Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19

noises; and the rather, because he is. OBJ
served to be louder than ordinary every
time the ghost OF Hamlet appears. Others
have reported that 1t Is a dumb man, who
has chosen this way of uttering himself
when he Is transported with anything he
sees or hears. Others will have it to be the
playhouse thunderer that exerts himself
after this manner In the upper gallery when
he has nothing to do upon the roof.
But having made it my business to get
the best information l could in matter OF
this moment, find that the Trunk-maker,
as he is commonly called, Is a large black
man whom nobody knows. He generally
leans forward on huge oaken plant with
great attention to everything that passes
but upon hearing anything that pleases him
he takes up his staff with both hands and
lays 1t upon the next piece of timber that
stands in his way with exceeding Vehe-
mence, after which he composes himself
in his former posture till such time as
something new sets him again at work.
1T has been observed his blow Is so well
timed that the most judicious critic could
never except against it. AS soon as any
shining thought is expressed In the poet, or
any uncommon grace appears In the actor,
he smtes the bench or wainscot II the
audience does not concur with him, ne
smites a second time, and If the audience
is not yet awakened. looks round him
with great wrath and repeats the blow
third time, which never fails to produce
the clap. He sometimes lets the audience
conclusion of their applause ratifies 1t with
a single thwack.
He is Of SO great use to the play house
that 1t is said former director of 1t, upon
his not being able to pay attendance by
reason of sickness, kept one In pay to ON
| ciate for him till such time as he recov-
ered but the person 80 employed, though
| he laid about him with incredible violence,
| did it In such wrong places that the audi
| ence soon found out that 1t was not their
| old friend the Trunk-maker.
| 1T has been remarked that he has not
| vet exerted himself with vigor this season.
| Nicolinis first appearance was said to have
| demolished three benches in the fury OF
| his applause. He has broken half dozen
| oaken plants upon Dogget, and seldom goes
away from tragedy Of Shakespeare with
| out leaving the wainscot extremely shat
| tered.
| THE players do not only connive at his
| obstreperouS appreciation, but cheerfully re-
| pair at their own cost whatever damage
| he makes. They had once thought OF
| erecting a kind of wooden anvil for his
use, that should be made of very sound
| ing plank. in order to render his strokes
more deep and mellow, but as this might
| not have been distinguished from the music
| of kettle-drum the project was laid aside
| I'm the meanwhile cannot but take no.
| tice of the great use 1t is to an audience
| that a person should thus preside over
their heads, like the director of concert
| In order to awaken their attention and bea
|
| smile, have sometimes fancied the Trunk
maker in the upper gallery to be like Vir
| giPs ruler of the wind. seated upon the
| top Of a mountain, who. when he STRUCK
his scepter upon the side of 1t, reused
hurricane and set the whole cavern in al
uproar.
"It is certain the Trunk-maker has savet
many a good play and brought many I
| graceful actor into reputation who woult
| not otherwise have been taken notice OF
1t Is very visible, as the audience is not {
little abashed II they find themselves be
trayed into a clap, when their friend in tn
upper gallery does not come into 1t; so thu
actors do not value themselves upon tn
clap, but regard 1t as a mere brutum ful
men. or empty noise when II has not TIL
sound of the oaken plant In 1t. / know
It has been given out by those who ar
enemies to the Trunk maker that he ha
sometimes been bribed to be In the interes
of a bad poet or vicious player, but thi
is a surmise that has no foundation; hi
strokes are always just and his admoni
tions seasonable. he does not deal abou
his blows at random. but. always hits tn
right nail upon the head. That inexpressi
Bile force wherewith he lays them on SUI
ficiently shows the evidence and strengt
of his conviction. His zeal for goo
author is indeed outrageous. and break
down every fence and partition, ever,