The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-02-06
IN OLDEN TIMES.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON, THE GREAT AC-
TOR, IN WILMINGTON.
Something of the Perils of an Actors Life
Forty Years Ago-Makeshifts on the
Stage "A Good Joke.

stage n UOOQ JOKE
From, Je6erson's Memoirs in Jan. Centuyy.]
The love of management still clung
to me, and my partner sharing my en-
thusiasm, We resolved to make another
trial of our fortunes in the Southern
circuit Our limited means compelled
US to adopt the most economical mode
of transportation for the company II
was settled, therefore, as it was neces
sary, that we, the managers, should
arrive at least week in advance of
the opening of the season; our passage
must be made sby rail, while the COM
pany were to proceed by sea.
There was in those days line of
schooners that piled between VIII
mington. N. c., and New York. The
articles of transportation from the
South consisted mainly of yellow pine,
tar and rosin, which cargo was denom-
mated "marine stores" Feeling con-
| fident that we could procure cheap
passages for our company by contract
ing with one of these vessels to take
them to Wilmington, we determined
to conclude a bargain with the own
ers.
The arrangement was made at "a
rate that suited all parties, except, per
haps, the members of the company,
who, I fear, had some slight misgiv-
ings that they were to be conveyed to
their destination as kind of ballast.
The day was fixed for their departure
and Mr.. Ellsler and myself eent down
to the wharf at Peck Slip to see them
off. If we had felt any uneasiness be-
fore in the thoughts of sending our
comrades off in this way,what was the
| depth of our remorse when we saw the
dreadful old tub in which they were
to depart. 1t was an i'll shapen hulk,
with two great badly repaired sails
Tapping against her clumsy and fore
boding masts. The deck and sides
were besmeared with the sticky REM
nants of her last importation, so that
when our leading actor, who had been
seated on the taffrail, arose to greet
his managers, he was unavoidably de-
tanned. The ladies and gentlemen of
Of the company were uncomfortably
disposed about the vessel, seated on
their Trunks and boxes that had not
yet been slowed away. There were
handsome John Crocker, our juvenile
actor, leaning with folded arms and a
rueful face against an adhesive mast;
pretty Mrs. Allen, then only eighteen
years old and just married, nesting
uyon the bosom of her husband, with
her lovely dreaming eyes sereiiely
wondering, not W hen they would start,
but whether they ever would return;
Mrs. Ray, the first old woman, with
an umbrella in one hand and ii late
dramatic paper in the other, sitting
on a coil of rope and unc ,nscinusly
running her best black dress II was
a doleful picture. The captain, tnp,
was any thing but a skipper to inspire
confidence. He had glazed and dis
heve1ed look that told oflast nights
booze. Our second comedian, who
was the reverse of being droll on the
stage, but who now and then ventured
grim joke off it with better success,
told me in confidence that they had
all been lamenting their ill tarred
tate. Ellsler and myself bid our c,m
pany as cheerful an adieu as we well
could, but there must have been a
tinge of Iemorse in our fsrewell; for
on talking the matter over as we
watched the wretched old craft being
towed away to sea, we concluded that
we should not forgive ourselves if oul
comrades were never heard of again.
| On our arrival in Wilmington the
days were spent in preparing the dus
ty old rat-trap of theatre for the
opening, and our nights in wondering
if our party were safe. The uneasi-
ness was not lessoned, either, by the
news that there had been bad wealth
er off Cape Hat,eras.
Within a week, however, they ar
rived, looking jaded and miserable
Another week for rest and rehearsal
and our labors began. 1t was custom
ary in those days, particularly with
provincial companies, to vary the
dramatic bill of fare 50 as to suit the
different tastes of the public. Comedy
and tragedy were therefore dished w
and / may say hashed up, alternately
as for instance Monday: Coleman.
comedy of"Phe Poor Gentleman, fan
cy dances by the soubrette, comic
songs by the second comedian. con
Guiding with the farce of s'The Spec
ire Bridegroom" The next evenin,
we gave "Romeo and Juliet"
The name of this latter play call
to mind an anecdote connected will
its performance in Wilmington tha
will not be amiss at this point. 1 hav
before said portion of my early thea
trical education was drawn from hare
work iu the paint and property room
Fof theatre, so that VIII n | became
manager delighted in, the "get up
as it was technically called, of plays
SO far as our slender means woul,
, permit. To fashion and paint rus
tic bridge, with wide board behint
it, set upon two shaky trestles. fo
tRob Roy to cross over, was spe
cial privilege. A profile boat for th
"Laoy Of the Lake. was another de
light The perfectly unsafe lookin
skif was always set on trunk mount
ed upon four little wooden. wheel
, that no amount of black lead coul
induce to keep from squeaking. Tn
rope must be steadily puiled-th
slightest jerk and over goes her lady
ship into the gauze waters. But let u
return to the story.