Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-07
The Unruly Actor.

'a' l. The Unrrly Actor.
The following sketch, published in an Eng.
lish Magazinc, gives spirited account Of an
Iimal viyacity: .....I u...a..... .....,lE
"A frighuul scene occurred lately Of the tlsA
ater of Czerney, in Bohemia, during the per-
formance Of melodrama, called the Bear of
the Mountain the principal performer in which
was Bruin of such wonderful docility and dra-
lmatic talent, that for long succession Of nights
he attacted overflowing audiences. On one oc-
Icasion, however, something had put this star
out Of humor, and he was observed to be want
ing in those brilliant dis spays of the histronic
art which had previously overwhelmed him
with applause. In the third act, instead Of
coming down the mountain by a winding path,
with the slow and solemn step, prescribed by
the prompters book, he alighted on the stage at
one bound, like the decent Of an grolite. On
his return behind the scenes he received re-
proofs, which, instead of improving, made his
temper still more suen and it was with diff
Guilty he could be prevailed to 90 through his
part. In the last scene he was induced TO COM
mence a waltz with young and beautiful peas
ant girl, and the whole audience gradually arose
from their seats and standing Oh the benches,
drowned the sound of powerful orchestra with
their accamatlons of wonder and delight. In
moment, however, the joyous spectacle was
Ichanged into a scene of terror A piercing
shrek was heard through all the tumult, and the
lovely dancer was seen whirlcd round with the
irapidity of catherine wheel, and discharged
from her partners arms head foremost into the
pit, where, however, she was caught by the au-
dence without damage. The next moment the
stagc-lover OF the peasant girl, who had been
coquetting in dance in the distance with a
group of ballets advanced in the performance Of
his part to waltz with the bear. The former
catastrophe had been SO rapid, that, though his
danger was fully perceived by the audience,
whose cries were loud TO deter him, il was evil
dently unpcrceived by the unlucSy lover. The
bear was instantly on the qui Uiue, measured
him from top 10 toe and fiinging his legs around
him, began to waltz with such extraordinary
.boundings, that the astonishcd lover was whirl-
ed of his feet, and in another moment was seen
hurled TO the top of a stage precipice and tossed
into the surges below. The astonishment now,
however, was turned into consternation; the
bear was seen dancing forward, evidently pleas
ed with his own exploits, and with his muzzle
broken, the mask hanging Loose around his neck,
and roaring iiercely. The whole audience now
started ON their feet rolled over each other, and
in the attempt TO escape choked up the doors of
pit boxes and gallery. The town police were
now called in, formed a circle, and charged the
bear with fixed bayoncts. Firing was out of
the question, as the bullets which missed the
bear must take effect upon the audience: but the
hero, though leG. alone, exhibited at once the
adroiness as his education, and the intrepility
Iof his nature.
A part of his training had been the platoon
exercise, and suddenly knocking down cOrpor-
al of the guard with one paw, and seizing his
musket with the other, he threw his cross belts
over his back, and proceeded deliberately tc
prime and load. The terror of the audience
was now extreme, and shreks were heard from
every side as he pointed the muzzle towards
the crowded pit The guard, which had re-
garded it as a remarkable effort Of city valor TO
have approached him at all, now widened their
circle in all directions TO a respectful distance
from an antagonist armed alike with the ferocity
of a savage nature and the weapons Of civiliza-
, ton. But the bear already long accustomed
TO military manGuvres, and who had exhibited
lately at St, Petersburg in the pantomme of the
, Battle of Pultowy, palpably took the fugitive.
for Swedish captlves, and picked out each OF
them from his hiding place by a tender touch a
the point of the bayonet. In all their fright th
audience roared with with laughter 1t wa
evident that his pdntomimical recolections wer
a still strong upon him, for he compelled ever,
r man Of his captives TO kneel down upon th
! stage, strip of his accountrements, and beg fol
a his life. A Aourshing Of trumpets and drum
e should have followed this unequiyocal victory
but the orchestra, half terrified out Of their live
z by the neighborhood of the conqueror, had for
5 got this part of their duty. The bear now ad
$ vanced TO the front Of the stage, growled fierce
d .ly at the kettle drummer and finding that hi
= signal was not obeyed made one mighty
$ at the drum itself ard rolled into the orchestra
v All the performers now ran for their lives
g desks were tumbled down, fddes crushed
d double basses shattered into fragments, and son
! of Apollo, hiding themselVe under their benches
c scrambled over the rails, or making battle wit
a the fragments of their trumPets and trombone.
" roared for help.
e The audience, who saw that he had come $
Il much the nearer by the route Of the oTchCstr;
;. now tried 20 make their escape in all direction
Shrieks and screams, roars and oaths, tilted a
h parts of the theatre; but whether the be:
i. thought that the operation was too tardy, OF n
collected Somo Of his old scenes Of towns take
e Iby storm, he had no sooner prostTatsd the III
j. dlerS than he sprang gallanily into the pitt
Id Here all was confusion worse coRGounded-
| The rapidily Of the flight equaled the terror
l. the moment, and each was electric; the be
stamping bounding and roaring with all tie a
p of conqueror and it was not uutil the the
n. ire was completely cleared, and his roar had e
e, tirely subsidized that the city guard gathert
Mt from the stage, made lodgemsut in Il
nd lobby. a o
rd -'The commander.in-ehi made his approach'
with the caution of science, and nothing cou
ii be more deliberate than the courage with viii,
j, ibe opened the door Of the stage box, There