The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1853-12-24
From the N. Y. Dutchman.
THE AMBITIOUS SUPE.
The "lneriean Trajedian' Taken Down,
BY tom TNiGCS.


OF the attaches of "the stage" the SUI
pernumeries-or "supes' as they are
more generally termed-are considered
the smallest cailbre-the "lightest pa
pers" to use classical expression; and
very unjustly, too, in our opinion, for
without this most useful body, where
would be the grand tabIeaux, the bril-
liant denouncements, the terrible combats,
that are nightly witnessed upon the stage;
and other scenes, too, that tend greatly
at times to give eciat to the most stupid
productions of the dramatist. Verify i
the "supes" are an moderated, unap-
preciated class of people! They need a
defender. Bu, we do no, intend to as
sumo that position at present-wc shall
wait until we get fresh supply of pens,
ink and paper but to relate an actual
occurrence, between "the great Ameri-
can Tragedian," and supernumery-I
YES, .'supe" and in which the latter
came out one ahead.
When Edwin Forrest was doing the
leading business at the old Peall street
theatre, in Albany, some twenty odd
years ago, and before he had even reach
ed the second round OF flames tall ladder,
there was attached to the theatre fellow
by the name of Diggory Center. Dig
CORY did the leading business in his de-
partment was captain of the supes-a
position that he, doubtless, took as much
pains and pride in sustaining, as did the
American Tragedian any Of his "casts." >"
Diggory was ali old attache of the
theatre, had been there for years, and
though his position was a humble one,
he was exceedingly popular with all the
rrequentcrs of the place.
OF course, Diggory's position never
gave him an oportunity to spread himself,
although occasionally he managed to
make something Of a show.
As we said before Dggory was an old
atache of the theatre, and III his position,
Of course, he had participated in innu-
merable bloody hand-to-hand encounters
with the enemy. and hereby had become
an adept III the use OF the sword In
short, he couldn't be taken down In the
small or broadsword exercise. And oc-
casions when he had to contend with an
enemy HON he always vanquished--
he never failed to bring down the house
the pit portion certain.
Dlggory had never had turn with
Forrest to use his own words. lie Was
anxious to, very--and had repeatedly en-
deavored to. AT length, however, lie
succeeded , and as We SAID before, he
came out one ahead d-took the great
American Tragedian" square down.
They were one night performing a
piece full Of ight-Llood and carnage In
every scene--we have forgotten the name.
Forrest OF course took the leading char
acter, did an imlnence amount Of fight.
ing, and an equal quantity Of killing. =
Tie scene was the last and. oil course,
the fighting was desperate. Forrest was
up to his middle in blood the dead and
dying lying thick around him. Dggory
Le.onged TO the opposing army, and oI
course had a chance to throw himself
TIE fight, of course, was promiseuous
and into Forrest he pitchel--one up and
three doNn--cut aal thrust. &c. TIE
two were eaqualIy matched. Diggory
was broad. s.oullcrei, muscular. bullet
. headed, ioltie Il fellow, and ForIes,
tie same, "only more So Wen, tnc
ccEt wa.ed varm, and Forrest was get.
ting angry.
down, down fall = said he 10 Dig
,gory, soto ro!ce.