The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-05
AN OLD ACTORS "REMINISCENCES

.
AN OLD ACTORS "REMINISCENCES
At the head OF Brighton West Pier
there is a small wooden house, outside
Of which twice day or oftener. as the
case may be, number of dogs perform.
It is a delightful little show, and in the
course of the season some thousands
I must enjoy it. A large plaeard close by
announces that the animals have been
trained by James Doughty, and goes on
to state that in the good old days OF
1851 Mr.. Doughty appeared as clown at
the Drury Lane theater. For twenty
six years the venerable comedian. hale
and hearty, though the oldest English
actor living. has directed these enter
tainments. He is still ready to crack a
joke or tell. tale with any one. And
what store he has TO choose FROM
Yes" he said yesterday in the
course Of conversation. 81 was born in
the Crown Inn, the Market Place, Bris-,
toll, in the August of 1918. My father
was licensed victualler, and I was
sent to two boarding schools, but ran
! away from them both. had made up
my mind to be show man, and was de-.
termined to follow the fairs. And it
was following in those times! We had
to tramp every inch of the way, blow it
hot or cold. come wet, come dry. A
mere lad, set out one day with COM
edian named Henry Brown, who died
| recently at the age of eighty-six. We
shared everything, and have frequent
| ly played three parts night in a, show
with him, as well as danced comic
dance and sung comic song, the net
result of our efforts being three half
pence, when the house had dwindled
away. 1t made us versatile, however,
end It was fine training. I did Earl
Percy in The Castle Spectre a very
old play, and Robin Rough in The
Ploughman Turned Lord (another am
Gent production), and between the
pieces did solos with feet and voice, for
had by now attained to some four
teen or fifteen years. -
| Having become acquainted with.
some acrobats, and being already, pref.
ty good turnbler, Joined their troupe
with Brown. We took a carpet under
our arms, and away we went to AK
minister, where an uncle of Browns had
a show of his own. A few weeks at
that place, and on we tramDed to a.
small town in Wales, Pontypool. There
l remained several years, studying as
best | could whatever came along in.
my profession. and never losing a
chance, not only of seeing other actors,
but of making notes on their perform
ances. .2 .,~.a%
| In time found myself at Plymouth.
FAN old actor was taking benefit. He
was engaged at the Davenport theater,
where there was no license and everyone
lived in perpetual fear of being brought
to book for this managerial omission. Il
agreed to help him, performed at De-
vonport after my own show was over,
and went back to get the sack for
not having consulted my chief on the
subject. This, would have been very
awkward, but the manager of the thea
| ter at which I had appeared having seen
me at work had previously asked me
Immediately to join him, and when my
own people treated me In this way, I
/ hurried back to accept his offer.
Here, then was really my first start,
| and, 1t being near Christmas, I under-
took to get llR pantonlime for him and
play the clown. This was In 1897. In
1888 I appeared for the first time in low
comedy at Exeter, where 7 was engag-
ed by Mrs. Macready, a relative of the
great tragedian. She gave me 12s a
week as general utility and to dance
between pieces Macready came down
TO play Hamlet and he nearly played
| it In another sense with me- AT re-
hearsal we were supposed to get the
cues and be initiated into the business.
Somehow I did not get the opportunity
of seeing his particular arrangements.
and entered as Rosencratz or Guilden-
stern, I forget which, with Good my
lord, vouchsafe me word with your.
He looked at me steadily, then muttter-
ed Beast After this he walked delib-
erately away, secured a small chair,
brought 1t back, sat down, looked at
me again, and said: Beast! Now go
on!' I had spoken before he was ready:
but not to be put out, eoolly proceed.
ed, AS said before, good my lord,
veuchsafe me a word with your and
matters proceeded smoothly from that
point. But he was an irritable man,
and 1t was a near thing.
Paddy Hart was an Irish comedian
in our company, and had been similarly
served by the great man, so he vowed
vengeance. When Macready went up
to his dressing room one night Paddy,
passing the door. locked him in. The
| call boy warned him In vain, and 1t
was only after banging and raging
about that Hamlet was finally freed.
But the audience, grown impatient,
| Missed him when he appeared, and he
offered e1 reward for information as to
who played him the dirty trick. Next
day Paddy went up and asked him for
the reward before he would name the
culprit. Macready forked OUT Paddy,
with the money safe in his pocket, then
yelled I didp and fed, Macready after
him as hard as he could go. It was
a funny htr'-London Telegraph.
4 a. H ; d g.