Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., December 24, 1920, Image 2

About Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner. (Elizabeth, Colo.) 1920-1921

Image provided by: History Colorado

                
The MAN IN FRONT
by
Mrs. Amiger Barclay
HE Lending Woman came back from
rehearsal tired and spent, every
nerve fiber aching, mentally bruised.
' The role of Theo in “The Eternal
Triangle’’ was the best part that
had ever been given her to create,
and willy-nilly, she had to create It
as tho Big Man, her actor-manager
husband, decreed. The part fitted
her like a glove. And the Big Man
made her murder IL
w
Once. he had taught her. lu her Ignorance she
had married him so that he might teach her. Now
•be had got beyond his teaching, and he did not
know It. In his vanity he thought he had “made”
her. He lived, fattened on that, thrived on the
reflected glory of her art, and ghoul-like on the
woman herself.
There was no escape for her from his exactions
of this piece. The author was abroad. In ill
health, so he could not be present at rehearsals.
Moreover, because this was his first play, the Elg
Man took liberties with It as might a theatrical
celebrity.
This one rehearsed his wife with the assidu
ity of an animal trainer, bullying her before the
whole company until they tittered and then grew
•llent with sympathy.
The Big Man come into the room noisily. He
was always called the Big Man. The name fitted
him. He was big in physique nnd In self-suffi
ciency. His face still showed signs of exaspera
tion.
“Rotten ! Simply rotten J” he threw at her, strid
ing up und down. "Five years of drilling things
Into you, and you're as dense as when I married
you. You queer the business, you slur your lines.
You--you haven't an ounce of the real stuff In you.
I)on t look at me with that martyred expression!
I d get rid of you If we didn't have to open on
New Year's Kve. Now, look here, we'll go through
that business In Act II ngaln, right here, now, until
you get It right—my way—sed? What’s the cue?
I cnn’t ask you to sacrifice yourself (lie
takes her In his arms). Come on!”
The Big Man's temper was smarting under a
recent newspaper criticism In which It was sug
gested that in his next production he should give
premier place to his wife. He specially resented
the ndvlce, because the writer hinted that the
Big Man, dramatically speaking, did not count.
"Come on 1” he repeated.
» "No.”
He stared at her. She had never disobeyed him
before. It nearly staggered him.
“I’m too tired tonight. Besides, I don’t agree
that the scene should be played your way. That
was not the author’s Intention."
He took her by the wrist. "By gad. you'll be
•aylng the play was written for you next!"
It had been. The author had seen her on the
stage once. He had purposely written his play
round her. because her personality had Impressed
him. The Lending Woman did not know this.
Neither did the Big Man.
"You've got to do what I tell you. If you’re
tired, what about me?”
Rather than argue, she gave In. It wasn't
worth it —arguing with a man who could only rea
son like a woman. The worst of it was, she could
•ee through him now. She knew he was Jealous.
Bhe knew he took a perverse pleasure In trying
to queer her "business." She was perfectly well
•ware that could he have dispensed with her, he
would hove done so; only box-offlee receipts had
been so good since he had starred her. After he had
gone, the Leading Woman turned the key In the
lock. There was always one way by which she
could secure oblivion of her mental sufferings. Not
by morphia, or drink, but by letters. A score of
them, written by her, sealed but not addressed,
lay in a locked drawer of her escritoire. She did
not even know the man who, In them, she In
voked. Her eyes had never seen him. To write
thus was one of those queer feminine Impulses
•that women who suffer give way to In order to
eave their hearts from breaking. They were the
only love-letters she had ever written to a man.
Bhe took up her pen now, striving for calmness
while writing to her Unknown:
"Oh, my dear, I am so terribly sad. and I am
mo lonely that I feel like a little child crying In
the dark ... It can't go on. I can't bear it
much longer. Sometimes In my ngony I have told
myself to do as other women do, to be worldly,
venal, to laugh and console myself with the first
likely man who comes my way. Pride stops me,
and my deep regard for you. Unknown. Shall I
aver see you? Will you ever become real, my
Ideal? Shall I never know what love Is? For now
my heart is virgin.
"Think of It, Hnlf-of-My-Soul, wherever you are!
