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


forms on a sort Of aute): then I'm
sailor arter that mute at Ophelia's
funeral; thens1'm soldier again, or q
courtier, as the case may be. And
there I am. A super's more important
than anybody may think.
I gets q shilling a night, and finds
my own color, which, being a saving
man, I usually manages to scrape
enough up from the waste in the paint.
ing-room-for in the matter of lime and
ochre artists is prodigals; and if I'm
hard up for black-for eyebrow or
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 q new piece, I'm looked
up to by the management to carry this
play, and Igenerally 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 I suppose means coinl but for
the literature and art-'specially the
art. I've studied it; you mayn't think
30, but it's q fact.
I've served under Edmund Kean,
William Macready, and all the stars
since. I once fell out with Mr.. Mac
ready because I couldn't remember
where to stand at certain cue. BE
was very particular about his sitna.
tions; and one day at rehearsal I
.couldn't think where I ought to be, and
I made the same mistake 80 often that
I got flastered. I was young ct the
time and rather sudden SO when Mr..
Macready, almost out of patience, says,
"Stand here, you doltl" pointing to q
place on the stage, I take piece Of
chalk out Of my pocket and makes a
mark on the floor Just where he wanted
me to be; and there stood looking az
cool as railway clerk, though all the
while I was as frightened a. Q amateur
If Mr.. NJ. e eyes at that identical mo.
ment had been daggers, I shouldn't
have been telling you this here. I
never went on with Mr.. Macready after
that. Edmund Kean was different.
His way of doing things was just the
same of 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 I 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 breecbes. and pitches me
slap of the stage. But he WASN'T bad
sort for after he was done he comes
up to me and says he's very sorry fol-
hurting me, and asked me what I'd
have to drink.
I've been married, and had one child
"a girl-and TN u widower. I was
married young, like most professionals
She was in the third row Of the ballet
and inclined to be stout; but she die
not last long, poor soul! She had al
apoplectic fit one night, and died il
my arms in the green room. wa,
very cut up at the time, because sh,
was as good wife AZ ever wore a ring
Ny darter was as good looking . girl a
you'd meet anywhere quite diferen
from her mother-n0t in the beauty
iue, because she was nice looking, too
but in size. Rose was very thin. Sh'
followed in the same steps as my oil
woman; and got her an engagement
at our theatre. Of course she fell il
love-girls always do at that age, sew
enteen with as rising young fellow
as I'd wish to see. I was proud of Rose
and I was glad it turned out SO; an,
what's more, he wasn't ashamed of me
although was only q super, Whicl
made me proud of him, too. He wa
very jealous of Rose, and wanted t,
take her of the stage and marry her q
once; but I objected on tho score O
age. I asked him to wait for a year
till she was little older, and he was
little older, and he took my advice
rather unwillingly, Isuspect, if his fac
was to be believed; but he didn't 80
so, for he always gave way TO- me, bt
cause I knew what was better than b
did.
u One night Rose gets a letter ser
round to her from q gent in the boxe
a-asking her to meet him outside aft:
, the performance. She was very muc
: hurt about it, for it was the first insu
3 she'd received-they gets used to thef
D things in time-and brought the letts
to me. Just as / was a-readiDg it q
comes Charlie-that's her young ma
y -and Rose snatches the letter o7t I
my hand and puts it in her pocket, bl
, not before Charlie had seen it. h
looks surprised, and he says:
What's that3" says he.
ooh! nothing" she says, playf,
|, like, and runs away; and he turne
" away too, but not in the same direction
When saw Rose again, I says:
k "Why didn't you show it to hm
J. | I says.
~ 20, fatherl' she says, "he's 4