The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-09-18
BETSY BAKER.
she was an OId-Tfme show Manager
Her Gift of Cab.


A famous provincial, or manager or
manageress, was one Mrs. Baker, con-
corning whom curious particulars are
related in the memoirs of Thomas Dbl
din, and in the life of Grimaldi. the
clown. The lady owned theatres at
Canterbury, Rochester, Maidstone,
Tunbridge, Wells. Feversham, Deal
and other places, but was understood
to have commenced her professional ca
reer in connection with a puppet show,
or even the homelv entertainment of
Punch and Judy. But her industry,
energy and enterprise were of an in
domitable kind. She generally lived
in her theatres, and, rising early to &C.
complish her marketing and other
household duties, she proceeded to take
up her position in the box-office, with
the box-book open before her, and rest
ing upon it massive silver ink-stand,
which, with superb pair of silver
trImpets, several cups, tankards and
candlesticks of the same pure metal, it
was her honest pride to say she had
paid for with her own hard earnings. ;"
While waiting the visits of those desir-
GUS to book the places for the evening,
she arranged the programme of the en-
tertainments. Her education was far
from being complete, however, for, al
though she could read, she was an in
different scribe. By the help of scis-
sors, needle, thread and bundle of old
play-bills, she achieved her purpose.
She cut play from one bill, an inter
lude from another, farce from third,
and sewing the slips neatly together,
avoided the use of pen and ink. When
the name of a new performer had to be
introduced she left blank to be filed
up by the first of her actors she hap
pened to encounter, presuming him to
be equal to the use of the pen. She
sometimes beat the drum or tolled the
bell behind the scenes when the repre-
sentation needed such embellishments,
and occasionally performed the duties of
prompter. In this respect it was I'M
avoidable that she should be now and
then overtasked. On one special even
ing she held the book during the per
Torrance of the old farce, "Whos the
Duke ?" The part of Gradus was I'M
dertaken by her leading actor, one
Gardner, and in the scene of Gradus' at
tempt to impose upon the gentleman of
the story, by attempting to speak Greek,
the performers memory unfortunately
failed him. He glanced appeaIingIy to-
ward the prompt side of the stage.
Mrs. Baker was mute, examining the
play-book with a puzzled air. "Give
me the word, madam" whispered the
actor. "It's hard word, Jem," the
lady replied. HThen give me the
Lext." ''That's harder" The performer
was at a stand-still the situation was
lncnnrakn hn
answered the prompter, and then, per-
picked beyond bearing, she flung the
book on the stage and exclaimed aloud:
"There, now you have them all take
your choice" The lady's usual station
was in front of the hou e, however.
She was her own money-taker, and to
this fact has been ascribed the great
good fortm she enjoyed as a man.
ager. CHOW, then. pit or box, pit or
gallery, box or pit ?" she cried inces-
sanity. "Pit! pit! !" half a dozen
voices might say. "Then pay two
shillings. Pass on. Tom Fool |" for
so on busy nights she invariably ad,
dressed her patrons of all classes. To a
woman who had to go out of the thea
ire, owing to the cries of child she
bore in her arms disturbing the au-
dience, Mrs. Baker observed, as she re-
turned the entrance money, "Foolish
woman Foolish woman =! Don't come
another night till half price, and then
give your baby some of Dalby's car
minative." 81 remember" writes
Dibdin, cone crowned night, patron
lied by a zeal duke at Tunbridge
Wells, when Mrs. Baker was taking
money for three doors at once. her anx-
iety and very proper tact led her while
receiving cash from customers, to keep
an eye in perspective on the next, to
save time, as thus "Little girl get
your money ready while this gentleman
pays. My lord I'm sure your lord
ship has silver. Let the little hoy go
in while I give his lordship change.
Shan't count after your ladyship. His
royal highness will please get his ticket
ready while my lady-now, sir Now,
your royal highness !" "Oh dear, Mrs.
Baker, I've left my ticket in another
coat-pocketl" "To be sure you have!
Take your royal highness' word Let
his royal highness pass His royal
highness has left his ticket in another
coat pocket !" Great laughter fol-
lowed, and I believe the rank and fash
ion of the evening found more enter
tainment in the lobby than on the stage.
-AU the Year Bound.