Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-09-23
a eLoopHouNpls DIARY.
Extracts from the Book of Life of an Old
Actor In the q. II. Cabin Drama.

Extracts from the Book of Life of an old
Actor In the q. II. Cabin Drama.
/ am poor Siberian bloodhound Of
American descent am an old actor
in an Uncle Toms Cabin" company,
and am very much in the scar and
yellow leaf.
/ am an actor Of the old school, and
1t pains me to see people come in out
of the corn field and gag part as they
do nowadays. have been taught to
study a part carefully, and bring out
overy thing in 1t. That Is the way
learned TO act. To be true to nature is
my hobby. In my enthusiasm | have
several times fed myself with fragments
of Eliza's baby and got myself disliked
for that reason, but that is better than
to fall short of the part and to under
play il.
That is where | disagree with the
gentleman who plays the jackass in
our company. He believes in calm,
dignilied stage presence, and counts on
that almost solely, while am in favor
of an enthusiastic Interpretation of my
part, regardless of dignity and post
urcs.
| belong to family Of actors. We
extend back as far MS the eye can reach.
We love the generous approval of the
public, and we thrive on applause. To
bound upon the stage with a deep
chested bark and eat a portion of
Eliza's borrowed child, is meat and
drink to me. For twenty years have
been on the stage, playing one night
stands and watching little Eva MS She
passes gently up the ilume. Twenty
years | have seen Mr.. ST. Clair climb
into two-dollsr death-bed with his
boots on and die a painless death on a
small salary.
Life is indeed but a span. How
short time it seems since joined the
company mere pup. Then was
full of hope. | also had a full set of
teeth. Now my front teeth are a-ti-
fetal, and can not read fine print /
have seen the world, and have found
been levied on by the sheriff. and /
have walked many weary mile with
my red Siberian tongue hanging out in
the gentle air of spring. Ihavo learned
to distrust mankind, and to rely upon
nothing mundane.
One thing | desire 10 say in this lit
tie diary, so that in case / should die
suddenly in railroad accident the
public and my generous patrons, cs-
pecially, may know the truth. 1t is
this: | am not what scent / live
dual life! My stage appearance
and my true home life arc entirely and
distinctly separate and dissimilar in
every way.
At heart l am not fierce. ! do not
care for warm blood three times day.
If l could be assured one rectangular
meal OF cold corn beef with smashed
potatoes on the side would enter into
a recognizanco never to kill and eat
another human being.
have been constantly misunder-
stood and misapprehended by the pub
lie because my stage manner has been
naughty and hungry This effect has
been heightened. also, by the fact that
the manager has compelled me to
wear a muzzle during the day. / do
not wear a muzLlc at all when / am
at home. | 10 not need it. | can get
along for weeks without muzzle.
| shall soon leave the stage, however.
My voice is failing me, aud | can not
walk ten miles TO a One-night stand In
time for rehearsal as | once could.
When my voice is gone It will be all
up with me. No one wants blood
hound with n cracked voirc.
can see the gentleman who plays
a.
hold out much longer than | can, be-
cause he has saved himself He has
taken life easily and thrown less feryor
and enthusiasm into his part dian |
have. For awhile he wanted 10 play
ST. Claire so that he could have bed
to retire into during one act. never
saw a gentleman who took so much
dramatic ease as he does. He has
more repose than any other person
in the profession with whom | am ac.
quainted.
have done much for the play, but
that | did not intend TO speak of.
People who have carefully compared
Uncle Tom, as it is written with my
Interpretation aud presentation Of Il
will hardly recognize It as the same
piece.
In my own conception, the blood.
hound is made to do many pleasantly
ferociOus things which the author did
not introduce. These improvements
are due solely to me- Among others
might point to the feature Of bringing
out the ferOcious brute on an encore
with fragments Of colOrcd child in hi.
mouth. This never fails to arouse in
the audience wild tumult of refined
horror.
Somehow / am impressed with the
idea that have made my last appear
ancc on the stage. We have Just ter
minated highly successful, trip
through the West, and got home last
evening footsorc, but proud and
happy.
Our manager wants us 10 20 with
him TO Europe next season, but shall
not make the journey. ! shall send a
water spaniel in my place. Hc has a
good voice, and he is better salt
water pedestrian than am. -BM Nyc,
IN Boston Gi0bc.
REBUKlNG a RELATIVE.
The Apt Ketort Of Man who Did Not