搜索
EPISODESINVANBIBBER'SLIFE1EPISODESINVANBIBBER'SLIFERichardHardingDavisEPISODESINVANBIBBER'SLIFE2HerFirstAppearanceItwasattheendofthefirstactofthefirstnightofTheSultana,andeverymemberoftheLesterComicOperaCompany,fromLesterhimselfdowntothewardrobewoman'sson,whowouldhavehadtoworkifhismotherlostherplace,wassickwithanxiety.Thereisperhapsonlyoneotherplaceasfeverishasitisbehindthescenesonthefirstnightofacomicopera,andthatisanewspaperofficeonthelastnightofaPresidentialcampaign,whenthereturnsarebeingflashedonthecanvasoutside,andthemobishowling,andtheeditor-in-chiefisexpectingtogototheCourtofSt.Jamesiftheelectioncomeshisway,andtheoffice-boyisbettinghiswagesthatitwon't.Suchnightsasthesetrymen'ssouls;butVanBibberpassedthestage-doormanwithascalmlypoliteanodasthoughthepiecehadbeenrunningahundrednights,andthemanagerwasthinkingupsouvenirsfortheonehundredandfiftieth,andtheprimadonnahad,asusual,beguntohintforanewsetofcostumes.Thestage-doorkeeperhesitatedandwaslost,andVanBibbersteppedintotheunsuppressedexcitementoftheplacewithapleasedsniffatthefamiliarsmellofpaintandburninggas,andthedustyodorthatcamefromthescene-loftsabove.Foramomenthehesitatedinthecross-lightsandconfusionabouthim,failingtorecognizeintheirnewcostumeshisoldacquaintancesofthecompany;buthesawKripps,thestage-manager,inthecentreofthestage,perspiringandinhisshirt-sleevesasalways,wildlywavinganarmtosomeoneintheflies,andbeckoningwiththeothertothegasmaninthefrontentrance.Thestagehandswerestrikingthesceneforthefirstact,andfightingwiththesetforthesecond,anddraggingoutacanvasflooroftessellatedmarble,andrunningathroneandapracticalpairofstepsoverit,andaimingthehighquakingwallsofapalaceandabuseatwhoevercameintheirway.Nowthen,VanBibber,shoutedKripps,withawildglanceofrecognition,asthewhite-and-blackfigurecametowardshim,youknowyou'retheonlymaninNewYorkwhogetsbehindhereto-night.Butyoucan'tstay.Lowerit,lowerit,can'tyou?Thistothemanintheflies.AnyEPISODESINVANBIBBER'SLIFE3othernightgoes,butnotthisnight.Ican'thaveit.I--Whereisthebackingforthecentreentrance?Didn'tItellyoumen---VanBibberdodgedtwostagehandswhoweresteeringasceneathim,steppedoverthecarpetasitunrolled,andbrushedthroughagroupofanxious,whisperingchoruspeopleintothequietofthestar'sdressing-room.Thestarsawhiminthelongmirrorbeforewhichhesat,whilehisdressertuggedathisboots,andthrewuphishandsdesperately.Well,hecried,inmockresignation,areweinitorarewenot?Aretheyintheirseatsstillorhavetheyfled?Howareyou,John?saidVanBibbertothedresser.Thenhedroppedintoabigarm-chairinthecorner,andgotupagainwithaprotestingsightolighthiscigarbetweenthewiresaroundthegas-burner.Oh,it'sgoingverywell.Iwouldn'thavecomearoundifitwasn't.Iftherestofitisasgoodasthefirstact,youneedn'tworry.VanBibber'sunchallengedfreedombehindthesceneshadbeenasourceofmuchcommentandperplexitytothemembersoftheLesterComicOperaCompany.Hehadmadehisfirstappearancethereduringonehotnightofthelongrunoftheprevioussummer,andhadcontinuedtobeanalmostnightlyvisitorforseveralweeks.Atfirstitwassupposedthathewasbackingthepiece,thathewastheAngel,asthoseweakandwealthyindividualsarecalledwhoallowthemselvestobeledintosupplyingthefinancesfortheatricalexperiments.Butasheneverpeeredthroughthecurtain-holetocountthehouse,normadefrequenttripstothefrontofittolookattheboxsheet,butwas,onthecontrary,justasundisturbedonarainynightasonthosewhenthestandingroomonlysignblockedthefrontentrance,thissuppositionwasdiscardedasuntenable.Nordidheshowtheleastinterestintheprimadonna,orinanyoftheotherprettywomenofthecompany;hedidnotknowthem,nordidhemakeanyefforttoknowthem,anditwasnotuntiltheyinquiredconcerninghimoutsideofthetheatrethattheylearnedwhatafigureinthesociallifeofthecityhereallywas.HespentmostofhistimeinLester'sdressing-roomsmoking,listeningtothereminiscencesofLester'sdresserwhenLesterwasonthestage;andthisseclusionandhisclericalattireofEPISODESINVANBIBBER'SLIFE4eveningdressledthesecondcomediantocallhimLester'sfatherconfessor,andtosuggestthathecametothetheatreonlytotakethestartotaskforhissins.Andinthisthesecondcomedianwasunknowinglynotsoveryfarwrong.Lester,thecomedian,andyoungVanBibberhadknowneachotherattheuniversity,whenLester'svoiceandgiftofmimicryhadmadehimtheleaderinthecollegetheatricals;andlater,whenhehadgoneuponthestage,andhadbeencutoffbyhisfamilyevenafterhehadbecomefamous,oronaccountofit,VanBibberhadgonetovisithim,andhadfoundhimassimpleandsincereandboyishashehadbeeninthedaysofhisHasty-Puddingsuccesses.AndLester,forhispart,hadfoundVanBibberaslikableasdideveryoneelse,andwelcomedhisquietvoiceandyouthfulknowledgeoftheworldasagratefulrelieftotheboisterouscamaraderieofhisprofessionalacquaintances.AndheallowedVanBibbertoscoldhim,andtoremindhimofwhatheowedtohimself,andtotouch,evenwhetherithurtornot,uponhisbetterside.Andintimeheadmittedtofindinghisfriend'soccasionalcommentsonstagemattersofvalueascomingfromthepointofviewofthosewholookonatthegame;andevenKripps,theveteran,regardedhimwithrespectafterhehadtoldhimthathecouldturnasetofpurplecostumesblackbythrowingaredlightonthem.Tothecompany,afterhecametoknowthem,hewasgrav