The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-08
THEATERS OF OLDEN TIMES.

The story of the rise of the drama to its
present position of respectability certain
ly shows a remarkable number of hard
knots, and the reward won by persever
ance and endurance on the parts of the
pioneers can not be enviei them. This
is particularly true with regard to what
was then generally denominated the
stolling player. Travelling then was not
what it is now, and travelling il this
country was not what it is in England.
These were ''stocks," or permanent com
panies, just as they were in caller days
on this side of the water, but there also
was found the strolling player in all his
glory. The appearance of the old cara
vans, then a familiar sight, would now be
distinguished novelty. This old Eng
lish plan was known as the booth. The
caravan of those days had very much the
appearance of the present circus street
parade. The wagons were planned diff
ferently inside. but there was no marked
outward difference between them and
the circus wagon. tn these wagons the
companies travelled, lived, slept and play
ed They were made so that the ends
and sides would let down forming tenn
porary theatre.
When the company made stand, the
wagons were placed in such position that
they would form an inclosure, and over
these was stretched canvas; floor
could be put in, at an elevation, and also
a swinging gallery, presenting complete
theatre, provided with seats miiar to
those now used in the circus. The num-
Der of the wagons depended on the size
L Il - r 81,
The business was largely conducted On
the commonwealth or cooperative plan,
though there were few managers who
employed players and became responsible
for all Obligations The ordinary COM
pany was composed of twelve to fifteen
persons, with one to half a dozen or more
wagons, each drawn by four to six
horses. Such companies would put on
plays of the character of Macbeth and
Hamlet, while Richard III was a great
favorite. These they would present with
ont any scenic or mechanical assistance,
but with marked ability. Some of the
best actors the world has ever known
started out in this style-among them
Gustavus Brooke, Edmund Kean and
Campbell. Louis Globe Democrat
The HUNTER AND THE GRIZZLY. Il
never killed or trapped a grizzly south
of Manitoba that measured more than
seven feet and half from nozzle to tail,
with probably the same girtb, or one
that weighed more than 1900 pounds
1t was no rare thing, at, least ten years
ago, to be confronted in the solitudes OF
Manitoba by one of these monsters nine
feet in length, nine in girth and with
bulk of 1,e00 pounds or more. When a
Manitoba grizzly throws itself on its
great launches and rises up before o
hunter, it towers often five or six feet
above him, and it takes brave man to
stand in that most formidable presence,
with steady nerves aud cool head. ]
have more than once discovered the
measuring mark of grizzIy's front
claws on the bark Of tree trunk seven
teen feet from the ground. Imagine
coming suddenly upon beast like that
in some deep ravine or some isolat-
ed spot almost impossible with down
timber, and surrounded by rocks and
thick underbrush. The sight of his
great jaws, open, and red, and his eyes
flashing in fury at you from the enor
nous head that towers so far above you,
is something only to be appreciated
when once seen.-New York Sun.