The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-04
An Actors Holiday.


or lowering down pieces of scenery
to and from the painting room above.
Here and there traps In the stage
were open, and the master carpen-
ter carefully experimenting their
working" and on which depended
the successful Transformation" Of
the tricks which were to astonish
the holiday Gfolk. On tone side
of the stage a file of seedy-looking
men of all ages were being drilled
into some extraYagant actions which
only acquired their full meaning when
the property man" and the ward
robe Keeper had clothed them with
grotesaue heads and demon" habili-
ments. On the other side a number
of girls in their street attire and
muddy boots were Stimulating the
graceful attitude of q fairies;" but
wanting the accessories of wings and
wands and gauze bespangled skirts,
were sadly Of the earth, earthly"
Two men In canvass suits and dancing
slippers were evidently rehearsing
certain pantomimic effects, which, to
an animated person, appeared to be
without meaning, but would, when
fully exhibited by merry clown "
and pantaloon set the house in roar
as they had done time out Of mind. l"
Presently the prompter's voice was
heard shouting, Clear everybody"
and In a few minutes, carpenters, su-
pers, ballet and pantomimists had dis
appeared, leaving the stage free for a
full rehearsal Of the Grand New
Christmas Pantomime. The prompt
er's table was then placed at one cor
ner of the stage, and two or three
arm chairs for the concoctor OF the
pantOmime, the stage, director, and
the manager himself.
As soon as the latter important
gentleman presented himself upon
the stage, Mr.. Rossiter, rising young
actor, approached him from one of
the wings and saluted the potentate
very respectfully.
Good morning, Rossiter.A You're
not in the opening of the pantomime,
are your" asked the manager, with a
smile. 'r 3 q" =" i.
Il am happy to say | am not, sir, "
replied the actor. r5tu.s I<s. ~
''Nor in the opera?" g
- No, sir; | am unfortunately asse-
ciated with the peacock, being only
made to be looked at and admired, i"
replied the actor.
t Well, that's COOL" said the man
aeer. laughing. iii put it in the
bills some day. But what do you
want with me?-I'm busy"
[ want permission to relieve the
treasury of my salary for a month. [
want a months leave of absence, sir. "
Il shall remember that your grace
was bountiful. Take it; and if you
can persuade B and C and
half q dozen others to follow your ex-
ample. l promise you my consent till
the Christmas holidays are over.
Where are you going?
ITO my native village" replied the
actor with a stage voice, which l
have not beheld for ten long years, my
lord. | shall then go on to Cardiff,
where / can get fortnight's engage
ment to pay expenses-"
Cardiff Why, what on earth =
well, be of-Barrymore's ready to
begin"
Mr.. Rossiter shook hands with the
manager and took his leave. and we
will do the same, having nothing
more to do with the rehearsal of the
Grand Christmas Pantomime of 1848.
The village inn of Craysford was
called THE Three Horseshoes, as
it had been held for many years by
the family of the Welders, who COM
bined the business of blacksmith
with that of publican Craysford
was an out-of the way place, and
might have been altogether overlook
ed by the Ordnance surveyors had
not the Cardiff coach passed through
it-not without pulling up, how
ever-as the Welders had the art
of brewing such fine stingo, that no
coachman who cared for the comfort
of his passengers, inside and out,
would have allowed them to have
passed The Three Horseshoes' in
ignorance of its excellent brewage.
Especially in winter time, when the
frosty air of the chilling rain and
snow set coats and wrappers and
straw at defiance. Then glass
perhaps two-of Welder's xxx was
a real blessing to travellers, and sent
genial glow through their shivering
bodies, from the tips of their toes to
the crown of their heads. There Is
no such ale brewed nowadays, to
our knowledge, if we except the
brewage of Arundel, produced by
that most successful Of piscicultivat-
ors. Mr.. Constable.
1t is day before Christmas Eve
that we make our acquaintance with
. The Three HOrseshoes aud its
host and hostess.
John Welder was sitting at a
table in the best parlor, and
porting thoughtfully over his
| account hooks. occasionally re-