453

pulled down over his forehead—imagining himself to be Othello or
some such character, and imagining that the passing crowd marked
his tragic bearing and
were awestruck.

I joined him, and
tried to get him down
out of the clouds, but did
not succeed. However,
he casually informed me,
presently, that he was
a member of the Walnut
Street theatre company
—and he tried to say it
with indifference, but the
indifference was thin, f'jfi

and a mighty exultation l ',r|(jfii

showed through it. He
said he was cast for a
part in Julius Caesar, for
that night, and if I should
come I woiild see him.
If I should comef I
said I wouldn't miss it if
I were dead.

I went away stupefied
with astonishment, and
saying to myself, * How
strange it is ! we, always
thought this fellow a
fool; yet the moment he
comes to a great city,
where intelligence and
appreciation abound, the
talent concealed in this
shabby napkin is at once
discovered, and promptly welcomed and hoxiotired/

But I came away from the tfreatre that night disappointed and

STAGB-STBUCK*