Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-28
The Actors Revenge.

SOME wears ago, NnCA liiC ItuOW IC(
Rsron Hackett revolved in regular Orbit
md was regular star, instead of the er
.atie comet he now Is. when he performs
s'ssmi-occasionally, and drops down like a
lime bug upon some managers in distress
-rho seize him for lone night only" lrt
aommenced an engagement of six nights
n the old National Theater, Cincinnati
annearing in his favorite character of
TsaIstaff, in the Merry Wives of Wind
sor."
rlayed at the Louisville Theater, under
he same management, and to which place
norton of the Cincinnati company had
heen sent to support him.
Among these was Sam R, one of the
respectable utility" people, to whom
Hackett did not show, as Sam thought,
that amount of respect due from one
actsr to another.
Hackett seemed to single poor Sam out
as the particular object upon which to
concentrate all his peevishness and lima
mre and, though Sam had to grin and to
hear it, he made up his mind to be re-
yenged and swore it in the most melodra-
matte and stagely style. Accordingly,
when Hacllett transferred himself and his
baggage to Cincinnati, and Sam received
orders from Dave Sarsedas, the stage man
aver. to return with him, he chuckled with
delight, and looked unutterable things as
he took his parting drink with his brother
artists at the bar of the fast steamer Pike
No. A.
The rehearsal passed off in the morn
ing in Cincinnati without any demonstra-
ton The star was more eXacting than
ever with poor Sam, who bore all with a
"patent shrug," and bided his time with
ali the patience he could muster
Night came, and with it crowded
house, for Hackett at that time was in the
zenith of his popularity, and on his APP
pearance the audience rose en- nsdsse, and
round after round of welcoming applause
greeted him.
He looked splendidly, his make up was
admirable, and in his false obesity he was
the embodiment of the hearty, sly, witty,
kagabondizing fat knight
The dress he wore was one in which he
look great pride, and was one of his own
Invention. 1t was constructed on the
principle of life-preserver, and, after be-
Dg put on, was blown up by means OF Il
tube, until it assumed the necessary ro-
y,
BY an immense air chamber
This made the dress light, cool and
prtable, and was in all respects great
Improvement upon the method of stuff
ing.
As the play progressed upon the night
bin question, the audience grew more and
more delighted in front, and Sam was seen
DIV his brother actors to grow more and
more excited behind.
At last a scene came in which Haclsett
fhad the stage tohimself, and the star stood
lat the entrance, waiting forhis cue to 90 on,
and close behind him stood Sam, looking
*laggers, with carpenters brad-awl in
Dis hand.
The cue was given and in went Haclett
&But he had not commenced his scene,
&when, amid the death-like silence of the
audience, an audible and prolonged hiss
twas heard.
Hackett scowled and looked about him
into the pit, boxes and gallery, in search
of the vile wretch who had dared to hiss
him.
But the hiss continued, and Hackett
commenced his lines. Hiss! again! He
stopped and once more looked about him,
but the hiss continued, and grew louder
every moment. The audience cried
'order" Several enthusiastic individuals
houted 'put him out" but still the hiss
hg continued Again Hackett commenced
bis soliloquy, but that internal hiss still
ang in his ears, and he could not go on
The audience now began to litter. The
star grew more and more nervous, and,
walking down to the fOOtlights, he APP
pealed to the audience to know the cause
Of those marks of disapproval and this
ebullition of mirth."
The only response was a burst OF laugh
tier, and the star stood looking unuttera-
bic things, and lost ia wonder and amaze
ment at this unaccountable demonstra-
tOn
As the audience stopped laughing for
moment that abominablc hiss again
greeted his ears, but now it seemed to
come from behind him, and, as he turned
half around, another shout Of laughter
drove him nearly mad as he perceived
that not only the audience but the actors,
who had congrcgated at the entrance,
joined in the mirth, none louder than Sam
R, who face was perfectly respondent
with delight.
AT last the prompter came to the rescue
Walking on the stage, he stepped up to
the star and whispered in his ear Hackett
stood as if paralyzed for moment, and
then commenced a survey of himself. His
rotundity was gone. His obese proper
tons had vanished, and there he stood,
his hose world too wide for his shanks,
his Corporation" dwindled to nothing,
and his dress hanging around him in
yoluminous folds, like main-sail from
yard-arm. The:secret was out; The air
chamber had been punctured, and there
hehad been standing, growing :" small by
degrees and beautifully less" for the last
five minutes.
Giving one look at the audience, an
other at his legs, he rushed Oft the stage
amid such bursts of laughter as even ne
mad never created before.
Sam stood at the entrance as his enemy
came off, sardonic grin on his counle,
nance, and the fatal brad awl which had
done the deed concealed in his bosom