New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-23
4 CURIOUS SORT OF ACTOR.
DEATH OF A MAN WHO HAD A SCHOOL OF
DRAMATIC ART TO HIMSELF.

John L. Manning. actor who had been seen Oh
late years a good deal more than he had oeeh
known, died at his home In Dorchester, Mass o"
Thursday. Mr. Manning a circus clown years
ago, and his wife was a circus performer aiso' ou.
for a long time he had been an actor OF schooi
OF which he vas probably the only representative
He did little OF mis- acting the stage. lie was
usually In the audience. He cultivated the ap-
pearance Of typical New-England farmer ana ne
acted the part everywhere and always. he "ore
gray beard. with no side vhiskers or mus'ache,
and his hair was gray, too. His face was rouho
and his complexion rudy and clear. his dress
looked old and out of fashion. He usually carried
an old carpet bag and faded cotton umbrella.
This was his appearance when he was engaged
IN a performance. and also when he was no' ne
was just conspicuous an old farmer In the street
he the stage. He found engagements
where n man OF his appearance could make 'un
for a gathering OF people. and as ne had framed
himself for so long In this part ana no other ana
had a ready wit, he able TO make fun 70 Sooa
effect Sometimes ne would sit In the audience al an
entertainment and make a comca disturbance OF
some sort In the middle Of 1t. He. OF course re-
ceved a salary from the manager.
One Of his best fields was the country fairs. After
arranging his terms with the managers, he would
begin his operations a few days before the opening
of the fair He would walk about the streets OF the
town where It 10 De, and when he saw a shop
with a number OF people in 1t he would go IN ana
begin 70 talk and ask questions about the fair
What sort Of thing this fair likely 20 turn out
TO be? Was II a big thing Where could ne ma
out all the particulars He had some hogs that ne
thought OF entering: whom ougat he TO see about II
All this was intended to set others TO talking ana
10 work I'D interest in the fair. Then. Wneh the
time anne for the fair Itself he vas the hrst 20
reach the grounds and the last 70 leave them re
was also The most conspicuous person at all times
Dy lis shrewd Yankee farmer remarks about the
exhibits When the time for the races came ne ma
graat trouble in finding the seat that ne thougn t
belonged To him the grandstand and everybody
on the stand laughing Al him before ne iouho
II. Or perhaps ne did not appear on me stand Out
would make wild dash across the rack, Just IA
from of the horses and possibly get himself ar
rested. =,
Manning WIS engaged for this season 70 travel
with Bancroft the magician. lie sat IN the du-
diem e. and kept everybody who was near enough
u see him amused by his evidences OF ecstatc en-
joyment Of the performance. OF course before tne
evening over he VOLUNTEERED 10 go on the stage
10 assist the magician. and then he made more
amusement. He always played his part well ahd
ne was quite worth what the management pdld
him. Bancroft died few weeks ago and Manning
was out Of an engagement. He got snort one az
the Brockton tair and from there he went 20 mis-
home in Dorcheste-.
In the mean time Edward L. Bloom. who had been
Bancrofts manager. arranged with Henry r.. Dlxey
20 become a professional magician as re might
have done any time these dozen years, and 70 make
the tour arranged for Bancroft. MT Bloom wrote 70
| Mr. Dizzy who was in Boston. telling him mat ne
| thought Il would be a good plan to re-engage Man
! ming and AZ the same time ne wrote 10 Manning.
| asking him go 10 me theatre where Mr.. DiXey
was PLAYING and talk with him about II. festerd1 ~
| Mr. Bloom received dispatch from Mr. Dixey
| saving thai Manning was dead.