Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-01-14
THE LEAP FROM THE MAST.

THEY had had the new piece in prepa-
ration at the Sens Pareil for more than a
month. 1t was TO be produced at Christ
mas, and it wanted but three weeks OF
that time when Shopland, the lessee, sud
denly sent to me to say that Furlong, who
was TO do the great sOmersault scene, had
broken his leg at rehearsal The whole
play turned upon the incident of the great
Jump, and without it the piece would have
been like Hamlet" with the Princes
part omitted. Shopland was bound by
heavy penalties to the author to produce
his work on Boxing night, and therefore
wrote to me to say a substitute for Furlong
must be got, and that within week at the
outside. --..-. --H
was carefully posted in all that was
going on in the provinces. 1t was nv es-
pecial business to be on the watch for ris-
ing talent, so | instantly remembered the
account had heard of wonderful fellow
at Dumborough. What was required
now was rare compound: histrionfc tai
ent allied to thews and sinews-an aero
bat who was also Roscius, and here he
was on my list. Not few of the stars
on the London boards owed their position
to my introduction, and Shoplands s bring
ing out. SO | wrote to him to say he
should have what he wanted, and in an
other hour l was in a first-class carriage
on the Great Western line, for l foresaw
in Mr.. Reginald Calverton, of the Dunn
borough Theater Royal, the man for my
money.
Dumborough calls itself city; it has a
castle, cathedral and town hall; the
castle is in ruins, the cathedral would be
better for restoration, and the Town. Hall
would not be missed if it were pulled
down altogether. In half the streets of
the place you might get in summer a very
decent crop Of grass; there were shops,
but no one seemed to buy, nor did the
tradesmen appear anxious to sell. There
was only one big caravanserai of an inn
the old coaching inn-for Dumborough
was upon one of the main London roads
but the business it did was the mildest,
like the beer at its tap.
Stay the night?" the waiter asked me,
with Il sort of detected incredulity. No
one, clearly, ever stayed the night at the
Bald-taced Stag, and the waiter looked at
me as if | were an escaped Communist
or a suicidal maniac flying from an asy-
lum, when l replied that should want
both supper and a bed!
ANY amusements here ?" | asked.
"Well, sir, there's the castle and the
cathedral grounds, and"
"The theater?"
"To be sure, e,sir-Collingham's Lyceum
used to be the Theater Royal. There's
: The Graveyard of the Ganges' on to-
night, fine piece, can tell you, and
young Calverton, him as was own son to
Squire Oldacre, down at Goldminster, who
ran away from home, plays the Raipoot
warrior. Oh tits grand and Miss Floppy
(Florence her name is), that's old Colling-
hams daughter (he's dead, but Mrs. @.
keeps on the house), she does the hero
wine, and it's a sight for sore eyes to see
her. They are all mad for Miss Floppy,
the young sparks here are, especially
| young Mr.. Dunkley, the Mayors son
he'll go any lengths, l have heard him
say, but what he'll win her Lor' bless
you, she favors him no more than the
rest, and a good job, too, for he ain't
much account though he's got plenty o.
money. Ali she's a rare good girl, I'll
warrant you, and they do say as young
| Calverton and she'll make a match of il
yet; they act tirst-rate together always" "
| The old fellow was wound up like an
| eight-day clock, and would have gone on
as long, when we heard the clatter OF
hoofs as some one rode by the window in.
| to the inn-yard. r
Here, Silas, Luke, some of you, take
the tlt." Then, with an oath, "Ain't
none of you awakeg If this isn't the
deadest worm -eatenest, moldiest old
crib"
Hearing the voice my talkative young
waiter started, and said "Why, there is
young Dunkley talk Of the I'd best
l go and see what he wants"
Mr. Dunkley made known his wants
for himself by angrily calling tor some
gin and bitters as he strobe into the coffee
room where was seated. "a
Not pleasant -visaged youth, nor of en-
gaging presence; as he scowled at me
from under his hat, which he never thought
of removing, i noticed his spotted face,
wide nostrIls and heavy under-iaw, and
set him down at once as an idle, dissolute
young man, one who had been spoiled
probably from childhood, and as he grew
up was allowed 10 run riot, dung-hill
cock lording it over all his companions.
left him, therefore, 10 his gin and bit.
tiers, and, having warmed myself and taken
some refreshments, issued forth into the
raw and misty twilight, and sought out
the Lyceum. The bills announced a
change of entertainment nearly every
night. This evening and tomorrow
"The Graveyard Of the Ganges" was the
great attraction, but tomorrow the per.
tormances would be for the benefit of Mr.
Reginald Calverton, and would conclude
by especial desire, with his celebrated
drama, The Pirate of the Pireus; or
The Leap from the Mast, which would
be given for the twentieth and last time