Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1903 — Not First Water Diamonds. [ARTICLE]

Not First Water Diamonds.

The “Cluster of Diamonds” that was billed for a performance at the opera house last Monday seem not all to have been “gems of purest ray serene.” Some of the diamonds had flaws in them. Instead of being “first-water” diamonds,” they might better be described as “fire-water” diamonds. The performance went through one act, before a fair-sized audi ence, and then, when the curtain went down, it and after a long wait one of the actors came out and stated that the manager . and one actor were drunk in Chicago and the leading man drunk in the saloons here, and that the show was over and the admission money would be refunded, which was done The sober part of the company went to Chicago at 10 Tuesday, and will secure a new leading man, and begin filling their dates in a few days. They expected to miss about four dates, including Monticello and Goodland. For the most part the show people seemed to be all right and nice folks, and no doubt give a good performance. The author of the play, John Crittenden Webb, was with the company here. He also wrote ‘Sandy Bottom,” a play that has been given here, much to the gratification of the audience. The boozing “star” found his way out to the depot after the rest of the company had left, but after scrutinizing the railroad for a while he concluded he could not tell from the tracks which way the rest had gone, so he meandered back down town, and began hitting citizens for the price of a drink. Money for a ticket was advanced by a lodge, and he left for Chicago at 3:30 p. m.