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About Polk County itemizer. (Dallas, Or.) 1879-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1907)
THE ROAD TO * FAME * By ALBERT HIGGINS C o p y rig h t, I'JUJ. b y P. C. K astm en t It was (¿minima Faster who was to blame for It. 8he came on a visit to her daughter. Farmer Stebbins’ wife, ami found her uiece Hattie teaching the district school and engaged to l>e married to a worthy young man named Hiram Ball. Miss Hattie was fairly educated, fairly good looking and very well contented with her life. Grandma's coming, however, started the tires of ambition. Once during her long life the old lady hud uttended a theatrical performance. It was in the town hall of her native village. The play was “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” of course, aud the company was made up of barnstormers, but It was a great play, and it made grandma, who was ouly a little girl theu. thrill from top to toe. Soon after her arrival at the Steb blnses Hattie walked across the veran da in a way that made the old lady excluim: “ Bless my soul If that dou’t remind me Of Ophelia in ‘Uncle Toni’s Cabin!* You’ ve got her walk to perfection. Child, have you been practicing for the stage?” “ No. grandma.” “ But the way you just turned around, yonr looking back at me with your head over your shoulder, your smile, the wny you stick up your chin, all re mind me of Ophelia. You could step right on the stage and play the charac ter.” That was the beginning. Grandma announced her great discovery to her sister and brother-in-law and advised them to put Ilattle on the stage at once: but. meeting with decided oppo sition. she said nothing further them. Many were the councils lie! between her and tlie niece, howeve It had bcou forty-two years sine grandma had seen the .historic pit aud what she couldn’t remember sin Imagined. Within n week she had de cided that Hattie could not only pin; the part of Ophelia, but of little Ev "B L E S S MV KOI' L , 11' T H IS DON’T U K OP O P H K L IA ." It KM IN b Uegree, Marks and even of Uncle Tom himself. She couldn’t fall to be the whole show, and In four weeks she would rise from “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin' to Shakespearean plays. The old lud.i believed what she said, and the young lady believed with her. Hirum Ball tried his best to ojHiii his tlancee’s eyes. “ Your grandmother Is a fool!” was his blunt way o f putting It. “ Because you can smile aud giggle is no sign that you would make a great actress. You Just give up the Idea aud settle down aud behave yourself.” “ Mr. Bull, 1 permit 110 one to speak disrespectfully of my grandmother in my presence,” replied the young lady, with freezing dignity, ns she took three strides to the east and then turned about and look three strides to the west. “ Hattie Stebbins, dou’t make a Jay of yourself. You'll never be au actress auy more than 1 11 be Cicero. It huiu’t I d u s .” “ S|M»ak for yourself, Mr. Ball. My resolution is taken. It is Irrevocable. Nothing that you cun say will shake hie lu the least. Destiny calls me.” “ What, do you mean to tell me that you b it * going to be silly enough to go on the stage?” he shouted. -Remember whom you ure address ing. varlet!" she warned as she drew hemolf up. “ By gum. but you have gone crasy! That old grandmother of yours ought to be ducked In the goose pond. What does she know about acting?” “ Enough, sir! Here our paths di verge. From this hour we are strau- gWH.” “ Then go right along aud make s fool of yourself!” called Hiram as she turned away. Wheu the grandmother was Inform al! of the Insidious remarks of Mr. Bull she held out new encouragement. She discovered new things to found new predictions ou. The very way that Miss Hattie climbed a fence, fell down on the lawn or ran Into a clothes line proved to her that the girl was liorn for the stage anil had been niol- dering In obscurity. The district school was continued, ami nothing might have come of the talk but for the week's holiday In Sep* temlier to give the carpenters time to mHke some repairs. Grandma bad gone home, and uow Miss Hattie went over to the county scat to visit a girl friend. She aud Hiram hail Itecn “ out” for the last three montha. In stead of moplug and sorrowing and breaking his heart be had again <«1100 her n Jay and continued his business of buying hotter ami egga for the mar ket. A theatrical company playing “ Did •he Lore Him?” bail struck the to w « and excited the people. The actors and irtrsasaa had sauntered about the «*»aa* sad twee the o of