Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-19
From Whittaker's Journal.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY,

1Ad O1ilIIiI .lNO DuA u / / .
When Geoffry Dacres Mildmay, sec
ond son Of Hardicanute Mildmay. of
Leighton Hall, Berks, deceased. ex-
pressed his intention of going on the
stage, they all laughed, and said how
absurd he was. The all consisted of
his mother, grandmother, and his elder
brother, who had but lately sold out of
the Queens Own Chestnut huzzars. on
attaining his twenty-frst year, and his
estates. Lieutenant Hotspur Mildmay.
on requesting TO be informed whether
his brother proposed playing clown, re-
eceived answer that he did not intend
playing the fool any longer at III events /:
that he was sick unto death of knock
ing about at home doing nothing.
When Geoffry really did start off one
morning, and proceeded to London to
hold an Interview with Mr.. Macready
Jenkins, manager of the Theatre ROYAL
Puaulewlck, who was staying at the
,sk and Bushin," Covent Garden,
ssni'e engaging his company for the
winter season, it was as though bomb
shell hao been dropped among his kins-
sequently he wrote word that he
had signed an engagement for the en-
suing season at Puddlewick the shell
burst, and scattered them, always ex-
eeptlng his grandmother, who said she
knew it all along; but then she always
did know everything all along, only.
being of reserved disposition, she new
er averted catastrophes by giving ex-
preston to her prophetic instincts.
The attraction which the stage had for
him was merely development of the
intense admiration which, as boy, he
had entertained for the travelling cir
ouses which periodically visited the
country town near Leighton.
When Geoffry grew older, he Joined
=Bss amateur dramatic club which exist
ed IN Hamburg, and, having fair sup
ply of money and an unlimited amount
~of time at his disposal, he devoted near
siy the whole of both to the pursuit of
his hobby. Performances took place
every two or three months, or even
more frequently if there was a pretext
for getting one up: for the club was
quick to detect an opportunity for a
display Of its talents, and scented a
charity affair off. Here, then, on their
stage in the Assembly Rooms, Geoffry
gave vent to his dramatic inspirations
and played anything and everything
from "Don Caesar de Bazan" to SNico.
,aemus Nobbs."
10 say that Mr.. Macready Jenkins
jumped at him would be untrue
=indeed, had he done SO, no one would
shave been aware of it, for in his bus
nness matters his cOuntenance never
betrayed the mental leap which might
be prejudlcial to the subsequent coming
to terms; III fact, the more deprecia-
ton which his face expressed, the more
certain you might be, if you were in
the secret, that he was swallowing the
bat. His astute managerial eye al
sonce took in Geoffry's personal advan
tages; for he was a good-looking youne
fellow, with a wel+built figure, and
stood some five feet nine inches in bis
stockings; and he saw at glance that
If he could do anything at all, his ap
pearance was worth something, at any
rate; besides, he had pleasant, must
cal voice, and spoke the Queens Eng
llsh, In which latter respect some of the
members of the Theater Royal Puddle
wick, we're occasionally at fault. The
result of tits interview was, as we have
seen, Geoffry's engagement for the
forthcoming season; and the terms OF
the agreement were that he was engag-
ed for general utility at the sum OF
eighteen shillings per week. That he
was about to become the recipient of
even this sum for his own exertion was
q new sensation to Geofry, but, as ]
have before observed, he had indie
pendently as much money as he want
ed, SO that the amount of his salary
was practically and fortunately of no
moment to him. When he arrived at
Puddlewick it was In the beginning of
December, and be found the members
of the theatre all hard at work, and
busily engaged with the preparations
for the Christmas Pantomime of "The
Sleeping Beauty, or Harlequin Jack
and the Bean Stalk" which, according
TO the local press, was about to be pro-
.duced on scale of magnifcence never
before attempted In that town. The
llrst rehearsal for the principals had
commenced when he entered the thea
tire, and, having been introduced to the
stage manager, that gentleman discoy-
cred there was the part of q demon mes
senger not filled, and accordingly put
Geoffry down for it, informing him
that he had nothing to do but to come
up through trap, speak two lines. and
go down again. This was somewhat of
a drop from "Don Cesar but M