A John Oxenford Story.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 52

A John Oxenford Story.

. In dear old John Oxenforrl's declining d*yo he was troubled with a .s-tious bronchial affrfCtion, which occasionally liioUubtd tho audience, for he refused tq. give up his beloved theatro, although desperately i'l. A certain rising young' actor, who shall be nameless, ' though he has recently been iv England after a brilliant career, was very anxious to obtain Oxenford's valuable opinion on his work, "and tho tender-hearted old gentleman literally left bis bed avid came down to tfio theatre on a bitter cold night to do a good action to * clever youngster,

Iv tbe middle- of one of the actor> fines* scenes on came the cough from tbe Oxenford box/ Ib continueiTso long that it unnefved the actor, and i he. came to .a dead stop.' To the surprise of everybody, he advanced to tho front and said : " L*dies and gentlemen, I am sorry to say that unless tho old geutleman with bhe irritating cough retires temporarily from bhe theatre I really cannot go on. I forget everything. It is painful so to address you, bub I am powerless in the matter, and place myself in your hands." This disturbance at once ceased, and the, box was empty. When the c jrtiiu fell a friend ru3hed round, and, breathless, said to the distressed actor, "Do you know what you h&ve done? Do you koow who ib was that you turned oub of the box?" " I neither know nor care," was the reply. "Why, it was John Oxenford ! " The actor was paralysed, but he got his good notice all the sams. The veteran critic went borne coughing to praise the young actor who had turned him out. — Clement Scott, ia tbe Illustrated London News..