The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-23


Mr.. EDIToR: Of all the occupations in
which men are engaged, the occupation Of
the Drama is the most irksome. The ac-
tors life is life Of toll and self-denial for
those pleasures, which are enjoyed by
others, are inaccessible to him. After the
representation of a piece, which generally
occurs at night, he proceeds to the green
room for the purpose of ascertaining which
character he is to sustain in the next and
this he ascertains by referring to sheet Of
paper on which are most legibly inscribed
the names of the dramatis person9. If the
character which has been assigned to him
should be one with which he is familiar, he
returns to his chamber, throws himself up
on his couch, and sleeps soundly. But if,
on the other hand, the character should be
one with which he is unacquainted, he. in
the tragic vein, leaves the room, with curses
in his mouth, and hastens to his chamber
but not to repose. Taking seat at the
centre table, he opens book which con-
.tains the play; and after reading the charac-
ter, he begins to commit it to memory; and
whilst others are enjoying the honey-heavy-
dew of sumber, the poor actor, with a vi
sage truly wobegone, is walking up and
down in his solitary apartment, endeavoring
to fix in his memory, two orthree hundred
lines Of blank verse. And ah if you could
behold him while thus engaged--the very
quintescence of that maniac whom he is to
represent-you woulUindeed pity him.
Morning appears, and the actor, with a
burning brain and an empty stomach, pere-
grinates to the house of Thespis. At his
arrival the prompter's shrill whistle sum
mons the performers to their several posi-
tons; and then, the play, which is to be
represented on the evening, before an ad-
miring auditory, is rehearsed. The mana
ger, being confident that the performers
will be prepared TO do justice to their parts,
dismisses them, and returns TO hedischarge
of other duties. The performers, being
dismissed, go to their rooms, and employ
the residue ofthe day in preparing them
selves for the evenings performance.
Night appears; and again the well grac-
ed, but hard-fav ored child of misfortune,
after having done ample justice TO bottle
of MADEIRA, proceeds to the theatre, and en-
ters his dressing room. Presently the cos
tuner enters with Richards d,ess. "My
dear sir, you will play Richard tonight
shall assist you to dress now 20 ''Yes,
and do you harness me well--why did the
manager assign the character of Richard to
me2 | fear | shall not do Justice 10 it,"
my dear sir, you are too severe on your
tragic powers, you distrust when there is
no occasion for it; dismiss, therefore, such
idle, chimerical, ,deteriorating hallucinations
from your mind, and be assured that you
will perform Richard admirably-will
eclipse the great original" Costumer,
you have indeed revived my dropping spi-
rits, and believe can do the part, after
all. Let me see:-tNo,o is The winter-
winter-pshaw! to stick in the first solilo
quy, is monstrous--you are making me too
crooked behind-',ointer Of our discomfort,
made glorious summer By the son Of York. f"
/" Beautiful bravoln exclaims the man
ager, who at this moment enters the dress
ing room in ecstasy: you will play it
charmingly: there is an excellent house
too" "Unless you leave the room | will
not dress. say most emphatcally, | will
not dress-apaunt! ~ Charming de-
lightful y again exclaims the manager, and
Immediately withdraws. "Costumer have
you done Now, let me see. All here
is my Garter; here is my George, and
here is my wig. All! all is right" And
then the actor, arrayed in gorgeous vest
ments-the costume of the Duke of Y ork,
descends to the green-room.
The theatre, from the parquette TO the
third tier, is crowded the performers are
caparisoned, and the time for the ponder