BOTH GOOD FELLOWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 85

BOTH GOOD FELLOWS.

In French theatres the doctor of the theatre has a seat given him. for each performance. He must be the'<e every evening. Naturally, after he has seen the same piece a score of times, he longs to be elsewhere, and prefers to give his seat to some of his friends.

A well-known writer, Monsieur B , says that when he was a young man, a friend, the doctor of the Porte St. Martin Theatre, gave him his seat. Just as he was becoming interested in the first act the stage manager rushed vp — the heroine had a nervous attack and required medical aid.

B had nothing eke to do but to follow him. In the l&dy'.s dressing room he found the manager with anguish depicted on every feature and the lady wringing her hands and shrieking. "Now, doctor, quick J What's to be done?"

B- — grew as red as a lobster, and' as he could not say anything he jutt ejaculated: "H'm! Let us see; let us see! 1 He took the lady's hand in a wild attempt to feel her" pulse. She shrieked more than ever and writhed like a snake.

"Have you poured any water on her head?" he asked. "Yes." "And no effect?"

"None." "Then give her a sniff of eau deCologne." "Haven't any," wa9 the answer "Then go and fetch some." Off rushed the manager and fcbe stag« manager together, and»E was left witji the patient. Suddenly she opened her eyes and smiled.

"Doctor,"' she said, "you are a gocl fellow, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'amselle."

"You must be, doctor. .Now li«ron. There is nothing the matter with me. You would have found that out soon. I want a couple of day%' holiday. Can't you manage it?" "Delighted, " he replied. joyfully. "Now, ma'amselie, you're a good fellow, too. I'm not a doctor I came in on the doctor's ticket, so you must not grvc hiirt away." By this time the manager and stage manager came back, each with a bottle ofi eau-de-Cologne. He told them that it was \mnecessary now : the lady was quite composed, and could appear without anyj danger. But she must have a few days' rest. They made wry faces, but granted the holiday.

— He: "That handsome girl over there made a fool of me two years ago." She :, "I felt sure that something happened in your past life that you had never got over."

— Dramatic criticism in the Westerrt States of America gets there with point and precision. " A touring company recently gave "Hamlet" in * small township of Indiana. Commenting on the perform ance the editor of the local paper wrote: — "There has been a. long discussion as to whether Bacon or Shakespeare wrote this play. It can easily be settled now. Jjets the graves of the two writers be opened. The one who turned' over last night s per* formance 13 the author."