Evening star., 1922-12-31

stage, his friends in the
homo ONCE gave him a testimonial
dinner at dollar and a half plate.
and to conclude the dinner they natu-
rally required Picard to make a
speech. Picard stood up. ffexed his
Jaw and said exactly what was on his
mind.
Fellows" he said. IT may never
be the greatest actor in the world.
and I don't expect to be: but I do ex-
pect to make a reputation for myself.
and do expect to get little power,
eooner or later. because I'll work.
And the first time I'm back on Broad
way I'll have a dinner in memory of
this one--and In memory Of what the
encouragement OF you fellows has
meant TO me-" Then he gave them
Tho Heather Chinee" to laugh at.
and Whittier's Marguerite" to cry
at. and Hamlet's soliloquy to wonder
about: and after he had finished there
was nothing more for his friends to
do except to leave a little something
for the walters and escort Picard over
TO the Grand Central terminal. There.
IN the train shed. all but one of them
prophesied to Picard that he would
quickly repeat. on the legitimate
teur dramatics.
The toastmaster of the evening had
been a man named Benham. a reader
Of serious books and a shepherd of
all his companions, and Benham and
Picard were known to be inseparab!e.
At the last minute, when they were
shaking hands. Benham suddenly lost
color
stuart" he said. awkwardly.
we've been pretty good pals: I can't
let you go without telling you one
thing. I haven't talked about it be-
fore, because I knew 1t wouldn't be
any use. You're so stubborn. You've
had this offer, and now you can't see
anything else. You can't see that
career-an absolutely sure thing, too.
because all OF US realize that you're
the ablest one of the crowd-for this
this gamble"
Picard's grip frightened. but his jaw
was prominent. You really didn't
need to mention it, he said. con-
strained i've known all along.
You just don't believe the Lord ever
intended me to be an actor"
Benham wet his lips and nodded.
His anxiety always to be honest, even
If his honesty happened to hurt
somebody, had made him hurt Picard
at time when honesty wasn't In the
least demanded You see, you're
never open to conviction, Stuart"
Not by argument-no. I'm not"
His friend Benham kicked at con-
crete pillar. "I can't help feeling the
way 1 do about your acting. but
maybe I'm only selfish. I hate to
70 think what the Office is going to be
like when you're gone. And I'm AFRAID
of the gamble. I'm afraid it'll spoil
YOU and sour you. And swear l
hone I'm wrong about the whole
thing"
hut ! know perfectly we'll you don't
want to be an actor always-you Just
want distinction. and power, and money.
And you could get them easier, and
quicker. and surer. If you stayed right
here with the rest Of US
'No, I couldn't Nobody could. Fiji
teen years from now you'll be one OF
the people who'll look at me, and Won
der why nothing interesting, ever hap
pened to you. You're right in one re-
spect, thought want distinction, ana
power. and money: but I want to get
'ern In an interesting way. Something
TO do with drama I'm sorry you think
I won't"
nENHAM lifted his head and met
ID Picard's eyes. "Weu-t you
should ever want to come back to US
again there'n always be a place for
YOU as long as I'm there. Maybe you'll
never want to come. Maybe your stub
bornness Is just what'l make your for
tune, somehow or other. And II this
is what you really want why, then,
10 matter what my private opinion
is. I'll give Up anything I've got IN
the whole world to help you succeed"
.I know you would said Picard.
deeply stirred And you're the only
thing from, if I change my mind
Then his other friends pounced down
upon him. and put him aboard the
Mohawk Valley special; and in the
morning he reported to the manager
Of q second-rate stock company and
went to work.
When he left New York he had re-
zarded his company with tolerant con-
tempt; he knew that 1t was q cheap
company, but it had offered to give
him an impetus on the long road to
glory, and he reminded himself that
because a man determines to go to
Paris, he needn't be ashamed OF the
necessity of passing through Dover.
Within twenty-four hours, however. he
had slouRhed off the last OF his illu-
sions. and perceived that even In Dover
to continue the metaphor-he ap-
peared like a clumsy rustic. He had
mover conceived himself as a genius,
but he had relied upon his energetic
ambition and his common sense. and
It bruised his self-respect to be con-
s,dered a blockhead. Some men might
have resented the epithet by dis
play Of fists: Pickard resented II by
dsvoting eighteen hours a day toward
making 1t inapplicable.
It was only a few months ago that
he had starred as "Crichton" In the
greatest Of all tho Comedy Club pro-
ductions. and now he was estimated
too wooden to be allowed to walk on
as the messenger in Mrs. Temples
Tsleeram." He shuddered to realize