The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-29
A Great Tragedian on a Spree.


was member of the same company and
lived in the'same house with Cooke. One
night, having played "Mordecai to
Cookies "Sir Archy Macsarcasm in
Macklins Glove a la Mode" much to
the latter's satisfaction, he was invited
to sup and share Jug of whisky punch
in the tragedian's room.
The youngnovice delightedly accepted
the invitation, thinking himself much
honored, and failed not to pour forth
those laudations upon his hosts talents
which were so grateful to George Fred
erick's ear.
The jug of punch was quickly emptied
and second filled, and Cooke began to
praise his guest in patronizing way.
You are young" he said, and
want some one to advise and guide you.
Take my word for it, there is nothing
like industry and sobriety. In our pro-
fcssion, dissipation is the bane of yoath !;
villianous company, low company, leads
them from study" etc.
Holding forth thus, the jugs of punch
continued to disappear with ever-increas-
ing rapidity
Mathews rose to leave, but was pushed
back into his seat again.
"You shan't stir; we'll have one more
cruiskeen lawn, my dear fellow, and then
you shall go to bed" said the tragedian,
growing very drunk. You don't
know me- The world don't know me.
Many an hour that they suppose l have
wasted in drinking, / have devoted to
the study of my profession; the passions,
and all their variations; their nice and
imperceptible gradations. You shall see
me delineate the passions of the human
mind by facial expression"
The power of the whisky, however,
acting in direct opposition to the will ON
his strong and flexible features, pro-
duced contortions and distortions of
which he was insensible.
Mathews, little hazy himself from
the potent liquor, half-alarmed and yet
with difficulty depressing his laughter at
these extraordinary grimaces, sat star-
ing at him, endeavoring to understand
these delineations, and wishing himself
out of the room.
After each horrible face, Cooke de-
manded, with intense approval, -" Well,
sir, and what is thatT'
at is very fine, sir" answered
Mathews, without the remotest concep-
| ton OF what he should say.
+" Yes, well, what is it?'
Well--a--O, yesl AngerT
"You're blockheadp roared the
tragedian. "The whisky has muddled
your brains. It's fear,-fear, SIR"
Then followed more contortions and
more questions, but Mathews never
guessed right.
Now, sir" said the angry delineator,
at last, AZ will show you something you
cannot possibly mistake"
And he made hideous face, COM
pounded of satanic malignancy and the
ieering of drunken satyr.
| whats that, sirT'
"That? O, revenge"
"Dolt, idiot despite o'erwhelm thee |"
burst forth Cooke, furiously. 1T is
| loyep
This was too much; and, forgetful
of the consequences, Mathews fell back
! in his chair and roared with laughter.
"What, sir Do you laugh? Am
not George Frederick Cooke, born to
command thousand slaves like thee ?"
Mathews Immediately apologized, aver
| ring that the punch had stupefied him.
This Modified his hosts indignation,
and finding the jug empty, he called out
to his landlady to fill it, But he had
previously promised the previous one
should be his last, and Mrs. Burns in
tended to keep him to his word.
"Sure, Mr.. Cooke" she answered,
from below, III am gone to bed, and you
can't have any more tonight"
"Indeed / will" he replied.
| Mathews tried to get away, but was
thrust into the chair, while Cooke
reiterated his demand for punch. Mrs.
Burns remained obdurate.
| Cooke took up the jug and smashed
it upon the floor over her head.
"Do you hear that, Mrs. Burns7'
eyes, / do, Mr. Cooke"
Then smash went the chairs, the fire.
irons, the table, and between each the
question, "Do you hear that, Mrs
Burns?
"Indeed, but do, and you'll be sorry
for it tomorrow"
Up went the window, and out one
after another went the fragments, of the
broken furniture into the street.
Mathews, believing he was in com
pany with mailman, and now
thoroughly frightened, endeavored t.
make bolt, but was seized and dragged
back.
Finding him struggling violently
Cooke threw up the window and shouted
"Watch! Watch?'
A Waterman attracted by the uproal
was already beneath.
81 give this man in charged roaret
Cooke; he has committed murder"
"What do you meang' cried thu
alarmed youth.
Yes, to my certain knowledge, he ha
this night committed an atrocious, cold
blooded murder. He has most barbar
ously murdered an inoffensive Jew
gentleman named Mordecai. charge
him with it in the name of Macklin, thu
author Of Love a la Mode"
Here Mathews, by desperate effort
wrenched himself away and fed, Cooke
hurting after him the candle and candle
stick.
A FRENCH ornithologist has taken the
trouble to find out at what hours during
the summer the commonest small bird
wake up and begin to sing. The result
&c clnxuc that <bo m r1sac