a chair near
the rail. You may never have an
other chance TO see the greatest living
actress. Wonderful house." he whis-
pered, sitting down behind Whitaker
"Drummond hasn't shown up yet
though"
THAT 500" Whitaker returned over
his shoulder
"1es; it's funny; never knew him to
he 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; a
movement ran through it 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
indistinguishable, in an unnatural tone.
A woman had come upon the stage
Euddenly and tempestuously, banging
= door behind her. The audience got
the barest glimpse of her profile as,
Esausing momentarily, she eyed the
0ther actors. Then. without speaking,
sue turned and walked up-stage, her
sack to the footli ghrS.
Applause broke out like a thunder
zap, pealing heavily through the big
auditorium, but the actress showed no
consciousness of it. She was standing
before cheap mirror. removing her
hat, arranging her hair with the
typical, unconscious gestures of
weary Shopgirl; she was acting-living
the scene. with no time TO waste i'm
pandering TO her popularity by bows
and set smiles; she remained before
Tho glass, prolonging the business, I'M
I'll the applause subsidized
Whitaker received an impression as
of q tremendous force at work across
the footlightS. The woman diffused an
effect as of terrible and boundless
energy under positive control. She
was not merely an actress, not even
merely 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 Conrectieut town, six years be-