all efc> servers. There was tala of a “ tre mendous <*ast” and a “ carload of scen ery.” There was talk of u “ farewell tour” aud “ tremendous applause.” The play had run several hundred nights in New York and the same in London, and its uuthor had received over a million dollars in royalties. Miss Hattie Stebbins had determined from the first to Join the company. She met the manager In a grocery where he bad called for crackers, cheese and herring, and. to her Intense joy. he was looking for a young lady to play second lead. Her salary would* be $25 per week. Her part would be to hold up the train of the lending lady’s dress as she entered the parlor, trim two lamps and ask the loading lady If she should turn the cat outdoors. The manager could promise her no more Just at present, as the lending lady was Insanely Jealous of her part* but later on there would be a change. It was agreed that Ilattle should leave when the company did and make her first appearance at the next town. She dodged her friends and was at the ilejwjt as the company made ready to depart at midnight. It departed In the caboose of a freight train. The manager explained that they preferred to travel that way in order to view the scenery. There were five actors and three ac tresses. The actors were gallant enough, but the actresses held aloof and threw out Insinuations aud made Hattie feel as badly as they could. There was sleep that night for all who sat on the floor, lu the early morning tile company rolled into its next step ping place, and the muuag» l took uie upper rooms at the village Inn. These included the garret. He did this, he explained, on the ground of health. He borrowed Hattie’s watch that day aud forgot to return It. She went on in her part that night. She had studied it for hours and was letter perfect. She fell over u chair on her entrance, uud she fell over another on her exit, uud, though the actresses sneered and wanted to know* if she thought she was in a cabbage patch, he manager took her aside and said he never saw such acting by au am ateur. She had only to keep on and fall over four chairs to bring four •omuls of applause from the audience, lie wound up by borrowing her breast pin. For a whole week Miss Hattie Steb bins played second lead and rode from town to town in cabooses. For a whole week the actresses showed their jeal- >usy of her. Sometimes enough money was taken In to pay the bills aud get to the next town. Sometimes the priut- *r and the landlord were held up by promises. Sometimes the audieuee numbered fifty people, aud the ap plause that went up the manager call ed “ positively tremendous.” Sometimes >uly half a dozen people sat around md wondered what It was all about. Miss Hattie had two gold rings, aud he manager borrowed both of them. >he loaned two or three of her dresses ind a hat to the» actresses in the hope >f getting into their golden opinions, he learned to enter and to exit, and if die fell down she learned to fall grace- ally on her shoulder. The manager as sured her that the pinnacle of fame was not far away, and everything looked rosy, when she awoke one morn ing to find the company gone and to iearn tbut the landlord was holding her for the bill. Luckily her father arrived at thut juncture. There was no scene. She did not fall into liis urms. She had had acting enough. He simply took her home, where she found lllram waiting for her. He had been biding his time, and there was no sceue with him ei ther. He simply remarked that If she hud got over being a jay he would like to revive the marriage question, and an hour later a female head was zesting on a manly shoulder and gazing up at tlie now moon with dewy eyes. After a long while Hiram gently asked: “ Dearest, what does varlet mean? You know you called me one.” “ It's—it’s some kind of an animal, I guess, and I ’m sorry,” she replied as die snuggled closer. \dam K new th e F lo o d W i t * C o m in g . urea, and he >a prjJuy itseir. tie naa been ;\U!i j ¿¿r i n years past aud is I .is steady as a church. 