The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-02-22
The Dog Actor.
By WILSON BARRETT.

missed performance, never sent Doctors
certificate for cold, sore throat, or STAGE
mdisposition of any kind, nor did he ever
even hint that he required ga night off,
for rest or holiday. \ big hondsomc
fellow, he was, with a 9eossy curly black
coat that shone in the sun and the Gas. like
mass OF spun jet a noble head and
face. and soft deep brown, thaughtful eyes,
that at times gave you a look which was
startling, so human was it-humanity at its
bes,, l mean. a favorte with the audiences
Lion" was loved by the actors, and par
tlcularly so by his pretty young MISTRESS
Gerty lleckett, to whom, in return he was
devotedly attached. "Lion's" first appear
ance on any stage was in ''Thc Romany
Rye" and his part was very good and a
very important one. In the first act he had
to leap on to the stage at the call of his
mistress, who had lost her way in wood,
and had there met with the Romanv rive.
for whose edifcation she put "Lion''
through some of his tricks, which included
balancing biscuit on his nose at the word
trust" and tossing it up in the air and
catching it in his mouth at the intimation
that it was ''paid for Then he would
stand on his hind-legs, with his front paws
on Gertys shoulders, and kiss her when she
asked him to do so. In the second act, his
part became pathetic. The scene was laid
IN brd-fncier's shop in Seven Dials.
Gerty was there, sobbing over the misdeeds
OF her wicked old thief of glandfathv1-
lamentlng her lonely life-when ELion'' had
to walk Sravely ON, look at her in a SYM
pathlzmG manner and give her one of his
paws and loving kiss, which expressed
III pantomime language "What is your
trouble, missie-tell mc-I'll help you if
can, although I'm only dog?" This was
so graphically done by 'Lion'' that the
audience thoroughly understood what he
meant a result not always achieved bv
stage pantomimsts.
There was trouble in this scene at the
first rehearsals. The live rabbits. birds:
guinea-pigs, distracted ''Lion'' sorely, and
it was long time before he could be weaned
from pokng his nose against the CAGES.
and upsetting the tenants thereof Another
difficulty was to induce him to 90 upon the
stage at the exact cue, and to keep him
from following his mistress the moment she
entered. He had, indeed, to be held back
forcibly-a proceeding, | may remark.
which only great friend of his dared
attempt.
AT the earlier rehearsals it was almost
touching to see his struggles to comprehend
his instructions. However, he quickly
learned what was wanted of him; and the
victory over any difficult bit of ''business'
was invariably signalized by Joyous bark
the holding out OF paw to his MISTRESS
and wag Of the bushy tail, which said
plainly enough to all who had studied dog
language. Il understand now: why did
you not put it in that way before?" What
he once learned he never forgot. Naturally
he became great pet behind the scenes :
everybody wanted to pat him on the head
everybody wanted to shake paw with him;
and everybody brought him something to
eat. Among the hundreds employed about
the theatre, ''Lion'' got little bothered.
very tired Of paw-shaking. and naturally
ovel-fed. This resulted in notice from
the management that no one was to touch
or speak to ''Lion'' during rchearsals or
performances. Some wag was prompted to
draw with chalk "A circle round 'Lon's''
corner, and to write in large letters, ''Boy-
cotted. " And Boycotted he certainly was.
"Lion'' looked at his chaIkcd ring, and at
his whilom friends, who now held aloof
from him, with an oddly pcrpIcxed ain; and
it was evident that the sudden change from
great popularity to the apparent bitter frost
OF almost universal neglect Ga change which
has ere now been felt by greater actors
than ''Lion,") rather damped his spirits;
but the caless Of his beloved mistress all |
ways cheered him, and put him in a GOOD |
humor.
All! what would become OF most men
and dOoS without fine kind u,o,d onl ,,,,.,,,