Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1902 — J. H. STODDARTS DEBUT. [ARTICLE]

J. H. STODDARTS DEBUT.

I was five years old and was Liken on to represent the child of Martin Haywooa in Douglas Jerrold’s drama of “The Rent Day.” In tho last scene, where Crumbs, played by my father, seizes Martin’s goods and chattels and is about to turn him out of doors, I became fearfully excited, and when Martin, my stage father, began berating Crumbs, the real author of my being, I could stand it no longer. I ran from Martin and clung wildly to old Crumbs. I had been announced as “Master Stoddart, five years old, his first appearance on any stage,” so that my identity and my relationship to Crumbs were known to the public. The audience yelled with delight, and the conclusion of the act was, of course, completely upset My debut, therefore, proved highly injurious to my prospects, for some time afterward when other children were required Alexander would say to my father, “Stxldart, don’t bring ‘The Rent Day’ bov.”— J H. Stoddart in Century Magazine.