The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-02-01
How Falstaf Lost His Fat.

on Hackett, (Wh0 Qleu ISc. Litf, Aoti')
revolved in a regular orbit. and was a regu
lar star. instead of the erratic comet he al
forwards became. when he performed but
semi.occasionally. and dropped down like
iune bug among some managers IN distress
who would seize him for "one night only,
he commenced an engagement OF SIX nights
in the old National theatre. Cincinnati ap.
nearing in his favnrtc character OF 'falstan'
in the "Merry Wives of Windsor"
He had. durinethc previous week, played
NJ the Louisville theatre. then under the
same management and to which place por-
ton of the Cincinnati company had been
sent to support him. ~
Among them was Sam R., one OF
the "respcetsblc utility people t"wh"m Hack
ctt did not show. as Sam thought that amount
of resnect due from one actor to another
Hockett seemed to single poor Sam out as
the particular object upon which to concen,
trote all his peevishness and ill,nature, and
tborob Sam had TO grin and bear it, ne made
NM b;s mind TO be revcngcd. and swore it in
the most melodramatc and stately style
Accordingly. when Hackett transferred hlm-
self and his baggage to Cincinnati, and Sam
roco;yed orders from Dave Sarsedas, the
stoce manager. to return with him, he chuck
led with delight. and looked unutterablc
tb;nos as he took his parting drink with his
brother artists, at the bar Of the tass steam
er, Pike No. 4;
The rehersal passed off in the morning. at
Cincinnati. without anv demonstration. The
star wos more cxacting than ever with poor
Sam who ho~c al with patient shrug. and
llod lis time with al the nati"n"c he could
,,,stcr N:cht came. and with it a crowded
house. Cor Hackctt at that time was in the
zenith Of his popularity. and on his appear
ance the audience aosc almost en- massc. and
round after round of hearty welcoming ap-
plause greeted him
He looked srlendidlv: his makeup was
admirable, and in his false obesity he was the
living embodiment Of the hearty. sly, witty,
vagabondizing fat knight
The dress he wore was one in which he
took great pride, and was one of his own IN
yention. Tt was constructed on the plan OF
life presorver, and after being mt on was
blown up by means of tube. until it assum-
ed the necessary rotnnditv, and the wcarer
was surrounded by an immense air cham
Der.
This made the dress light. cnol, and port
able. and was in all respects an improve
ment ON the old method Of stuffing.
As the rlav progressed nm the night in
question. the audience in front becoming
more and more dclirhtcd. and Sam was seen
by his brother artists. behind, to become
more and more excited.
At last the scene came in which Hackett
had the stage to himself and the star stood
in the entrance, waiting fhr his enc to 90 on,
and close behind stood Sam looking daGGers.
with carpenters brad awl grasped in his
hand.
The enc was given and in went Hackctt.
But hc had not commenced the scene. when
amid the DEATH like silence of the audience
an audible and prolonged hiss was distinctly
heard.
Hacketts s owled and looked about him. in
tn the pit. the boxes and the gallery. in search
of the vile wretch who dared to hiss him.
But the hiss continued and Hackett COM
menccd his lines. Hiss again He stop
ned and once more looked about him, but the
hiss continued. and grew louder every mo-
ment. The audience cried "order." Seve-
raj enthusiastic individuals cried "put him
ont" but still the kissing continued. Again
Hackett commenced his soliloquy, but that
Internal hiss still rang in his ears and he
could not 90 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
audience to know the cause Of these marks
Of disapproval and 'this ebullition of their
mirth"
The only response was burst of laugh
ter, and the star stood looking unutterable
things. and lost in wonder and amazement
at this unaccountable demonstration.
As the audience stopped laughing for a
moment the abomniable hiss greeted his ears
again. but now it seemed to come from be-
hind him, and as he turned half around, an
other shout of laughter drove him nearly
mad. as he preccived that not only the audi
ence but the actors who had congrcgatcd at
the entrance. joined in the mirth; none loud
or than Sam R, whose face was per-
jectly resplendent with delight.
Atlast the prompter came to the rescue.
Walking on the stage: he stepped up to the
star and whispered in his ear. Hackett stood
for moment as if paralyzed, and then com
menced a survey of himself. His rotundity
was gone. His obese proportions had van;
ished and here he stood, "his hose world
..oo wide for his shanks;" his "corporation"
iw;nd,al to nothing, and his dress hanging
round him in volumnous folds like main
sail hanging from yard. The secret was
out. The air chamber had been punctured,
and there he had been standing growing
"smaller by degrees, and beautifully less, ,"
for the last FIVE minutes.
Giving one look at the audience. and an
other at his legs, he rushed off the stage
amid such bursts Of laughter as even he had