New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
BEASTS OF THE STAGE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY WILL ~
HORSES AND DOCS THE Fest ACTORS. But EVEN
THESE ARE UNCERTAIN

a warm spring evening CHANGED to pass the
Academy Of Music. 1t was few weeks ago.
when Shenandoah was running there. one
of them happened to be on friendly terms Win
the manager and to have a holding acquaint-
auce with the doorkeeper Shall we so IN ana
see tie battle scene?" he asked.
cant we get on the stage to see it|' the
other asked "Oh come now-you can work
your pull TO that extent. can't YOU?
The first spc akcr hesitatod and was almost sor-
nv that he had suggested going into the theatre
AZ all 1t was the keeper Of the front door not
the stage doorkeeper, whcm he knew lie did
not Altogether like to ask the manager TO open
the stage to him because he had heavy sense,
which his companion did not. OF the chronic dis
pleasure OF actors and stage managers al the
presence Of outsiders on the stage IN the
progress Of a performance. But the appeal or
the ewes and the voice were too much for him,
ard he agreed to ask the favor.
Whether the manager liked the request or
not he was polite about it and took the VISITORS
10 the stage just as the battle scene was 10
begin. They were placed on the little platform,
built at the prompt side of the proscenium
opening for use Of the elcctrc-lght man, the
successor Of the old gas man OF the theatre
This was the only safe place FOX visitors APP
parcntly in such a stirring scene as was 10 De
acted and it certainly a most advantageous
one for it commanded view Of everything That
the audience could see, and. what was much
more interesting, Of nearly everything that Inc
audience could not see. 1t was all flne as
play Of stage management in the handing az
large crowds and elaborate effects, but the most
fascinating feature of it was the behavior Of the
horses
There were dozens Of horses and their inter
est in the scene, their understanding CT what
they were to do, their enthusiasm and their
general intelligence seemed to be scarcely be-
hind that Of the men. They were not So calm
as the men about il; they were impatient to get
on the stage They were evidently docile ana
easily led and controlled, but they were restless
and eager TO go on and play their parts They
were scarcely moved at all by the noise and
confusion around them-apparent, not real con-
fusion-cven the constant banging of pistols
ard rifles and cannon having no more effect on
them than to give them a certain alertness and
watchfulncss OF expression.
you must have had to tain these horses
pretty thoroughly" said Of the visitors
"Wcre they used to the stage before. or were
they recruits? IL that case you must have
had to rchearse them for weeks
HARD WORK TRAINING HORSES
NO" the manager answered. they had never
been on the stage before. nor under fire as far
as we know and they did not have many
hearsals But we had horrible times with them
for while. They tried to climb up the walls
the first few performances. But they got
used to il and found out that there was dan
ger and what was expected of them. and you
Sec how eager they are See that horse
alone over there waiting for his cue? He has to
go on before the others. He knows his cue just
well any actor the stage. but he would
go without waiting for it If he was not
held"
The cue came and the horse was brought on
the stage. 1t simple part that he had
to play at that time, and then he was led off
again few moments later he was TO play the
star part in Tie scene. The turn of the other
horses came first They crossed the stage with
the retreatng army, were quickly led back be-
hind the mountains and crossed again with
more OF the retreating army. Then they were
turned around and lined up ready for the rally
and the victorious dash. Now came the turn
of the star horse He led the rally galloping
across the stage with General Sheridan on his
back while the rest followed in mad rush, and
then, as the curtain fell. turned once more and
took their places in the most orderly manner
for the tableau at the rising OF the curtain.
There they stood while the curtain raised
and lowered half dozen times and then they
were dismissed and went back to their stables,
leaving the Insignificant men and women to fin
ish the play.
This last production of Shenandoah" had
many more horses AMI many more guns in ii
than any previous Performance of the play. The
dramatic significance If the battle scene was
destroyed for those who view drama chiefly as