Year: 1874

went one night to see comedy. ehe
chief actor was a favorte one, and the
house was very crowded. The curtain
rose, and amidst burst Of applause the
hero of the piece made his appearance.
He had hardly uttered twenty words,
when it struck me that something strange
was the matter with him. The play was
a boisterous comedy Of the old school, and
required considerable spirit and vivacity
in the actors to sustain it properly; but
in this man there was none F; he walked
and talked like person in dream his
best points he passed over without ap-
pearing to perceive them, and altogether
he was quite unfit for the part. His smile
was ghastly, and his laugh hollow and
unnatural and frequently he would stop
off suddenly in his speech, and let his eye
wander vacantly over the audience.


Even when, in the character Of a silly
husband, he had TO suffer himself to be
kicked about the stage by young rake
of the comedy, and aherward to behold
that careless individual making love to
his wife and eating his supper, while he
was shut up in closet from whence he
could not emerge, his contortions Of lu-
dicrous wrath, which had never before
failed to call down plenty Of applause,
were now such miserable attempts to por-
tray the passions, that Kisses were audi
BILE in various parts Of the theater. The
audience was fairly out of temper and
several inquisitive individuals were par
ticularly inquisitive in their inquiries as
to the extent Of the potations he had that
day INDUCED in. A storm of sibilation
and abuse now fell around the ears Of
the devoted actor, and not content with
verbal insult, orange peel and apples
few upon the stage.


He stopped and turned to the shouting
crowd. never saw such misery in a
human countenance. His face was wan
and haggard, and tears rolled down his
painted cheeks. l saw his lips quivering
with mental agony. l saw his bosom
heave with convulsions of suppressed
emotion, and his whole mien betokened
such depth Of agony and distress, that
the most ruthless heart must have throb-
bed with pity.


The audience was moved, and by de-
grees the clamor Of invective subsided
into solemn stiffness, while he stood
near the footlights picture of detection.
When all was calm, he spoke, and in a
voice broken with sobs, which seemed TO
rend his bosom, he offered his explana-
nation


Ladies and gentlemen" said he, 'tho
in my acting tonight | am confident Of
meriting your displeasure, in one thing
you do me wrong, am not intoxicated.
Emotion alone, and that Of the most pain
ful kind, has caused me to FIJI my allotted
part SO badly. My wife died but few
hours ago, and left her side to fulfil my
unavoidable engagement here. If have
not pleased you, inplore you TO for
give. I loved her, grieved for her, and
ifanguish can excuse fault, bear my
apology-here ~


He placed his hand upon his heart, and
burst Of tears relieved his momentary
paroxysm Of grief


The audience was thoroughly affected,
and an honest burst of sympathy made
the walls tremble. Women wept loudly
and strong men silently, and during the
remainder of the evening his performance
was scarcely audible through the storm
ofapplause by which the crowd sought
TO soothe the poor mans wounded feel
ings.


There was something very melancholy
in the thought Of that wretched man com
ing from the bed of death to don gay at
tire and utter studied witticisms for the
amusement of a crowd, not one of whom
dreamed Of the anguish that festered un-
der his painted cheek and stage smile.
And in the great theater of life, how
many are there around US, like that poor
actor, smiling gaily at the multitude,
while at home lies sorrow, whose shadow
is ever present with them in busy places.
-Nelo York Clipper.