I am a wife. And I have never known what It Is
to love, except Intangibly, as I love you. That Is
my punishment for having married without re
jection. Beloved, I was such n child, and thought
nothing mattered except my art.
“Sometimes, when I first began to write to you.
Unknown, I used to ask myself what would hap
|>en should I ever meet you? I know, ns I know
•till, that I should recognize you, and at once.
X used to think of myself as ever bent to the Big
Man's will. But I know now that this would not
be right. He has so long forfeited ray loyalty. All
that is best in me belongs to you. whoever nnd
wherever you are. I could not keep away If you
Heeded me. And I am a religious woman.
“All this life I am living is wrong, unnatural.
Bureiy It cnn’t go on. I am twenty-six—oh, dear
est. only twenty-six and there is nothing left to
me but work. . . . And in work I cannot forget
because it is emotional. . . .
•*I am going to write a little prayer here. I have
prayed It wuklng and in my dreams. I send It
now on the wings of my spirit, this petition of
my soul, that somewhere and sometime I may see
you. know you, If only once ... a face in the
prowd.”
She was strung up and she covered pages, giv
ing her emotions full play. To a woman of acute
•enslblllty there Is something very convincing in
kbe Idea of a soulmate. It was that Leading
Woman’s consolation and her beacon of hope.
During the following weeks while the new play
"roll v? GOTro.' *
was being rehearsed she wrote more frequently
to the Unknown than she ever had before. Her
need was greater.
The Big Man’s professional Jealousy had out
run his discretion and his business instinct. As
the first night approached, reckless of conse
quences, he deliberately sliced and cut her port
except where It fed his own. The Leading Woman
said nothing. She knew It would be iweless.
Quite at the last moment, too, tho Big Man
made a vital alteration in the principal scene of
the secohd net, delaying her entrance so that
he might have the stage to himself as long as
possible. It was an error of Judgment which
even vanity did not excuse; and In the sense that
it maimed the play and Injured the actress, It was
a crime.
The Leading Woman knew the play was a good
play, and that there was one way to save It The
remedy luy with her. If, Instead of acquiescing
in her belated appearance In the second act she
came in us arranged In the author’s script, the
Big Man would have no alternative but to go on
with the action as It had been written. Should
she do it? All she knew on the opening night was
that she could pull the play out of the fire if she
dared.
Before the first act wus over any help of hers
seemed hopeless. It hung fire, was received with
comparative silence. When the curtain fell she
had ten minutes In which to make up her mind
whether or not to take the step she contemplated.
She stood on the stage, looking at the house
through a peep-hole in the proscenium.
Right In the center of the front row of stalls
the seated figure of a man enchained her gaze.
It seemed as If he returned It, for his eyes were
fixed on the precise spot from which she regarded
him. She went hot ond then cold; for she knew
beyond a shadow of doubt, os women do sense
such things, that the innn In front was he whom
she had called her Unknown; for whom she had
kept her heart empty all the lean years of her
married life.
She went quickly buck to her dressing-room.
Not only for the author’s sake, but for her own;
her mind was made up to revert to the earlier
entrance and risk everything, including the Big
Man's displeasure. She was going to act for the
Man In Front, to forget that she was the wife as
well as the victim and chattel of the Big Man.
She dressed feverishly. Then she sent for the
stage-manager.
“I’m going to take my original cue In the second
act,” she told him. "It’s my responsibility, of
course. Fm going to play my part as the author
wrote it. I shall speak my original lines, and
those engaged In the scene will ignore the cut*
made yesterday: Will you please tell them to
be prepared? The prompter as well.”
The stage-manager had ulways considered the
Leading Woman a pliable, weak creature. The
inexplicable change in her left him so amazed
that he had no word to say. She passed him on
her way to the stage, stood behind the center en
trance for her cue . . and took It
The Big Man gasped and forgot his part which
was nothing new. Beneath the artificial color his
face was livid with rage. The house applauded
as the Leading Woman took the stage. Under
cover of the noise, he Jerked out:
ELBERT COUNTY TRIBUNE: ELBERT COUNTY BANNER
ZYZ3 rocuc 77&7R12&, arjmr *
’’What the devil are you up to? By thunder.
I’ll make you pay for this.”
