A YOUNG ACTOR'S DILEMMA

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2549, 10 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A YOUNG ACTOR'S DILEMMA

There is a capital story of Florence—an episode of the actor's boyish days—in " Honry Irving's Impressions of America," which is worth remembering. Florence was a very young man, a boy in fact, and was filling one of hia first engagements on any stage at the Bowery Theatre. A girl about his own age (who is now a wife and a woman of position in New York) in the company was his first leve. His adoration was mingled with the most gallant respect. Their salaries were about from lOdols. to 12dols. each a week. For a timo they only played in the first piece; for in those days two plays a night were more popular on the American stage than they are now. One evening, at about nine o'clock, after pulling himself together for so daring an effort in hia course of courtship, he asked her if she would go to an adjacent restaurant and take something to eat. The house was kept by a person or the naino of Shields or Shiells. The supper room was arranged something after the manner of the old London coffee houses. It had compartments divided off from each other. Into one of these Florence escorted his sweetheart. He asks her what she would take. After some hesitation, and a great deal of blushing (moro probably on his part than hers), she said oyster-stew and lemonade. He concluded to have the same—an incongruous mixture, perhaps ; but they were boy and girl. Florence was more than ODce on the eve of declaring his undying passion, and asking her to name the day. Presently, supper being ended, they rose to go, and Florence discovered that ho had come away without his purse, or rather pocket-book, as they call it there. He explained to his Irish waiter (and Florence, I suspect, is himßelf of Irish descent), who cut him short by saying, " Alouey ? Oh, that won't do, you're not going to damage the moral character of the house, bringing of your girls herp, and then saying you can't pay the bill."—"How dare you, sir!" exclaimed Florence, the girl shrinking buck. "Bare! Oh, bedad, if you put that in the way I'll just give you a piece of my mind," and he did. It was a dirty piece which hurt the poor young fellow. " Take me to your master," he said. The girl was crying, Florence was heartbroken. The master was not less rude than tho man. " Very well," said the boy, " here's my watch and ring. I will call and redeem them in the morniug with the money. I am a member of the Bowery Company, and I will a«k the manager to call and see you also. Your conduct is shameful." "By heaven, it is," exclaimed a stranger, who, with some others, was smoking near the desk of the clerk or landlord. "It is. infamous ; cannot you understand that this young gentleman is a good, honest young fellow ? , you ought to apologise to hiiii and kick that waiter fellow out. Don't frown at me, sir. Give the you gentleman his watch and ring. Here is a oOdol. bill ; take what ho owes and give me the change." The stranger was a well-dressed gentleman, with white hair, not old, hut of venerable appearance. They all went out together— Florence, the young lady, and their benefactor, As they stepped into the street, Florence said, "I cannot sufficiently thank you, sir. Where shall I call and leave the money for you ?" " Oh, don't trouble yourself about it,"

sf>id the beuevolent gentleman ; " your surly friend wou't make much out of the transaction, —it was a counterfeit bill that he changed for me. This is the way I make my living."