New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-03
LA Patrie of Paris, Aug. %.

The AMBITIOUS THEspIAN.-An English actor, Of
more ambition than talent came to America some |
time SINCE and was emulous of exceling in the part
of Richard Ill He had evidently mistaken his forte
for, with features formed to express every comic
emotion, and fun Of humor to set the table in
roar he was obstinately bent on being tragedan.
Having completed an engagement at Natchez, he |
avaled himself of the privilege of benefit, and |
selected Richard for the OCCASION He was man of
some research and remembered the attention paid by
George Frederick Cooke to the minute matters of the
piece, nore especially the introduction of banner
with the boar" acognzance of the house of York,
which In all the latter scenes was carried by at
tendant, and elevated Immediately behind him his
taking his position on the stage. For days pre-
cedng the important night the hero of our story had
carefully examined the scenery, properties, etc, of
the establishment, without discovering the boar in
question. He was told by the manager that other
actors had dispensed with the desired banner but it
was at length decreed that it should be painted The
artist Of the establishment was young kentuckian
OF promising talent, and his good Offices were APP
pealed to for formidable representation of the
monster.
On the night preceding the benefit, the "leading
man was the life Of a party, comprising many Of
his brother actors and their patrons who had retired
after the performance to neighboring tavern. The
song and jest went round and the painter, who was
OF the company, was profuse in anecdote and mar
yellous stories, all bearing upon the superiority of
Kentucky which, by his description seemed to be the
veritable land flowing with milk and honey. "Ah!"
said the comic tragedian, that's the country where
quartern loaves grow on the trees and the pigs
about ready roasted, with knife and fork stuck in
them, crying, Come and eat me-" Now, ancient as
this joke may be, it was received with loud applause
and satisfaction by all but the scenic artist The
suing morning came, and Richard was all himself y
the supernumerares were rehearsed, the banners and
properties displayed, but the important miss
ing. He rushed to the artists room, and was told
that at night he might depend upon its being ready
The morning was then devoted to drilling an at
tendant as to the manner and precise time of raising
Hpu mo Nrnh OF niu T@bn
painter had, in fact, almost forgotten both boar and
banner, until his attention was drawn to it by reco
lection OF the laugh at his expense on the preceding
evening, and in a moment plan OF revenge was
concocted In the evening the house was crowded,
and all went smoothly until the commencement of
the fifth act Richard was in a high state of excite
ment, having all but achieved the accomplishment of
his wishes Having to change portion of his dress,
ne arrived at the wing in time to hear the flourish
that announced his approach and to observe that his
soldiers had formed in row, with the banners edge
4 ways to the audience, ready to display them his
appearance; Is the boar all right?n said he hur
a rediy to the prompter +" Beautiful sir" reped
that functonary. Here pitch we our tent, even in
BoswoEth field began our hero. Whirl went the
banner borne by the welldrilied attendant, and in
one momeht, as II by magic, every countenance in
'front.' relaxed into broad grin and rcars of laughter
which sweled into universal shout palsed the efforts
of the aspiring actor He looked fercely on his com.
panlons, one OF whom, he felt satisfied, had been
guilty Of some incongruity, and advanced more Ia
the front to free himself from their proximity.
Faithful to his mornings instructions the banner
man followed in his wake, and again the yell was re
lnewed. Approaching the foot,lights, Richard pre-
pared himself to address the audience. "Ladies ant
gentlemen, he began, but in vain the merry storm
l. was up and shouts of laughter rendered his appea
= inandible. Disguised and annoyed he at lengtl
turned his back contemptuousy on his beneiactors
and facing his gallant followers, fixed his eyes witt
establishment and horror on the fatal cause of tn
uproar. Firm at his post, mistaken by the din steo
the we-instructed banner-bearer, whilst raised o
high was the cognizance of York-slightly altered,
is true, from the original design, being in rampar
position, with the addition of long curly tai, aarg
knife and fork thrust in the back, and from its mouti
by way of motto protruded the words, Come, es
me-" Rushing on the attendants, he demolishe
h with his ready sword the memento OF the painter
vengeance, and the curtain fell amidst mingled ca
n Tor Richard and the % Boar of York"