DRAMA IN REAL LIFE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8786, 13 April 1907, Page 1

DRAMA IN REAL LIFE.

A playwright would find material for an attractive drama in the details of an encounter which a young actress has had with a burglar at her home in Blackpool. The actress is Miss Florence Taylor, who made a vivacious Nan in “ The Country Girl ” which was played by the Blackpool Lyric Amateur Operatic Company at the Grand Theatre recently. Returning from a midday walk with her mother, Miss Taylor went to her bedroom, where she encountered a burglar, with a sackful of stolen articles on his back, just about to make his departure'. “I’m here!” said the stranger coolly. “ Yes, I see,” replied Miss Taylor, with equal coolness, and she bade the man follow 1 her down the stairs. “When I heard my daughter tell someone to come down,” said Mrs Taylor, in relating the incident to a Daily Chronicle representative, “ I went out on the landing, and heard her again tell the man with the sack to follow her. _ - “ I could not conceive just for the moment what had happened. My daughter was so cool and determined. She led the burglar, as I found him to be, down into the hall. I followed, and my daughter explained in his presence that she had heard someone in her room, and on going there found the man. She made him empty out all the things he had in the sack. “We then asked him what he had broken in for, and he said he had been driven to it, as he had been out of work so long. My daughter, who amazed me by her coolness, said ‘ Have you anything else ? Have you got any money ?’ He replied ‘No,’ and added that she could search him if she doubted his word. He looked very wretched, and when he pulled out his purse, showing it to be quite empty, we both felt very sorry for him. “ My daughter then said, ‘ Would you like something to eat?’ The man seemed considerably surprised, but very grateful, and my daughter went to the larder and brought some food, which he ate.

“ ‘ I was driven to it,’ he said again, ' I have tried so hard to get work. I was walking down the back street when I canhgt sight of the open window, and I was tempted and got in.’ “The man.” continued Mrs Taylor, “ did not actually’ plead with us to let him go, but he appeared so wretched. Had he been at all rough we should not have hesitated for a moment about sending for the police. Instead of that we decided to let him go. My last words to him were, 1 1 wouldn’t do this again if I were you. I’d [try to get work.’ ” The mau did not profit by the good woman’s advice, for soon after he was captured while breaking into premises near by. At the court he told the magistrates he thoroughly enfoyed the meal which Mrs Taylor had provided. “ I shall always remember her. She is better than constable.” The magistrates sent the man to prison for eight months.