The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-11-06
Dramatic Experience.

"Oh, yes, liked the theater business
we'll enough" said Augustin Dovey, a
dramatic gentleman who once had
hopes Of becoming well known, but
my Texas and Arkansaw experience
has about cured me-.
Say" said drummer, II tell You
where you missed it.
"Wheres"
"You showed in houses, didn't you?"
"Of course"
"You ought to have shown under n
tent"
"Why SOY"
Because, being such ham, you
ought to have been under canvass, you
know"
"Now here, fellows, I have been
guyed until l don't find any enjoyment
in the performance. l started to tell
you Of my theatrical experience in
Texas and Arkansaw. / am not trying
to elicit sympathy, for l wouldn't take
meal ticket il You were to give-thank
you, III take it along. Well, you see,
! thought that by striking Texas early
in the fall, before any of the larger
troupes started out. and then work up
through Arkansaw, / could reap quite
harvest without competition. l col
lected first-rate country town troupe.
The star was q good-loolsing ranter.
and the leading lady was thin thing
with melancholy jaw aud voice that
sounded like vail of distress. l had
one fellow who weighed nearly 800
pounds. He had never before been on
the stage. He had come to Texas in
hope Of gathering unto himself, with
out expense, vast prairie and many
cattle. but failing, he joined my troupe
to get something to eat and shingle
to sit under when it rained. We did
firs.-rate for time. The fat man,
Jim Belsher, made an excellent Fail
staff. No, we didn't attempt Shake.
speare, but as Jim couldn't take any
other caracter, / let him go on as Fal.
staff. The country people didn't obiec,
| to innovation. They seemed 10 like i,
when, during an exciting scene in The
Maiden's Love of the Bark that was
Clawed from Tree Falstaif came on,
with hand-saw and made histrionit
lunge ut a niger. l hunted mp tn,
editor and invited him to attend the
show. He was a mild, gentleman,
looking fellow, and sentnred to tel
him that he was out of place among
people who would not hesitate to larrul
the life out OF him should he publish
anything they did not like. He smiled
in sickly and appealing way and re
piled that he was very careful not I,
hurt any ones feelings. l sat with hin
during the performance aud explained +
| him the beauties Of certain situations
/ wanted him to he fasorably impress
ed, and when the performance was over
i was certain that We had at least ons
friend. This is what the paper said tin
next morning"
He produced iiimss looking news
paper and handed it To the drnmme
who read the following:
The Angns.in nosev troupe playe,
ia our city last night Mr. Doyey is .
man Of courage for bringing oyster
South during such warm weather, I'm
it shows that he il well mp with, ii no
i'm advance of, the season. After til
performance last night, petition, ask
ing that the fat fool he sentenced to t.
days On the rock pile, sas presented L
our Mayor, but unfortunately the weak
kneed Official refused III grant til
prayers of the people. The leadin
man ought 10 have died years ago, Ill,
doubtless would have been taken 81
had not Providence been busy wit
more important affairs. II he shout
get out of Texas with hide that vii
hold wheat straw, lie may consider Iii
seasons engagement all eminent sue
cess. III our worthy tognsman, Han
SpilIers, had followed tue map Of hi
intentions. and burstei r-yerentia
goose-epg Oh the summit Of the gentle
mans knot. complimentary resolution
would have been drafted in his behalf
II pains IN to speak Of tie leading Lads
bLe might hover with grace over