The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-02-08
A FALsTAFFIAN JOKE.

| CUu6 years ago WucH tu0 T6uOWueQ DdTUu
Hackett revolved in regular orbit, and was
regular star instead Of the erratic comet he now
is, when he performs semi occasionallM and
drops down like Junebug upon some mana
gers in distress, who seize him for zone night
only" he commenced an engagement for six
nights in the old National Theatre. Cincinnati,
appearing in his favorte character of :. Fall
staff" in the Merry Wives of Windsor" .s9s
He had, during the previous week, played at
the Louisville Theatre, then under the same
management, and to which place portion of
the Cincinnati company had been sent to sup
port him.
Among these was Sam R., one of the "res-
pectable utility" people, to whom Hackett did
not show, as Sam thought. that amount of re
spect due from one actor to another.
Hackett seemed to single poor Sam out as
the particular object upon which to concentrate
all his peevishness and ill-nature, and though
Sam had to grin and bear it, he made up his
mind to be revenged, and swore 1t in the most
melo-dramatic and stagely style. Accordingly,
when Hackett transferred himself and baggage
to Cincinnati, and Sam received orders from
Dave Sarsedas, the stage manager, 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. 4.
The rehearsal passed off in the morning in
Cincinnati, without any demonstration. The
star was more exacting than ever with poor
Sam. who bore it all with "patient shrug,"
and bided his time with all the patience he
could master.
Night came, and with it a crowded house,
for Hackett at that time was In the zenith OF
his popularity, and on his appearance the audi
ence rose " en- masse,' and round after round
of welcoming applause greeted him.
He looked splendid; and his make up was
admirable, and in his false obesity he was the
embodiment of the hearty, sly, witty, yaga.
bondizing fat knight.
The dress he wore was one in which he took
great pride, and was one of his own invention.
1t was constructed on the principle of a life
preseryer, and after being put on, it was blown
up by means of tube, until it assumed the
necessary rotundity, and the wearer was sur
rounded by an immense air chamber.
This made the dress light coel and portable,
and was in all respects great improvement
upon the method of stutfing
AS the play progressed upon the night in
question, the audience grew more and more
delighted in front, and Sam was seen by his
brother actors to grow more and more excited
| behind
At last scene came in which Hackett had
the stage to himself, and the star stood in the
entrance waiting for his cue to 60 on, and close
behind stood Sam looking daggers, with car
penter's brad-awl in his hand.
The cue was given ard in went Hackett
But he had not commenced his scene, when,
amid the death-like silence of the audience, an
audible and prolonged hiss was heard.
Hackett scowled and looked about him into
the pit, the boxes and gallery, in search of the
oh ,bn bad do fnh af
But the hiss continued, and Hackett COM
menced 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 enthu-
siastic individuals shouted /" Put him out" but
still the Kissing continued. Again Hackett
commenced his soliloquy, but that Internal hiss
rang in his ears, and he could not 60 on.
The audience now began to litter. The star
grew more and more nervous, and walking
down to the foot-lights. he appealed to the au-
dience to know the cause of "these marks of
disapproval and this ebulition of mirth.'
The only response was burst of laughter,
and the star stood looking unutterable things.
and lost in wonder and amaZement at this un-
accountable demonstration.
AS the audience stopped laughing for a mo-
ment, that abominable hiss again greeted his
ears, DuG now IL StcLutu W COHiC lloul OCuliu
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 congregated at the entrance,
Joined in the mirth none louder than Sam R,
whose face was perfectly resplendent with
delight.
At length 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 a moment, and then COM
menced a survey of himself His rotundity
was gone. His obese proportions had vanish
ed and there stood, " his hose world too wide
for his shanks; his corporation dwindled
to nothing, and his dress hanging round him in
voluminous folds, like mainsail from yard
arm The secret was out The air-chamber
had been punctured, and there he had been
standing, "growing small by degrees and beaa-
tifully less," for the last five minutes.
Giving one look at the audience, another at
his legs, he rushed off the stage amid such
bursts of laughter as even he had never crea-
ted before.
Sam stood at the entrance as his enemy
came off, sardonic grin on his countenance,
and the fatal brad-awl which had done the deed
concealed in his bosom. ae
AS he turned to look after the crest-fallen
knight, he muttered:
swho would fardels bear, to groan and sweat
| Undersa fstar's airs) and graces; 4@s -
| When he himself could his quietus make
i With bare bodkn?''
A CoLoRED gentleman, during the recent
/ cold weather. was asked If he'd didn't think 1t