Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-13

ing to the lamps, said. with great cool
ness and infinite impudence: Nov,
submit to the decision of an enlghten-
ed British public, which is the highest
fellow OF the three-I, old Cranky, { r
that gentleman in the front row OF the
balcony box?" The gentleman became
the object, not of general pity, but of
general and lond derision, and he re-
treated hastily from the Illuminating
consequences of the actors imperti
nence.
QUICK STUDY.
Very few actors have bad memories :;
some are of extraordinary quick study.
Not long since, in the suddenly discov-
cred absence of an actress, in a farce
the curtain was Just about to rise-a
young lady who had never played the
/ part was asked TO 'sgo on, and she
readily consented. She took the book
in her hand, learned a few lines at the
wings, carried them with her on to the
stage, learGed few more as she went
to the back, busying herself apparently
with what was on the chimney-piece.
and came down to the front with what
her memory gathered. The audience
were unaware of the feat which was
being performed, and it was accom-
plished with only one poor slip. .s.5
s DEATH oN,A VOWEL. q To-
A single slip in the unlucky but pop
ular tragedy Cato cost a little Welsh
actor his life. His name was Williams.
Playing DeciaS TO GUMS Cato, at the
Lincoln's Inn Fields theatre, in 171S,
he entered with Caesar sends health
to Cato" but he pronounced the LAST
name affectedly, mincing it into some.
thing like "KeetO." Quin. who gave
a broad, classical enunciation to the let
ter in the word, was offended, and
instead of replying
Could he send it
| To Cato's slaughtered friends. il would
be welcome, he exclaimed-"W Would he
had sent a better messenger ~ The
| fiery little Neishman was bursting with
rage; and when Cato resumed with
Are not your orders to address the
senate % he could hardly reply ''My
business is whit would come
''Keeto." Ten times in the short scene
| he had TO repeat the name, and Quin
nearly as often; but the latter gave il "a
broad sound, and delivered it with
| SlgDlDChub tODk WHICH UTMOST SHOOK
the little actor off his feet, and did
shake all the sides Of the house with
inextinguishable laughter. When they
met in the green-room, the Welshman,
triply-armed by having just ground of
complaint assaulted Quin for rendering
him ridiculous in the eyes of the au-
dience. QGin said it was in their ears,
and would have laughed the matter off.
But the soul of Williams would not
stoop to such treatment, and after the
play he lay IN wait for Quin, under the
piazza, as Cato passed that way to take
his punch. The older actor laughed
as Willisms drew his sword
and babe Quin defend himself. The
latter would have sustained the defence
with his cane, but the angry Welshman
thrust go fercely that the other was
fain to draw his rapier, which speedily,
without malice or intention on II the
part of the wielder. passed clear
through the poor players body, Decius
was stretched dead on the pavement,
and Cato looked on bewildered. Here
was a man slain and all for the mispro-
nunciation of vowel! The tragedy
brought Quin to the bar of the Old
Bailey, but the catastrophe was laid
rather to the fashion of wearing swords
tbaa to the drawing them with evil pur-
pose, ard Gain was freed from censure,
but not from sad memories. -