West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-10-28
stare Realities.

oh8pleigh, h had IN his bOyish days
belonged to a juvenile dramatic Ompsn
aud felt very much inclined 10 tread the
boards again If a chance of sred. II did
offer. The actor Gust for Polonius on
Webb's benefit night was unable to play,
and Shapleigh undertook to supply his
place. The house was packed; and the
beneficiary and his friend who had, as
the bills put il, "msgnanimouslY volun-
tecred his valuable services" were recsiv-
cd with loud scclamations. The first act
went or smoothly enough; but 10 the sec
ond, when, on Polonius asking, "Do you
know me, nv lord2' Hsmlet replies:
Excellent well; yOu arc a hshmonger'-
Bi.s. Shapleigb, sitting 10 a front box, ex-
claimed: "Weil it Amt very pretty Of you,
Mr.. Webb, after Tom has been 30 good
to you, to go showing him up that way;
I'd have you know that a f%ishmonger, az
you call him, is as good az an actor any
oay!' When she ceased, a wondering 81
hence fell upon the audience; and Shap-
leigh, giving his wife an assuring nod,
said: IT'S all right, Bessie; it's so in the
book" And then, understanding matters,
the audience vociferously applauded.
Much less germane TO the matter was
Jeiierson's first stage speech. He played
the intent 'Pizlrro," and when Cora said
to Alonzo, "Sweet child! he will speak
sooo,' she was not prepared for the in.
slant tulfllment of her prophecy, by the
infant" toddliDg to the footlights and
asking the leader Of the orchestra why he
did not play the fiddle.
Many years afterward the actor was
playing his famous part of Rip Van VIM
kle, at Chicago, and one night when he
was tired out by a long days fishing.
When The curtain rose on the third act,
II disclosed the wbitc-haired Rip deep in
his twenty years. pap. Five, ten minutes
elapsed, but he did not wakeR. The an
dleDce grew impatient and the
uneasy; he supposed the great actor knew
what he was about, but this was CARRYING
the realistic business little too far. At
length the gallery wsxed uproarious, and
yelled their delight at one Of their mum
her, inQuiTing 'if there was roing to ne
nineteen years more OF this snooZs bust
ness.' AT this point, Jefferson epored
audlhly. Opening a small trap beneath
me si1ge, The prompter prodded R,p from
DeIow' only to see the sleepy comedian
tumble in bis pocket for an imaginary
railway ticket, and hear him mn;ter:
'OoinG clear through, conductor This
was too much for the prompter; he went
at Rip with a big pin; and with a loud
shriek' that worthy sat up, wide awake
to the situation.
An actor Of no great accout, except in
his W estimation, found his way upor
the stage just after the fiaal morning re-
heaTsal OF a psntoDime. the first scene of
which had been set again ready for the
evening performance. Heavy With over
imbibing of beer, he tumbled into O. friend
ly bunk, as he supposed, and was coon
fast asleep. Night came. The curtain
rose upon a tomb, to which, after a little
while, tie paBtomime hero advanced for
the purpose of breathing out his life. AS
he threw himself upon the tomb it chang
~ INV 0ACNhJ COhCng anu lugn ne lOlI0
himself struggling with a big man. The
two rolled toward the feotlights, kicking
their hardest; but stepping in time, they
disentangled themselves, and the half-so-
oered intruder on the scene, quoting from
Shakespeare at the top of his voic, "Giye
me another horse! Bind up my wounds!
Have mercy, h%eayensl' brought down the
house AZ he had never done before or was
likely to do again.
AT the beginning of his theatrical ca
reer, Mr.. w. j. Florence, the popular
comedian, played general utility at the
Lyceum theatre, New York, then under
the management of Mr. John Brougham.
Among the new pieces produced by that
gentleman was one that creatad no little
sensation at lis first representation. 1t
was called "a Row at the Lyceum The
atre, or Greenroom Secrets" Each mem
Der of the company appeared on the stage
as himself or herself, wearing everyday
costumes, and the scene was the green
room of the theatre. Tho performance
was exceedingly realistic and went off
capitally until the entrance of Mrs. Bug
gins, a debutante, who-as previously
aTr0nged-after looking over the part al
lotted to her, objected to the business, %
and insisted upon having something more
tragic.
While she WAC making matters disa
greeablc on the sttge, a stout, middle-aged
man. dressed in quaker gsrb, rose in the
center Of the stalls, and exclaimed: That
woman looks for all The world like Glen
entina! Her voice is very like; the form
is the same" After a pause he added:
ct IS my wif,!" and rushed toward he
fOOtlignts, shouting: Come off tsc stage
you miserable woman" The audience. At
fret amused, grew angry, and cries of
"Put MIN out.' "Sit down. "Po}cs!o
rang through the house. Up in tho third
tier, visible "a AT, was n rcd-shirted fire
man, who loudly threatened he would
give "Old BroadJr'm" q sound thrashire
If be attempted 60 Jay q hand on lhe young
woman; and wes prcecutly seen rushing
dOwu-stairs % carry bis threat into eyccu.
ton. Tho house was 10 an upr5ar: ladies'
tried Co escape from the theatre, while
rUrf|rmru vu.U.g unfr....r. "a. ~..f.r~