She was smiling, looking Into the black void
of the house. Her lips moved, answering him:
"Yes, afterwards. ... I don’t mind paying
then.’’
From that moment she took the play Into her
hands and made it what It was meant to be. The
members of the company. Inspired by ' er revolt, :
and latent dislike of the Big Man, supported her
loynlly. With the vigor of the big scene restored
to It the play took on a new and convincing ns- '
pect. Even the Impotence of the Big Man could
not arrest It progress. The Inspiration of the
Leading Woman carried It on the flood tide to
success. The emasculated first act was forgotten. !
Finally, the curtain descended on a play made.
At the end, the call for the author grew vehe- |
ruent. The author was not in the house. Then j
they called for the Leading Woman again, and she,
coming forward, bowed ... to the Man In
Front . . . and then she trembled and grew weak, j
because he looked straight back at her and smiled. ,
The Big Man made her pay when they got home j
that night. Exactly how does not matter. This
Is a civilized world, but the veneer of civilization
lies very thin on natures such as his.
She sat up all night writing to the Unknown
whom she had seen at last. Bodily pain and men*
tal anguish were forgotten in the ecstacy that
drove her pen over the paper.
“I have seen you I I knew you I My heart has
shaken hands with you . . . and oh! If you would
call to me, how gladly would I come.”
The next evening she pleaded she was too ill
to play. She really was. But the Big Man
laughed. She had reverted to the original script.
She would play It so every night, . . . and pay
for It after.
The Man in Front was there.
He was there the next night.
And each night the Big Man made her pay
so terribly that the last shred of her allegiance
to him slipped from her.
On the third night, at the end of the perform
ance, as she wus preparing to go home, the tele
phone bell in her dressing-room rang. Bhe picked
up the receiver.
"Yes? . . . I’m the leading woman. . . .
To whom ura I speaking?"
"The author of the piece," wus the answer she
received promptly.
She grew faint at the sound of the voice.
“I want to thank you for what you have done
for my play. The papers are full of you. I
wasn’t able to be present, although senta were
sent. I was there in spirit, I think. ... It meant
so much to me."
A voice within her asked u question. "What
sent —did they give you?"
"The middle of the front row of the stalls.
Number ten."
Her voice grew stuccato. "You weren’t there?
You sent no substitute?”
“No. I can’t even drive round and thank you.
The doctor won’t let me out.”
Words dried In her throat. She got them out
harshly.
“Shall I come to you? . . . The address? When
will I? Now!”
Before she left the theater, she questioned the
man In the box office.
"Number ten. front row of the stalls. Who had
it?”
"Nobody, mnduine. It was reserved for the
author.’*
"Did you let anybody else have it In hla ab
sence ?’’
“No, mudume. It has been empty each night.”
The cab stopped at the hotel. She got out. The
elevator took her to an upper floor. At the
door to n room she dismissed the bellboy.
Alone In the long corridor she paused for a
moment, her knuckles poised over the door panel.
What was the opening of that door going to mean
to her . . . the shutting of another? She knocked
softly. There was no answer. She went in, clos
ing the door quietly behind her, her eyes going
Instantly to the still figure in the arm-chair.
It was the man she had seen In the theater —
In the seat that had been empty all along. Wait
ing for her, convalescent after a long Illness, he
had fallen asleep.
Standing there, her eyes took their fill of him.
Her senses swam with the Joy of looking npon
him while he was unconscious of her presence.
Her eyes loved him.
The room was untidy, Inhospitable as a hotel
apartment always Is. It needed a woman's touch.
There was a writing-table by his side with pa
pers on it and a woman’s photograph . . . hers I
The grate was full of ashes, the fire low. 811ent»
ly she stepped across the room and knelt by the
grate.
The man, roused out of a fitful slumber, awoke
to see the woman tidying up his hearth.
And thus, early in the year, a new happlnen-'
was dawning.
LATE MARKET REPORTS
If Micro Ncwcpaprr Lnioc New» Berries.
DENVER LIVENTOCK-
PrIce* on all division# of the Denver
livestock market show little change.
The cattle market shows little im
provement over the lifeless condition |
which has prevailed. The hog market
has been active under a keen competi
tion among buyers. Prices on hogs j
generally were called steady to strong. I
While pigs sold on a slightly higher
basis In some instances. Trading on
the sheep market has been reduced to j
a minimum. Feeding lambs were able
to cover the demand, while fat stock ,
has been scarce.
