Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09
A Stage Whalp,

nave utm recOiiectiOu or oeing In every
body's way. 1t was probably owing to
this fact, added to that of a scarcity Of
supes. that Mr.. Butler, the chief, SO far
forgot his anger and the past as to ask US
If we wanted to 90 on as fishes in the
grand submarine scene in the last act. In
that We would have little to do but stand
still, and he thought he could trust US that
far. Frniing US to be willing to be fishes,
ne led Us into property-room filled with
all sorts OF sea-monsters, and bade US take
our choice. My friend, in his fat ferocity.
chose to be a shark. | said | would be a
whale. As fish and a shark, my friend
looked like an exaggerated edition of him
self as young man, excepting only about
the mouth. There, what was intended to
be fierce was in reality only Iackadaisical.
Ii, however, the shark was weakly
sentimental, my whale was pouderous and
impressive, the largest of three of the
same species. inspected it as it lay
sprawled upon its Intellectual back on the
hoor of the property-room it Was au un-
savory thing, upon a framework of half
tanned leather and ill-cured whalebone.
Another supe and myself carried the car,
cass to the stage, where. behind fat,
they were arranging the submarine scene,
the home of the water nymphs. or some
thing of the kind. Here l was made to
mount the centre pedestal at the back of
the stage, with a lesser whale in either
hand. Then they put the frame right
over me. My whale had evidently been
made for a much taller supe than was
as the holes for the eyes to look out OF
were about foot above my head ani the
whole weight of the colossus. instead Of
resting upon my shoulders. as it was de
signed to do, pressed somehow right upon
my forehead. About tha. time the weight
began to be painfully felt, and became
aware that l never could stand it the cur
tain rose. There l was, like another
Jonah, cooped up in that dark, suffocating
carcass. My complainipgs could not be
beard, or at least understood, then, if
uttered them. How did curse nv vault
ing ambition that had so overleaped itself!
If had only chosen to be modest dol
phin, or any smaller fish Of the audience
of the submarine wonders, of my friend
the shark. OF my blonde, be-silvered tor
mentory, l could see nothing but these
last [ heard occasionally in their comments
upon the " boss whale" as they called me.
The confined air and the pressure upon my
head at last became unbearable. As there
was no possible help for me from without,
| cast about within me, as | may say, for
what should do for myself. The only
relief could think of was to stoop down,
leaving most of the weight upon my arms
and my arms upon my knees. No sooner
had done this than could hear, through
the thickness of my skin, {" Get up, get
up. there - coupled with mun ID oaths !;
- Get up, say ~ And l recognized the
commanding voice of the chief of the
supes. Straighten up that whale, or I'll
put you out of the theatre !" Now, al
though that was the catastrophe that
just then coveted most, IN .de mighty
effort and stood up again. Alter painful
moment or so, | determined that | would
sit down on my pedestal, even if the chiet
whale waddled inconstantIy and feebly IN
the dust, lower than his fellows, and even
If should he taken and led out ignomin-
'ously by my dorsal fin. And l did sit
down through the rest of the scene. There
was marching going on in front of me on
the stage. could not see it, of cou rse,
but knew every time my faithful pages
came around by the remarks they made,
which we're to this effect, "Sick whale,
sick whale! o, amt he cunning? Walk
off on your 6u!"
At last the scene was to close by the
fishes and all marching out; l was to
bring up the rear Of the procession.
l stumbled around the stage bIindly.
following one of the lesser whales by q
sort of 6shy instinct, suppose. To add
brilliancy OF effect to the scene. an extra
gas pipe had been brought on to the
stage, about foot above the flooring, at
the side where the procession made its
exit. Those who preceded me, having the
use Of their eyes. stepped gayly over this,
but l tripped and fell sprawling, the head
Of the whale plunging drolly out of the
audiences view, leaving the tail elevated
gigsnsically, and my legs dangling At an
oblique angle with it, all in plain sight. l
could not get out of the whale, and 1 could
not get off the stage; 80 there lay and
kicked. / could hear that the applause of
the audience increased with my STRUGGLES.
II occurred to mo that could as least