1 might as well suspect myself.” “ Nevertheless, if there is anything wrou„ it must be iu ins department,*' uuggeeted Agnew. There were two or three interviews, uud theu it was suggested that Dubois, which was the name of the bookkeeper, l>e given leave of absence lor u cou ple of weeks. He refused to take it. Theu Aguevv cabled for instructions uud was told to go ahead. He was tukeu to the otiice and introduced uud his errand stated. To his agreeable disappointment Dubois gave him a cor dial welcome and offered every assist ance lu his power. He would be only too glad to have his books looked over and verified. IIis frankness und eager ness were a set ack to Agnew. but a day was appointed for the commence ment of the work. No man could have set out to render himself more agree able than the Fzeueh bookkeeper did. He first Invited Agnew to his home to dinner. It was a modest little cottage, plainly furnished aud evidently eco nomically managed. There were a wife und two children, aud the family ap peared to be happy and contented. Agnew had made up his mind that Dubois was certainly living on his lu come and was a man of steady habits when his wife happened to mention during the momentary absence of the husband that she would be entirely happy if Claude d;d nor have to remain at the office so late three or four nights iu the week. As a matter of fact, the office always closed at 5:30 p. in., and Agnew was made uneasy by the re marks. Dubois made arrangements to show the American certain sights the next evening, and they were together for several hours. At a cafe where they stopped lor a last drink Agnew who hud taken very little during the evening aud who culled lor a mile, glass on this occasion, suddenly fauna the room whirliug round and round with him aud finally pitched forward on the floor and became unconscious. When he came to some time during the next day he was ill aud found that he had been robbed aud was clothed in the garb of a workingman. He was , also a prisoner in a cellar so dark that he could not see across it. There were a pitcher of water mid a loaf of bread beside him. He drank of the water and slept for hours. When he awoke again tin* effects of the drug were gone, and he explored his prison, to discover that It had onl one small window, and that looked onl on a back yard and was heavily bar red. There had been stairs leading up to a door, but they had been removed. No sounds reached him from above, and the noises from the street wen muffled. An hour later a man thrust a lndde lown and brought more bread and wa ter. He was armed with a knife and refused to answer auy questions. The American coaxed, threatened and tried to bribe, but the mun was firm. Three times a day for the next ten days he brought bread and water, but neve anything else. Then one evening he left the ladder behind him when he as vended, as If by an oversight, and after waitng for an hour Agnew crept up, to find the door open. He had no trouble In leaving the bouse, which was without tenants and situated In a slum street. The mun hadn’t a penny in money, and his suit was old and rag ged. When he accosted a gendarme h» was ordered to move ou. He move l on and told his story again and again and ut length was arrested and locked up. In the morning the police judge wa*1 about to commit Agnew ns a vagram when he asked that the head of the firm be sent for. This was done, and of course the prisoner was soon at lib *rty. He could not guide the police to die street where he had been held pris mer. but a visit to the home of Dubois explained everything. He had ftbau doned his family eight days previously In a day or two it was shown that foi five years he had maintained three sep a rate establishments, and in two of them he had passed for n single man. instead of being a man of steady hah ts, he was a regular rounder. Instead >f being a man of probity, n brief ex unination of his books showed that he and stolen $30.(XJU from the firm lu six ears. Had an expert been put on his books at any time his frauds must aave been discover«! In half a day. It took the police a couple of weeks o secure a clew, but the embezzler was finally followed to South Africa and ip the country to the diamond mines When arrested he was all bravado, but liree days later he committed suicide under the officer’s nose, and the case igalust him was closed. M. QUAD. An apocryphal book called the “ Less er Genesis” and well known to the early Christian fathers tells a wonder ful incident In the life of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. When I he goodly Seth was about forty years of age. he Was “ rapt” up into heaven by a trio of angels and there told and vliown what was In store for mankind. V monte other things, the coming of the great deluge was made known to him, .is was also the coming of the Saviour. When he returned to earth. Seth told his parents what had happened and of what he had seen and heard concern- air the future o f the human race. “ And Still to Lot. Adam was much grieved when It w a « "That house that you finished a f e * made known to him that the world weeks ago Is the biggest