Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-12
Anecdotes of Racready.

Sion. usually melted by the merest
trifes. An instance of this occurred
in Boston, under BurtOn's manage
ment. 1t was this actors custom
invariably to be at his dressingr0Om
In the theater an hour and haI before
the rising OF the curtain, so that ne
MIGHT have time to dress leisurely.
One bitter cold night he had just
thrown of his comfortable wrapper
and sat down while his indispensable
arteudant-a singular character OF the
asme of ThOmpsOn-busied himself
in preparing the costumes for Mae
beth in precise order and with cat
like tread. Thompson had placed the
habiliments in the proper places, and
ali yas ready for the " star 10 dis
robe himselffOr the process Of personal
transformation, when with sudden
yaU. similar 70 that which used to
startIa the public in " Werner" he
fbresv himself back ia his chair, his
face ,cesring an expression OF utter
dpspair. Tie frightened valet sought
for an explanation. Macready ut
TERED not a word, but sat still, stony,
and RESIGNED. Thompson then looked
about him to see what he had Tor
gotten, when the trate actor at last
shouted.
"Look you-yOu-[with certain
other words peculiar TO Forrest ana
Macready.l you beast, can't you see?
~ See wnat?" mildly asked the
ssNNhat9 Oh, grant me patience!
Conn, und your brutal stupidity, what
do I nla>- tonight"
"YeS|well. 5rhere is it:'
'Where is whati -,
"lLy book Of boards, you lnliLacu-
late ass" .,.-.
With a scream OF terror, Thompson
dashed away, and the tragedJan NUT
tered continuous anathemaS during ms
absence. He returned with lie
missing article in a wonderfully short
time. and while he was putting ana
k!oyring from the exertiOn, Macready
thuudered away al him in his jerky
sfqeegi0 style: All, Thompson
TbomDSOni if ever a man was cursed
Iyifb an incoueeivably besOtted fool,
am that pitiaSle wretch. Great
ah-heavensl For what unknown SIN
of nv early lite or what unrepehteI
crime of ancestors, am, l cOndemmed
To endure the purgatOry OF your con-
staDt irritation2 I-ah--brOughU You
an this distance from your home
Sou know, cUaiOund your torment
ing soul. that / promised your family
20 see that YOU took proper care OF
yourself, and now, you perverse beast,
on such a perverse night as this-.yOu
40 oct lcithOid an OUercOdt.'
Macready's handwriting was cufis
ously illegibie, and especially when
writing Orders Of admission TO the
theater. One day, at New Orleans,
Mr.. Brougham obtained one OF these
from him for friend. On handing It
70 the gentleman the latter observed
that If me had not known what itpur'
ported to be, ne would never have
SUSPECTED what il was. lit looks
?, ,Ore ike a prescription than any
tLi,. o else" he added.
$50 It does, said Mr.. Brougham
x.1o+ ~ ~ y and have il made up"
Turning !, ITO the nearest drug store,
the paper was h'iven to the clerk, VINO
gaye H. careless Glance and tnen pro,
ceeded 10 a get phial reaGy anu 70 Pun
down divers boxes. W TN anO,ilei
look at the order, down g. me tihG.
ture bottle, aud the phial was III nali
filed. Then there was a pause. ING
genrlemanly attendant was evidentisS
puzzled. At last he broke down
Completely, and rang FOR his principal,
an elderly and severe looking in
dividual, who presently emerged
from the inner sanctum. The two
whispered together an instant, when
the old dispenser looked at tht
document, and with an expression OF
pjtv for the ignorance Of mis- SubOrdi'
nate. boldly Tiled the phial with SOine
auocrvphal fluid, and duly cOr6ed anC
labelled il. Then handing ii 10 the
gentleman who were waiting, he SAID
with a bland smile, A cough ml2
ture, and a Very good one. FIIty
cents, If YOU please
A singular thing occurred at the 81
Charles Theater, New Orleans, dur
ing Macready's engagement. Ih'
plav was NirgiDiHs," and If eVel
the great tragedian felt himsel
pedestaled abOve common humanity
il was when he was arrayed IN s
Roman taEa. On this occasion, hG
v..,z lust preparing himself at the
sida = -4He Tor an imposing entrance,
when tb., DentatUs Of the evening
NTr Gaorg,c FArTen-8n excellent
octor orJ 81 q. r1ial gentleman, bat
much sought after y 'ils lOAs Doss
the period, and hence sulJeSt " oc
casiOnal departures from .I .l slilC ~.
line of temperance-stunl 'leu 1p
against him in disagreably IA -Ni'i~l
manner.
"Biu, >" said he, in a suspiciously
husky voice.
"Sir," responded the great man,
looking a million Of daggels.
want YOU tO-hic-Understan
old bOy-hic-yOur'e not agoin' t.
get-erra-many Of the syllables to
night"
" Why, what on earth is the mattel
with the man?' frigid ly inquired
Maeready.
COrned-my boy-that's ALL"
" What do you mean by cOrned?
Blue"
"Biue? heavensl Oh, you dom
mean that YOU are dTunk?'
That's about the size Of il, old fel
low"
"This is dreadful-terriblel How
did you get into such a beastly state
and how shall we go ON with tn
play2'
"Don't rufie your feathers abou
that, said Farren; "pve just sWal
lowed a tumbler of vinegar anC
cdyenne,and in about ten minutes I'u
be as sober as a Judge"
Somewhat relieved by the assertion
Macready sOitened down sufficient.
TO give him what assistance he could
and the play proceeded without an,
particular notice being taken of tn
inebriated centurion, until he came Z
the part where he had to be discover
ed lying, on bier--Stage dead. Mac
ready was busily attending to tn
arrangement Of the body, while tn
front scence was going on, but eac
time poor GeOrge---in whose system
the pungent portion he had taken wa
producing a sort Of qualmishness
attempt 10 straighten himself out, b
started back again.
"Ips no USE" he cried; "if Ii
down / shall be as sick as a ca"
q" But, nay dear fellow, you're dead
YOU must. The scene won't be Ions
Come stretch yourself out"
" Well then, get me a pillow an
III try" said George in a tone
agony.
The pillow was brOught,a and in To
meantime Macready cautioned tn
stage carpenters not to draw of tn
front scene until Dentatus was com
fortably fixed, " Now for heaven
sake, be careful" he said to them
" and do not move until l say a
right" The carpenters nodded CON
plIauce.
During this time, Macready, th
pillow in his hand, was endeavOrin
10 persuade Farren to lie still, whic
was almost a physical impOssibilit
under the circumstances. At last, 1