Cruel, but Facetious.
When employees are discharged from the service of a firm or company they generally receive from such employers brief letters stating when employment is to cease. But the head of a great theatrical concern once took a quite different course in discharging his actors and singers. His season had been unprofitable, but he took a little of his remaining money and paid the way of his entire troupe to West Point. The members of said troupe were Europeans. After luncheon he arose, and in the blandest manner possible said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen,—Mark the beauties of America, the greatest, grandest, and most wonderful country in the world. Behold the noble Hudson before us; observe these magnificent mountains; consider everything well. For, by my word, you will never see them again at the expense of Messrs. Blank and Company."
Of course sorrow closed the day's outing, but the actors and singers had no alternative than to engage steamer passages to Europe—which they did.