Cattle—Fair supplies of beef stock
have been received on this market. I
Iluyers were on the lookout for choice '
beef cattle and a fair trade on this j
class of stock has been registered.
Country buyers were Inclined to be
slow about taking hold of the offer
ing of feeders and stockers. Trade on
this division was inclined to be drag
gy. One load of choice beef steers
topped the market at $9. while good
stock was quoted at $8.50 to $8.75. Me
dium to fair steers sold at $7 to $8.
Good killing cows sold up to $6.25. Fair
cows sold at $5 to $5.75, with more :
common grades at $4.25 and down. |
Heifers sold up to $6.50. Best feeding ,
steers were quoted up to $7.50. with •
more common grades selling at SC.75 !
and down.
lings—An active market prevailed
on this division. Prices generally were
called steady to strong. A top of $9.25
was reached <>n a small string of choice
hogs, while the earload t<>p was reach
ed at $9.15 The bulk of the offering
found an outlet at $8.60 to $9. Pigs
were In good demand. One string of
choice stock brought a top of $9. with i
good stock brir/ging up to $8.75. Fair |
to medium pigs were quoted at $8 to >
»8.50.
Sheep— Iluyers were of the opinion
that choice fat lambs would bring up
to $8.75. while something fancy might |
bring up to $9. Medium to fair fat 1
lambs were quoted at $8.25 and down. 1
Best feeding- lambs were quoted up to 1
$8.75 and $9. with good stock around ;
$8.50. Medium to fair feeders range at
around $7.50 to $8 A fairly »< tlv>- 1
trade on ewes has been recorded. Best
fat cu. s were quoted up t-> $2.50 and j
$3.75. with fair sorts at 83 and down.
Feeding ewes were quoted up to $4.
HAY AND fill AIN.
Crnln.
(Buying price (bulk) Carloads. F. O. B.
Denver.)
Corn. No. 3 yellow. $ 1.85
Corn. No. 3 mixed. 1.80
Oats, per cwt. . 1.80
Barley, per cwt 1-60
liny.
Timothy. No. 1. ton $25.00
Timothy. No. 2. ton 23.00
South Park. No. 1. ton 2.1.00
South Park. No. 2. ton 22.00
Alfalfa, ton 17 00
Second Bottom. No. 1. ton 18.00
Second Bottom. No. 2. ton 16.50
Straw’ 8.00
Dressed Poultry.
The following prices on dressed
poultry are net F. O. B. Denver.
Turkey*. No. Is 41 ©43
Turkey*, old toms 35 ©38
Hens, lb 25 @ 27
Ducks, young 30 u 35
Geese 25 ©27
Boosters 18 @20
Mve Poultry.
Turkeys. 10 lbs. or over 35 @36
Hens, small. lb 16
Hen*, go.id. 3U lbs. and over. 20 @22
Ducklings 25
Goslings 25
Broilers 40
Springs 22 @25
Cocks 13
Egg*.
Eggs, strictly fresh, case
count , . .. . 17.50 @18.00
Boss off. per doz 75 @ .80
Hut ter.
Creamery, first grade 50
Creamery, second grade 45
Process butter 4 2
Packing stock 25 @28
Vegetables.
Beans, navy, cwt $ 8.50© 9 00
Beans, Pinto, cwt 6.00@ 6.75
Beans, green, lb 30 © .32
Beans, wax. lb 30 © .32
Beets. Colo., doz. bunches .40© .45
Beets, cwt 2.00 @ 2.50
Cabbage, Colo., cwt. ... 1.00©’ 1.25
Carrots, cwt. 2.00@ 2.25
H. H. cucumbers, doz... 2.50
Celery, Colorado 50 @ 1.25
Benf lettuce, h. h.. doz... ,4u@ .50
Bettucp, head, doz 90 ©» 1.00
Onions. Colo., cwt 1.50©’ 2.00
Peppers, new lf»@ .17
Potatoes 1.50© 2.25
Radishes, long. h. h 30"t .40
Radishes, round, h. h 30 <w .10
Turnips, cwt 2.25 @ 2.50
GOVERNMENT MARKET REPORTS.
