The Delta independent., 1893-09-13


around a theater. The manner in
which he produces all kinds of noises
seems remarkable to the spectator
who has not been initiated into the
mechanical mysteries behind the
scenes. As rule theater-goers care
little about the cause If the effect is
pleasing. and for this reason Traps,
whose accomplishments are as varied
as most proficient song and dance
man, has attained little notoriety in
the eyes of the public; and yet he
plays his little part every night, and
if it wasn't for him the show couldn't
go on.
When the heroine looks off R. 3
E. and exclaims. He comes. l hear
the merry sleighbells. Traps works
the bells in the entrance. and he
does not need a horse and cutter.
He rings the bells with one hand
and initiates the cracking of the
whip with the other by means of
slap-stick. This latter arrange
ment is merely two pieces of board
hinged at one end, which sounds
when brought sharply together like
the cracking of long whip
Traps works up fine entrance
for the hero, the bells sounding
nearer and nearer and the whip
cracking merrily. The delusion is
perfect This is especially so when
the horse stops and the voice of the
driver is heard to say: Whoa,
whoam
With the young girl standing at
the window, the snowiakes falling
outside and her speech adding to the
interest in the appearance of the
hero, altogether the entrance is
splendid one, and there is much ap-
plause, which the hero receives
gracefully. while Traps, who has
been working so hard, wipes the
perspiration from his brow. The
audience never applauds Traps, he is
always unseen, a feeder for others.
But he is modest individual and
does not mind. Never having tasted
the intoxication Of applause he does
not know what he is missing; he
does not care for glory, but he has
q wife and four children, and when
he gets his little SIS at the end of
the week he is just as contented as
the hero who was called before the
curtain and was greeted with great
applause by the ladies'. with whom
he is success on account of his
curly hair and careless, jovial man
ners.
Then, too, when the soubrette
dances, Traps must initiate the steps
so as to emphasize the sprightly
movement For the sand jig he
sometimes uses two straps held in the
hand and rubbed together, and paper
being affixed to the rubbing surface.
But does Traps get any credit? Not
he.
When the young woman has had
her way and retires after high
kicking exhibition, the comedy
Dutchman comes on, and, prefacing
his performance with several alleged
witticisms. which cause howl of
laughter from the not too critical
audience. he proceeds to indulge in
clog. The clog-step is initiated with
two mallets. on the end of each a
coin being fastened.
Besides these not unreasonable
sounds. Traps has other work to
perform. When the comedy man has
been shot and deliberately takes from
his side-as though it had gone way
through his body-a bullet large
enough to have been fired from a
twenty-pounder, and with agonized
expression (any one would feel badly
after having such missile go
through him) hurls it to the stage,
then it is Traps duty to produce
sound like tremendous thud. which
is supposed to have been caused by
the bullet striking the earth.
Again, when the villain or the
comedy man is thrown down stairs it
is Traps who creates the horrible
racket; the humping from floor to
floor, which is as continuous as
though the building was a sky scrap
er; it is he who attends to the final
thud which is followed by an ago
nized yell.
When the actor hurls an article
from the window, it is the unseen
performer who causes noise as of
breaking glass. His part is not q
continuous one, he only appears by
starts and jerks; nor does he stay
long, but he creates havoc in the
brief time that he does play his little
part He Is the creator OF some OF
natures greatest evidences Of force
and beauty.
Besides serving as agent for the
forces OF nature and the sound of gal
Looping horses, Traps on occasion
acts in more pathetic character
When the villain remarks. "Ah, l
hear the voice of a babe" Traps
emits doleful wall.
This can be done with small
reed held in the palm OF the hand.
He can initiate all degrees OF crying
from pianissimo to fortissimo; and
the tender-hearted ladies in the audi
ence wipe away tear and murmur
Poor baby; why don't it's mother
come and take care Of itP" AS the
innocent child Trapa ia a ebip;nr