Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1920-01-22

him, and he could mutter nothing else
but mystic and entirely irrelevant
phrase, which he continued to repeat
until he had scrambled to his feet and
doffed his carpenters cap.
Good Lord, Miss Romney, II you'd
have said so, why, I'd have pulled the
theatre down for We, and willing. Mr.
lizard now-he won't be glad neither
Briggs says he to me, she'll come
back some day just as sure as Mrs.
Briggs'-but that's neither here nor
there, miss. He's over at the tavern
now and Mr.. Lacombe with him. Let
me say the word and he'll come back
in fire-engine-"
Evelyn protested that she did not
desire the word to be said; but would
wait in the auditorium and announce
herself to the greatsman. Understand
ing that the tavern" really meant the
Carlton Hotel and that there was
rehearsal of new and modern play
at two O'Clock, she entered the theatre
and sat, her veil undrawn, in the
wings, whereby from time to time the
acquaintances of old times must pass
her. So dark was it that she feared
no recognition. Those who came in
and out, pinched girls who had lunch
ed off a sponge-cake and cup of CO.
Goa; heavy-jowled men whose midday
refreshment had been distilled from
Juniper; sleek youths with new rem
dering Of Hamlet in their pockets
the success, the fortunes, the hopes,
y thn n fon Int, ,fp ~f a11, n1,nty nod
his tongue and directed his eyes to
that man or woman alone who had
the patience and the good-nature to
hear recital of them. None paid at
tention to Evelyn, or as much as re-
marked her presence in the sombre
light. Even little Dulcie Holmes
passed her by unnoticed; and as for
the melancholy Lucy Grey, she was
too full Of her own troubles so much
as to think of anyone else's. 'I wish
/ were dead" she had just said to Dull
cie-and this was as much as to say
II have no part in the new play, and
God knows how l shall pay for my
lodging"
Evelyn had a little difficulty in re-
straining herself from declaring her
identity to the girls; but an incurable
love of dramatic effect came to her
aid and, perhaps, the vain desire to
be discovered more worthily by that
great man, Mr.. Charles lizard. Aware
that she was waiting there as the
humblest suppliant for the theatres
favors, she perceived presently that
the iron door between stage and audi
torium stood open; and. slipping
through, she entered stage-box and
there waited in better security. One
by one now the stars" entered the
theatre and took up their positions up
on the dimly-lighted stage. A chat
ter of conversation arose, amidst
which the stage-manager's voice
could be heard in heated argument
with lady whose part had been cut.
All waited for the great man, and
when he appeared hush fell as though
upon transformation scene in a
country pantomime. Lo, he had come
fresh from long cigar and bot
tie of what he called "noots"-mean-
ing the excellent wine Of Burgundy
known as Nints. What hustle, what
activity upon the part of the under
lings now! How busy the principals
appear to be! How white in the gloom
are the faces of the girls, who lately
spoke of fortune and furs and a furore
of applause!
The new play was also new enter
tainment. 1t appeared to Evelyn to
be a hash-up of drama and ballet, with
a comedy scene in each act, intro
duced for the sole purpose of exploit
ing lady who could initiate wild AMI
mails. That it might succeed in an
age which has almost forgotten the
bombastics of the ancient drama, and
cares not a straw what an entertain
ment may be called so long as 1t is
amusing and provokes a rhythmical
nodding Of heads. was very probable.
Mr.. lizard, at least, had few doubts
about the success of It; and yet he
could have wished 1t otherwise.
"They ask me to elevate the people,"
he would remark in confidential mo
sir, the people that
want elevating had better go up in
elevators. I'm here to run theatre.
not Tower of Babel, and that's 30.
Just walk round to some of these fine-
folk and ask them what they
Will pay down in dollars for the good
Of humanity and the British stage. II
you can buy a ten-cent collar with the
proceeds Of that hat-box. I'll set
stone up to your memory. No. sir.
the worlds too tired to think. Give
EN- great actress and they don't
have to think. That's what I'm look
Ing for, like man who's dropped o
Lhousand-dollar scarf-pin on the beach
at Atlantic City. Since Eta Romney
walked out-but what's the good
talking about that? When she come
back I'll begin to think about the pee
ple's good health again. Sir she made
the rest of them look like thirty GEMS
and that's gospel truth"
The confession would end with 6
sigh and new application to th'
hnofpauu ~ oio n hu