of the lot.” would be destroyed by water on ac said the real estate agent. “ Perhaps count of the wickedness of his own that's why It's so hard to dud a teu •hlldren, but a great peace and calm ness came over him when Seth told ant.” “ Yes," answered the builder, “ it’s how the face of the earth would again be re peopled. • • * Ills Joy was cx- last, but not leased.” —Llppincott's. eedlngly great wheu Seth related A Different Medium. what was In store In tin* coming i*ges. Huggins—That pretty little sculp- and he was particularly glad to know that nilemntlon should dually come tress 1 met at your reception the other evening completely turned my bead. through Teens, the Christ.” Miss Peachley- Indeed! I knew she ; * +44444444444444444444444 modeled in clay, hut I wasn't aware that she worked in wood. — Chicago News. || TRAVERS & CO. f 444444444444 4444 4 4 4 4 44 4 4 1 + * [Copyright. ISOS. b> McClure Newapape. S yn d ica te.] The mercantile house of Travers i; Co.. New York, had a branch iu I'ari- for twenty years, when Travers him ■elf, after looking over old accounts 00111*011 something wrong. The next steamer sailing for Havr* carried with her Thomas Agnew, tb firm's bookkec|»er. He was provide J with all proper credentials, and his In atructlons were to give the Paris books a thorough overhauling. He was to Interv iew the head of the French firm first. This he did aoou after reachln*: Paris. “ I hardly expected you. but I am glad thut yon are here,” was his greet Ing. “ It la true that the business has fallen off. and It has been a source of •nxlety to me. We seem to be doing sa much as ever, but the as lea show less and leas. I cannot suspect any o f the employees. Tl»e bookkeeper la the oolr one who could Juggle the kg Superstitious. “ I fine you $13 " “ Make it thirteen and costs. Judge; thirteen Is an unlucky number.” —Har per's Weekly Another Thing. "1 hear Stsrleigh took a new play ftJt for • run Did be strike It?” "N o; be beat I t ” Boston Hen 14. F. S. R A M S E Y , Prop. s ElcCfRIUlV FOX EIGHlINu IS ON l Y EXPENSIVE TO PEOPLE VYilO ARE WASTEUl AND CARELESS. TO YOU, WHO ARE NATURALLY CAREEUL, IT DOES N01 COME HIGH. It is economical because it can be quickly turned off when not needed. With gas or kerosene there is the temptation to let light burn when not needed, to save bother of lighting and adjusting, In some homes the electric light bill amounts to only about $ 2 per month. You can probably get some kind of artifi cial light tor less money than electric light, but does it save y ou anything when it limits opportunities for work and recreation, ruins your eyesight, smokes your walls, mars decora lions and increases household work. You can probably save a dollar tomorrow by going without vour meals, but it wouldn’t he econ omy. It is not so much what you save, but, how you save, that counts. We are always ready to explain the “ ins and outs” of the lighting proposition to you, Call on us or phone to us. We are never too busy to talk business. Willamette Valley Company E. W , K E A R N E S , M anager, Dallas, Oregon. Office on Mill atreet, juat north of the court house. Phonea: Bell, 421, Mutual, 1297. ^UVVyuyyyUVÜUUUUViÄftiVtiUyvyiiyuuvuuuviK jyy ; We want every person in Polk County to take | The j j Item izer To that end for the next 30 days we will offer a six months’ subscription at 50 cents. This does not apply to renewals in any way, hue is only for per sons not now taking The Itemizer. I i Left on His Hand«. Gabble—That’s a queer sort o f ring , for you to l>e wearing. It Isn’t suitable for a man at all. Lovett—Think not? Well. 1 tried It on a girl, and she didn’t seem to think It suited ber either. — Philadelphia Press. Tribune The Modern Way. First American F a th e r-1 hear your daughter is going to lie married Second AuierUau Father-So 1 un derstand. - Judge and see the finest line of Christmas Goods in the city. Toys and Dolls for little ones, also a nice line to pick from for the grownups. Come and see us before you buy and get our prices. ftIX iiS i pM M SM â CHRISTMAS NO/ELITES ----- IN P R O F U S IO N A T ------ L. D. Daniels' Music Store DALLAS, ORECON I have the finest line of novelties in Christmas goods ever brought to the city, comprising Christmas tree decorations of all kinds, bells, wreaths, stringers, etc. Swell lot o f burnt leather goods, sofa cushions, table scarfs, and many other handsome and useful novelties in this line. Christmas records for your phonograph. Christmas postal cards. Musical in struments of all kinds. % 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4