A Two-sided Character.
When Macready went over to Amprica, he took with him John Kyder, who had been one of his Drury Lane company, to play seconds. Just about the time of hie return visit to New York Hyder's term expirod. "Look here, llyder," said Maoready one day, " I don't see why Simpson " (the manager of the Park Theatre) "shouldn't pay you your salary this time. You have only to say your engagement with me has terminated, which is quite true, and that he must treat with you ; ho cannot do without you, and you oan make your own terms." Never suspectiDg a trap, Ryder at once consented. The openirjg play was " Macbeth," and Macready did not come to the theatre until the morning of the performance. The company and the manager were assembled in the green-room. Macduff was called for tho aecond scene, in whioh, according to the old acting copies, he spoke the lines assigned to Rose. " Oh ! by-the bye," said Maoready, addressing Simpson, " I quite forgot to mention that Mr. Kyder's engagement with me expired last week. Was it not so, Hyder?" (Byder answered in tho affirmative.) "So that you will have to arrange with him separately." "In that case," replied the manager, "I shall not require his services, ns I shall put one of my own stock company into the part." Although a little disappointed, Eyder consoled himself with the thoughts that after all it would be only a Bhort holiday, for which he would suffer no pecuniary loss. On tho Saturday he went to Macready, as usual, for his salary. " There is some mistake, my dear Rvder," said the tragedian. " Did you not say in the grcen-reom on Monday, before the whole company, that your engagement had terminated ? When I leave hero 1 shall be very pleased to renew our arrangement ; but " Expostulation was useless. " Then I am to understand, Mr. Macready," said the aotor, quietly, " that I am at present a free agent ? " " Well, yes ; of course, under these ciroumBtances, it ie so." Without a moment's loss of time Kyder hurried off to the Bowery, then a new theatre, stated hia position, and offered to open on the follewing Monday as Macbeth. The offer was at once cloned with, and before night every hoarding in New York bore tho announcement that, on Monday next, the celebrated English actor, Mr. John llyder, would appear at the Bowery Theatre in his great impersonation of Macbeth. The next day, Maoready sent for him in hot haste, and demanded to know what the announcement meant. " You told me I was a free agent during your stay in New York," replied Hyder, " and, as I could not afford to remain idle, I have accepted an engagement at an opposition theatre." " You must break it ; I will pay you your salary — anything." 11 Too late, Mr. Macready," answered John, dryly ; and the engagement was played out, and proved a great success. And yet, on another occasion, the man who played this contemptible trick to save a few pounds could be equally generous, liyder's arrangements inoluded a benefit in each city. On one of these occasions a terrible atorm raged that flooded the streets and rendered them utterly impassable. The next evening Maoready handed him over notes amounting to a pretty good sum in dollars, with the remark — " Something to make up for your loss last night, Kyder." A curious proof of tho possibility of meanness and gencrofiity existing mdc by side in the same character.
" Now. Johnnie." said tho teacher, " if your father borrows one hundred dollars, nnd promises to pay ten dollars a week, how much will he owe m seven weeks ?" " One hundred dollars," said .Johnnie. " I'm afraid you don't know jourlofKon vtry weH," remarked the teacher. " I may not know my lesson very well," Johnnie frankly acknowledged," but I know my father."— N. Y. Graphic.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 7 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)
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648A Two-sided Character. Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 7 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)
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