Washington. D. C.—I.ive Stork and
Meats—Chicago hog prices e*tablished
a new low record, an average price .»f
$8.97 being reached. A slight reaction
followed with a gain of about 20c, hut
the week closed with prices generally
50c lower. Other declines were: Beef
steers. 50c@$1.00; butcher stock. 75c@
$1.50 ; canncr, 50c; calves. 50c @ $1.00;
feeders. 50© 75c; fat lambs. $ 1.00©
I. yearlings. $1.75; feeding lambs,
$1.00© 1.25; fat sheep. 75c© $1.25. De
cember 17. Chlcugo prices: Medium
and good beef steers. $7.50 © 12.50;
butcher cows and heifers. $4.15© 10.25;
calves, light and medium weight. $8.On
© 10.00; feeder steers $6.25© 9.00: best
fat iambs. $8.75© 10.75: yearlings. $6.00
©8.00; best ewes. $3.00@4.50; feeding
lambs. $8.50@10. In the eastern whole
sale dressed meat trade price declines
were general under slow demand. Beef
declined unevenly. $1.00© 5.00. better
grades breaking most. Veal trade un
even and prices fluctuating, declining
$3.00 in some markets. Butiths down
$1.00 ©2.00; mutton barely steady to
$1.00 lower: pork unevenly lower. De
cember 17. wholesale prices, good grade
meats, •■astern markets: Beef, $15.00©
19.00; veal. $ 16.00© 20.00 ; lamb. $23.00©
25.00; mutton, $ 11.00© 1 6.00; light pork
loins. $19.00© 22.00; heavy loins. $17.00
@18.50.
Rrnlu —The outstanding features of
the week's grain markets have been
heavy exports sale of wheat and great
difficulty in securing cash wheat to
fill old sales. Great Britain bought in
the United States 1.600.000 bushels
wheat: Italy bought 1.250.000 bushels:
Spain. 250,000 bushels. Argentine re
ports fine crop prospects with yields
running above expectation. There has
' been a heavy and general buying move
' ment •© futures including wheat, corn
j and oats. Heavy export business In
wheat continued; corn also bought by
exporters. Stronger demand for cash
wheat In southwest to fill old export
sales and much wheat going direct
from country stations to Gulf ports.
Omaha reported exporters bidding 31c
over Chicago March for wheat up to
middle of January, exporters have al
so bought large quantities of rye dur-
I Ing the week. Flour trade continues
dull: stocks low; estimated at half of
volume of yonr ago. For the week Chi
cago March wheat gained 4 He. closing
at $1.63H : May corn up lHr at 72%c;
Minneapolis March wheat up 5c at
$1.60; Kansas City up 4H r at I1.59H:
Winnipeg May up 4Hc at $l.7«H: Chi
cago December wheat. $1.69H: May
wheat. $1.59: December corn. 69c.
Feed —Market inactive. Production
Minneapolis mills approximately only
half normal. Buying is for Immediate
needs only. Dealers' stocks generally
light. Spring bran: Quoted. Minneap
olis. $26.00; Chicago. $29.50: New York
, $36.00: middlings $2.00 lower. Binseed
meal demand slightly improved. Qu«t
| ed: Cincinnati. $45.00: New York
$45.00; Minneapolis. $40.00: Chicago.’
$41.00. Cottonseed meal T5 per cent—
Atlanta. $33.00; Chicago. $34.50: New
York City. $37 00. No. 1 alfalfa—Kan
sas City. $26.00. Hominy prices easier.
Chicago quoted white hominy. $35.00.
Hay—Markets continue weak: de
mand very limited: shipments light.
Prices have declined fl.00@3.00 the
past week. Alfalfa showing greatest
weakness Quoted: No. 1 Timothy,
New York- <38 60: Chicago $28)0(1; Cln-
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sunday School
Lesson
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
UCL 1920. Western Newpiiper t'nlon >
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 26 *
JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE.
LESSON TEXT-Matt. 14:13-23.
GOLDEN TEXT-They need not depart
give yo them to eat.—Matt 14:16. *
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL—Matt 16:«v
28; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John « i-J
PRIMARY TOPlC—Jeeua Feed* Man) ,
Hungry People.
