The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-16

rcdiaCcd, sandy-whiskc man, atlred II
corduroy, and white hat with black crapt
around IT, He takes your money as though
he were COntcring Il favor, and always con
tcsscS Il fondncss for rat terriers and bourbon
straight.
About twelve years ago one of the class cX
Ihibted mammoth hog on Eden street, Bal
timorc, at ten cents a peep Feeling all the
dignity of professional, he one night made
his appearance ut the boX-ofliCc of the HOli
day street theatre with the remark, Squire
| | suppose YOU admit people that belong to
the profession on the free list?'
"Certainly; we always extend that courtesy
to brother proprictors. What might call
i your name? and in what line II character do
you perform"
Ezekiel Rutiins," was the reply, and |
show the mammoth hog--tittcen hundred
pounds, down on Eden street"
There was sly twinkle in the manager S
eye as he sang out loud enough for everybody
in the vicinity to hear:
usher, pass in the great hog man"
The members of a travelling dramatic com,
PAW sometimes through succession Of non
paving houses, are reduced to the utmost eX.
| tremitv to make both ends meet. An actor
will often part with everything in the world
but his wardrobe, if things run rough on
summer tour He will let watch and trinkcts
90 with easy nOnChalenCe but if Obliged to
| leave his Roman toga and russell boots with
the landlord rs security for an unpaid board
| bill, it cuts him to the heart
We once met some members of a company
that, through a steady run of bad houses, had
dissolved among the bleak hills of New
Hampshire One of the musicians told US
with tears in his eyes, that he had just pawn
ed his trombone for three dollars.
-. 81, IS ,.y
inquired
His reply was to the point:
Because, Gully, was laundering hungry,
and thought playing on u ham-bone would
answer my purpose better"
In the spring of 1874 the dramatic com
pany Of John :. Porter, a veteran, who has
got himself in and out Of more tight places
than any other man alive, found themselves
dead broke in a onc-horse town in Lower Ca
NADIA When show people do a slim business
landlords are imperative and exacting, and in |
this case, so urgent were the demands of the
publican who gave them bed and board, |
something had to be done immediately,
Porter called the company together, and af
ter discussing the situation pro and con, pro
posed that they should get up an exhibition
OF wax figures, to be represented by different
members of the company.
II don't see it, said the heavy william of
the establishment
THAT pork won't boil" joined in the low
comedy man,
Miss Cleopatra MELVILLE the leading lady, |
thought it would lower the dignity Of the
profession.
Hem said Porter, II think the profession
Is pretty well lowered now, and it is the only
chance can see to make Il raise
After arguing the point for some time, the
company finally agreed to the managers sug,
geston. He arranged that a huge crate and
three or four large dry goods boxs should
come rumbling up the main strcetof the town
about noon the following day There were
many eager inquiries Of what was in the wind
from the astonshed populace, and it was
soon noiscd about that it was Barnum'S great
show OF wax figures from the city Of New
\ DIRK
OF course the boxes were full of sawdnst.
md the only statues about the place were the
members OF John ). POrters company There ;
was IL terrible excitement about the town dur
Ing the day, and the doors of the hall were {
shut to all inquisitiyc intruders Iandbills
we're extensively circulated, explaining the
statues about to be exhibited to the free and
enlightened citizens of the tOwn-werc per, {
ect models of the sCulptOrs art There was
% much excitement the manager had not a
Ioubt but he would reap golden harvest
t required Il short rehearsal before the doors
we're opened to discriminating public A
Ope was stretched across the that portion of /
all were the statues were to take their posi-
ions, for fear that too close an investigation +,
hight be made hand the tricks discovered =
his prccaution, and several large placards y
Hands Otf,' II was thought would make =
ycrything secure.
"IIcigh no." exclaimed the charming Miss i
Ieopatra MELVILLE, who represented the q
cotch heroine, Lady lIalcnMar- chow long \
lust keep this dreadful position? shall h
lint or something, ! know shall, If they i
uiz me too closely" +,
Don't do anything of the kind my dear, Il
ccausc it would be injudcious in the cX. /,
enc | shall not run the performance more "
IAN an hour, my loyc,' said the manager, "
it'll winning smile :,
"Deyilish good practice for Evalnc," said !,
lc general utility man, who had taken his !
lace as the Marquis De La Fayettc -
suppose that fellow should happen to "
lcczc,' exclaimed George Washington. rep u
scented 10y the heavy tragcdian Of the com. II
any. -
"Orsomcthing bit him and he had to scratch :" :,
mSclf, responded low comedy, the Napol- u
N Bonapartc Of the galaxy y,
"Gcntlcmcn,' said the worthy manager, ..
or the honor of the profession hope that :,
'thng Of the kind will occur. Come come. i
Ike your places and let every one remain as ~
movable as the Pygmalon statue, for the ~,
ne being. There is a rush at the door and W.
, are going to have bully house"
The audience poured in by twoS, thrccs
1T half DOZENS and soon the hall was at least
rec quarters full. II
Takes Bamum to get up things right" D.
i'll a stout, red faced man, to his better half .
t that statty of George Washington isn't the :
IicStkind OF sculpin, dixie to know what is !,
" And 50 NATURAL suggested his wife II
Many were the compliments passed upon q.
e charming Clcopatra Melville, in the dis !,
Use of Lady Helen Mar-Such as "Ain't she II
cctE' pretty crittCr, I'd like TO kiss her" y.
he looks good enough 10 eat" &c The II
~ figure show brought money into the \ \
lnagcr's pocket, and would have proved a l
cidcd success had not an mqnisitivc ;,
untryman made too long an examination u
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