Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-23
Off THE STAGE.

| tu@uII1CAlly luCllu0u, LII gtll you. "A
super's one of them as takes the small
parts in the play, where the "busi-
ness" is important and the "cackle ~
particular. That's a super. When
Shakespeare wrote "A man in his time
plays many parts, +" he must have had a
super in his eye. if supers was invented
in those days, which suppose they
was, or Shakespeare amt the man
took him for. Bless you, our role is
unlimited-we does everything. Why,
in one piece sometimes take matter
Of half dozen parts, if not moro.
Say "Hamlet " is put up; first I'm a
guard a. walking on the ramparts of the
castle; then I'm q courtier attending
on the king; then I'm a recorder
(which amt got nothing to do with the
law, as 1 thought at one time, but per-
forms on a sort of aute): then I'm a
sailor arter that mute at Ophelio's
funeral; then I'm a soldier again, or a
courtier, as the case may be. And
there / am. A super's more important
than anybody may think.
I gets a shilling night, and finds
my own color, which, being a saving
man, usually manages to scrape
enough up from the waste in the paint
ing-room-for iu the matter of lime and
ochre artists is prodigals; and if I'm
hard up for black-for eyebrow or q
moustache, for instance-I gets the
needful from the chimney pipe of the
stove in the prOperty-room. I have
worked my way up to the top of my
profession in my line, which is heavy
lead of supers; and I've occasion to
know that at particular times, say the
first night of a new piece, I'm looked
up to by the management to carry this
play, and generally contrives to satisfy
the most sangulnary expectations. I'm
proud of my profession. 1 amt only
actor for the sake of the filthy lucre
(Which 1 suppose means coin(, but for
the literature and art-'specially the
art. I've studied it; you mayn't think
so, but it's fact.
I've served under Edmund Kean,
William Macready, and all the stars
since. I once fell out with Mr.. Mac
ready because 1 couldn't remember
where to stand at a certain cue. He
was very particular about his situa-
lions; aud one day at rehearsal I
couldn't think where ought to be, and
made the same mistake so often that
I got fiHstered. T was young at the
time and rather sudden; so when Mr..
Macready, almost out of patience, says,
"Stand here, you dolt!" pointing to a
place on the stage, I take o piece of
chalk out of my pocket and makes
mark On the floor just where he wanted
me to be; and there stood looking as
cool as railway clerk, though all the
while I was as frightened as amateur.
If Mr.. NJ. 3 eyes at that identical mo.
ment had been daggers, I shouldn't
have been telling you this here. I
never went on with Mr.. Macrcady after
that. Edmund Kean was different.
His way of doing things was just the
same oil and on. If you didn't please
him, you know'd it. I had to take a
goblet of wine on to him one time, and
I forgot my cue and kept him waiting.
When did 60 on he was regular boil
isg over with rage. He catches me by
the collar of my coat and the roomy
part of my breeches, and pitches me
slap off the stage. But he wasn't bad
sort for after he was done he comes
up to me and says he's very sorry for
hurting me, and asked me what I'd
have to drink.
I've been married, and had one child
"A girl-and I'm Il wiluwer. I was
married young, like most professionals
She was in the third row Of the ballet,
and inclined to be stout; but she did
not last long, poor soul! She had an
apoplectic fit one night, and died in
my arms in the green room. was
very cut up at the time, because she
was as good q wife as ever wore ring.
My darter was as good looking g,rl as
you'd meet anywhere quite different
from her mother-not in the beauty
line, because she was nice looking, too,
but in size. Rose was very thin. She
followed in the same steps as my old
woman; and I got her an engagement
at our theatre. OF course size fell in
lovo-girls always do at that age, sew
enteen with as rising young fellow
rs I'll wish to see. 1 was proud of Rose,
and was glad it turned out SO; and
what's more, he wasn't ashamed Of me,
although 1 was only super, which
made ME proud of him, too. He was
very jealous of Rose. and wanted to
take her off the stage and marry her at
once; but I objected on the score of
age. asked him to wait for Il year,
till she was a little older, and he was
little older, and he took my advice
rather unwillingly, L suspcct, if his face
was to be believed; but he didn't say
so, for he always gave way to Inc, be.
cause l knew what was better than he
did.
One night Rose gets letter sent
round to her from gent in the boxes
a-asking her to meet him outside after
the performance. She was very much
hurt about it, for it was the first insult
she'd reccivc,l-they gets used to these
things in time--nnd brought the letter
to me. Just as I was a-reading it up
comes Charlie-that's her Young man
and Rose snatches tho letter OFT OF
my hand md puts it in her pocket, but
not before Charlie had seen it. HI
looks surprised, and he says:
"What's that2" says he.
"Oh! nothing" she says, playful
like, and runs away; and he turned
away too, but not in the same direction.
| When | saw Rose again, / says:
Why didn't you show it to Inn r.
l says.
so, father!' she says, "he's SC