JUNIOR TOPlC—Jesua Feeding the Fly*
Thousand.
INTERMEDIATE AND BENIOR TOPIC '
—Helping to Feed the Hungry.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
—The Ministry of Je*u* to the Multitude. ,
Since we took the "Birth of Jesus*
for our Christmas lesson last Sunday, *
let us now' study the alternate lenson
for last Sunday Instead of the review.
I. Jesus Healing the Multitude (vv. *
LH, 14).
1. Jesus retired to the desert (v.
13). The news of the cruel death of *
John the Baptist brought grief to the
Muster’s heart, and He withdrew to
a place of quietness to commune with *
the Father. The very best thing for
us to do In time of sorrow is to flee
into the presence of God. Jesus ac *
cepted John’s death as typical of what
they would do to Him.
2. Followed by the people (v. 13) r
He could not be hid. Their Interest
In Him wus so great that they fol
lowed him on foot. Where Jesur 9
really Is the multitude will gather.
3. Jesus healing the sick (v. 14).
Although the rulers had broken with
Him, He did not abandon His work
but continued to preach and to work ,
for the good of those who would hear
The multitudes broke in upon Him
and disturbed His quiet hour will) t
God, but the great heart of the King
was moved with compassion as He
beheld the suffering multitudes—sick
lame, blind and palsied. Though the
people brought their desperate, hope
less cases to Him there was nothing ,
too hard for Him. The sight of the
multitude as sheep without a shep
herd moved Him to pity.
11. Jesus Feeding the Hungry Mul
titude (vv. 15-21).
According to the connection In John
0:1-14 the real purpose of this mir
acle was to show himself as the Bread
of Eternal Life sent down from
heaven.
1. Jesus’ conference with the dis
ciples (vv. 15-18). (1.) The dla
clples’ request (v. 15). They asked
that the multitude be sent away.
They knew that they were In a
desert place, therefore prudence would
indicate that they would go to the
village to buy victuals, (2) Jesus'
command (v. 16). "Give ye them to
ent.” Such a command would have
been utter foolishness had He not pos
sessed the power to create the supply;
hut always with the command of
Jesus goes the power to do. (3) The
disciples’ perplexity (v. 17.) They
said "We have but five loaves and two
fishes.” They were counting on their
meager resources, leaving Christ out.
To be face to face with the humanly
Impossible is a threefold benefit (a) To
moke us feel our dependence upon
Christ; (b) to drive us to Him for
His help in our need; (c) to lend us
to give the glory to Him for results.
2. Jesus’ method in feeding the
multitude (vv. 18-21.) (1) The
Lord’s part. He created the pro
visions. He Is able to create that
which will meet the needs of the
hungry multitude. (2) The people’s
part. They were to sit and eat_
They were not responsible for the cre
ation of the supply nor its distribu
tion, but they were responsible for
obedience. (3) The disciples’ part.
This was to take that which the Mas
ter had blessed nnd distribute IL We
are laborers together with God. God
has made us partners in the salvation
of the world.
111. Jesus Alone in the Mountains
Praying (vv. 22, 23).
1. He Induced the disciples to get
Into the ship (v. 22). The reason for
this was that He desired to keep them
from being mixed up with the crowd,
for they desired to force him to be
king.
2. Multitudes were dismissed (v 23).
This was to prevent the multitude from
trying to force Him to be king. When
they saw His wonderful ability to feed
the hungry multitude they desired to
have such a man made king.
3. Praying alone (v. 23). He doubt
less was praying for the disciples. He
knew what trials they would have to
undergo. Having been induced by
Him to enter the ship and being over
taken by the storm, they were doubt
less tempted to think that a mistake
had been made; but we should learn
that the wny which the Lord would
have us go is not always without Its
storms.
Symbol of Divine Spirit.
In Scripture the dew is used as a
symbol of the Divine Spirit and His
quickening and refreshing influence ae
He works on the otherwise arid and
barren lives nnd hearts of men. It la
the living Lord Himself who here
speaks: “I will be as the dew unto Is
rael." I will come to the barren and
fruitful Israel, and affect him as does
the dew when It falls on the parched
and profitless earth In the rainless,
scorching days of summer, and trans
form deadness Into life and beauty.