Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-05

iow forehead, and the general contour of his
appearance, that of capital. supernumeya-
ry. Mr.. OConnor was not one Of your finish
ed actors---he did not pretend 10 the station of
a start was not his wish to convulse his
audience with laughter, or rend the breast by
the throbs OF tragic distress; his was hum
bier task. II was his delight, clad in glitter
ing tin, at two shi!lings per night, to follow bis
gallant leader, Captain Broad, across the
stage; to tread the boards, follower of the
tragic muse, and feast his senses on the sight
OF beggarly account Of empty boxes" or
" to trip the light fantastic toe" an attendant
in the train Of the laughing Terpsichore. Mr.
O'Connor's wardrobe was, of course, small;
and 1t was not surprising that he should appear
IN the green-room, in the garb of his profess
ion, and his clothes a little bespringled with
the dust Of mahogany. Mr.. O'Conners ap-
pearance, however, was Of kind to defy ex-
ternal forms; and such was his imposing as
pect, that the counsel we're very inquistive to
know, whether he had not been noticed by the
manager. Alas such was not his fate. lie
had never drawn tear from the bright eyes
OF beauty, or elected applause from either sex;
ana even the honorable manager was alike
unknowing and unknown. He had once, in
Iced, crossed the stage as a " dumb waiter"
and slngly bravcd the sneering ordinations OF
Make bow, Johnny"
II was also his delight, after the fatigues of
performance, to ascend to the "third heav-
ems" the {" seats ofthe gods" and there, hid
from the vulgar gaze, to recruit his exhausted
powers, and from witnessing the performance
OF others, TO furnish new subjects for his own
histrlonc powers. MIR. O'Connor was too mo-
dest to put his own name before the public; he
81.
Dobbs. Mr.. O'Connor made his debut on the
Park-stage during the last season. There was
| no public announcement of his enga cement no
flaming bills, headed in red capitals, with the
name of Dobbs; but all was conducted sub si-
lentio; and he was left to make his own favor
with the public, the manager himself not hay-
ing been consulted on the subject, but all hav-
ing been conducted under the domination of
Captain Broad. For ten long months had our
debutant struggled through the difficulties Incl
denta. to his profession, without once opening
his mouth to complain. He had been obliged
nightly, on his return from his theatrical la
bors, to climb his masters fence, and skulk
away to bed, and, after suffering all this, to
find himself rebuled by his master, and to be
made the cause OF a prosecution; it was u,,en-
durable. However, it was a consolatory
thought TO hnd other actors subject TO the
same evil; and so bidding ''long farewell to
all his greatness" he left the stage, and turn
ed to cabinet-making.
Mr.. Dobbs, the real Simon Pure who, for
ten years, had beon attached to theatres, gave
a glowing description Of the duties of super
numerary, which we much regret we arc una
bic to give to our readers.
The counsel for the plaintiff here rested his
cause, and the counsel for the defendant ask
| ed for a non-suit, on the ground of want of
proof of knowledge on the part Of the defend
ant, of the boys being an apprentice. This
point was fully discussed on both sides.
The Court, ii, sustaining a motion for non
! suit, TOOK occasion ~ comment with much se-
verify on the custom of employing boys as SUI
pcrnumeraries, and to mark their detestation
| of the practice. His Honor, the Judge, then
/ directed non-suit to be entered, subject to a
case to be made; and if, on more reflection.
he should deem it proper, to restore the parties
| to their rights