THE ACTOR'S REBUKE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8954, 10 December 1890, Page 4

THE ACTOR'S REBUKE.

It was at a performance given by a rather mediocre comedy company in' a little country town. The house was packed, but the audience was not very enthusiastic, and the applause was terribly scanty. One of the comedians was so much worse than his fellows, that, try as he would, his best efforts at .wit were received with a deathlike stillness ; and after one sally more atrocious than the rest there came an unmistakable hiss. This was too much ; and stepping out of his part and down to the footlights, the outraged actor spoke indignantly as follows — " Ladies and gentlemen ! I thought when I come before ye this evenin' that this audience was composed of ladies and gentlemen, but I see, there's one man here that ain't." And then he was applauded. There is considerable dormant genius that ought never to be awakened, if the comfort of others is to be taken into consideration. " Jones is a remarkable man, isn't he ?" "In what way?" "He stood at a crossing while a load of straw passed, and did not pul] » single stalk."