The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

UPS AND DOWNS OF AN ACTOR'S LIFE.

On Manday, a case most painfully illustrative of
the vicissitudes of an actor's life came before the
bench at Hull. A middle-aged man, named James
Clifford, of wretched and half-starved appearance,
and whose only covering consisted of shirt, trousers,
and boots, was placed at the bar charged with
having attempted to commit suicide by jumping
into the Humber Dock on Saturday evening.' A
young man, named Thomas Beautyman, a licensed
porter, stated that on that evening he was going
along the Humber Dock side, when he observed the
prisoner jump from the quay into the water. The
witness at once raised an alarm, and also got into
a boat with a view of saving the life of the unfor-
tunate man. After considerable difficulty and the
lapse of about five minutes he was successful in his
endeavours. The would-be suicide was hauled on
to the quay and handed over to the custody of the
police. The prisoner on being asked by the magi-
strate what he had to say for himself made the fol-
lowing statement : He said that for about 40 years
he had been a travelling performer with portable
theatres, and had performed at Winn's Theatre, at
Drypool Feast. He had once been in very com-
fortable circumstances, and had plenty of friends,
but latterly he had become very much reduced. He
had been compelled to part with all his clothes ex-
cept those few rags which now covered his body.
He soon found that when his clothes were gozie his
friends had also flown, and those who had once ap-
peared to be the firmest of friends had now become
almost his greatest enemies. When he was left in
an almost naked state, he found it absolutely im-
possible to obtain' an engagement, and having
nothing wherewith to procure food his existence
became miserable in the extreme. Daring the latter
part of last week he had wandered about houseless,
homeless, and friendless, and on Friday and Satur-
day had nothing to eat. On the evening of the
last named day the rain was falling very fast, and
on meeting a policeman he asked if he would be
allowed to go into the look-up for the night. He
was informed by the officer that unless he bad com-
mitted some crime he could not be locked up. Being
wet, cold, and hungry—in taw, just o❑ the verge of
etarvation—he sought refuge under the dock sheds,
and whilst he was so sheltering he began to con-
sider which would be the let st way to pursue in his
then lone and desolate circumstances. He con-
sidered that he had neither clothes, food, shelter, or
friends, and was at a toss how to proceed. If he
had had bid clothes he would have known how to
proceed, but in his then state b-.fore any respecta-
b,e manager he would have been naturally told that
" worse th:la a s,hot,black." Therefore at the

FALKIRK TRYST.

The Tryst on Tuesday was favoured with a little better
weather in the early part of the day ; but towards the after-
noon rein again came on, which quickly put an end to
business. The stock was all placed by eight o'clock, and
consisted of North and West Highland beasts of all ages,
and almost every quality—this class forming at least half
of the stock on the ground, although it was certainly de-
ficient in regard to numbers when compared with previous
September fairs. There were also short-horns and Irish
cattle, country beasts, and Ayrshire milch cows, and polled
cattle from Dumfries and Galloway ; but none of these stocks
showed anything like the numbers of previous years, except
perhaps the milch cows, which were a capital show. The
supply, however, in every department, was quite equal, in-
deed, superior to the demand, the fact being that there was
a considerable margin on each stock left at the conclusion
of the market unsold.
The Highland cattle in really good condition met a fair
sale; but those not so met a rather meagre demand. The
best conditioned lots of small beasts from the North High-
lands met a fair demand. It may be said that the Highland
cows were an excellent show, and attracted very cousiderablo
notice, and many of them were sold at rather high prices.
It must also be added that there was a considerable number
of inferior looking Highland beasts on the ground, but this
may have arisen from the jaded state in which the beasts
were, after having been driven in many instances between
200 and 300 miles. The three-year-olds of the Highland
class were few comparatively, this kind of stock being ge-
nerally brought out in October; but those which wore in the
market met with a ready sale. The North Highland beasts,
from two to six years, also met similar good encouragement-
The kyloes, which were in anything like - condition, were
very smartly looked after by the English jobbers, in conse-
quence of the turnips and other green crops having so much
improved from the recent rains. The best class
of both
heifers and stots were in demand, but in some instances
prices were rather low, but the better kinds supported the
prices of last year. The £9 or £lO beasts weir) down +5ll.
head, but the condition being better than this time last
year, the reduction must be considered rather more. 11e
same may be said regarding the two and three-year-el"
bullocks and kyloes ; in fact, the Highland cattle :avere
on the average from 10 to 15 per cent. below that of last year'
although there was no discernible difference between this
and last month's market. The polled cattle from Gallows,'
and Dumfries were in a fair state. and met a ready sale. The
short-homed stock was a large supply, and was in famous
condition, especially the 3-yr-olds, which were readily picked
up, more particularly those fit for fleshing purposes. The
r-olds that were not in the same state also met a similar
sale. The milk cows were a shorter supply than usual, but
the market was -stiff, and the sales effected were slightly
lower than last year, and sa, 10s, to 20s less than the last
Rutherglen market. The Irish cattle were a large show,
comprising 3 and 2-yr-olds and six-quarter beasts. Those of
the first class that-were in condition sold equally well as last
year; the second class were ill to sell and £1 down, and the
inferior kinds were unsaleable. The Yorkshire calves were
a large show, for which there was a good demand.
The highest prices obtained for Highland cattle were
For 3-yr-old bullocks, £l6 10s; 3-yr-old heifers, £lO 10a;
3-yr-old queya, £ll 5s ; cows, £9 10s; 2-yr-old stots, £3
15s; 2-yt-old heifers, £7 7e; yearling store, £3 103 6d;
6-quarter-old stots, £3 10s; 6-quarter-heifers, i 5 53; old
stirks, £4los.
The Ayrshire milch cows fetched as much as £l3, and
the lowest price accepted was £lO.
The Irish cattle ran-3-yr-olds, £l4 to £l6 les; 2.yr-oldst
£lO to £l4 lOs; and stirks, lOs to XlO 10s.
The short-horns, 3-yr-olds, fetched as high as £l6; and
2-yr-olds, £ll to £l4; stirks, 10s to £lO 10s; and York"
shire calves, £5 to £7.
The show of horses was rather large, more particularly
those of the draught stamp, which ran from £2O to 06*
For this kind there was a fair demand for what war!
really good, but the inferior kinds were ill to sell, an
it may be added the trade was very dull. The lighter
description of animals were a tolerably fair show, but
did not meet that encouragement that might have,
been expected, in consequence of the broken state of
the weather, which causes this class of beasts to be at a ths'
count, the jaunting season being all but over.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

"`I

BRISTOL—MunsDAT.7

At this day's market the supply of English wheat!
short, which met a fair sale at prices is to 28 higher WO
last week. • In foreign more doing. and quite as dear:
Some fine samples of new maliin.s; barley changed hairdo °"
2s advance. Grinding sorts scarce, and 6d clearer. Oaw
in fair request. Beans more active.

MANCHESTER—TnunsDAY.

At our market this morning there waa a fair attendance
of buyers. The demand for new English wheat was slow.
at the prices of this day se'nnight. Foreign wheat also in-
active, at an advance of 2d to 3d per 1001 h. Flour at
week's rates. Oats and oatmeal were limited in sale. A
Indian corn an improved demand. Beans steady.