The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-26
THE HARD LUCK
| OF TRAMPERS
A theatrical Managers MiShApS
on the Tank Town Circuit
Out West.

.
known Of shows that stood collectively
for hard luck. but when they disbandsd
and the members signed with other com
panies they made good and played out the
seAson. proving that the hOodOo wasn't
on them a. individuals. but on the show
with TramPers it's different lie
being a manager. anything he has any
dealing with 10 sure 10 close in a short
while.
'Hs IL at liberty since he show closed
out on the Western circuit some time ago
and he's hack in town looking for anything
that's doing In his lire. but he's got no
ginger or grit In him any more. He
comes in and tells me some OF his troubles
since he started out with his show last
season.
Its this way: Tnmpers vas the
manager of q transforming repertoire
company that plays the small tank towns,
where the people think Fast Lynne is
one Of the latest plays on the boards.
and Romeo and juliet ID being tried on
tho dog. Owing 70 the lack Of proper
stage properties and appliances In those
jay town hOuseS II takes some time for
scene 10 be set and between the acts the
audience 10 apt 70 get restless. So Tramp
err engaged an clio between the acts.
One Of these feature acts IL a juggling
stunt. and a performer 10 a chap ] signed
with him by the name Of Prof. Leonardo
Leonardo could do stunts night along in
the vaudeville houses II he'd quit juggling
highballs before and after the Perfor-
nance.
well. a. Trampers tells IL, the show
opened In a good sized Ohio town with
big house. and !. looked rs II they'd start
FOR the next town with money in the
treasury The second act Of the play
went oH fine and while they were waiting
for the third and hig thrilling act in what
ever melodrama they we're presenting
Ie0nardO cOmes on 10 do his juggling
stunt.
"Tmmpers didn't notice that Leonardo
had been tanking up. The professor
was a wonder for carrying his hun and
c0nceRlng Il ~ he comes on 20 usual.
makes his little how and spiel takes up
his prop mortar End pestle from the
table and starts in
Now. at the start laties and gentle
men, he SAYS. I'm going TO borrow some
( gentleman's watch in the audience and
give an exhibition Of how 4 IL possible to
! grind n TO pieces right before your eyes
and Reproduce 20 aga.T good ~ rev. VIII
some gertlenar k.n'ly oblige|
IL ilst happens tina, the Mayor Of the
. ~ ~. Ilasa
10y trale. and being one Of those self
q iv-rasing chaps he reaches down In his
pocket. digs up a watch. looks around
| the house 20 see II everybody - on and
hands II M 10 Leonardo over the foot
lights
Tina 'sa valuable timep,ece professor
cost me s3)l at whole ,a.e. and you must
te careful 81 &c. he says right out loud.
! GUESS can tr,ist you with Il all n ght.'
/ -Iepuarlo goes through his stunt, some
thing drops no the mortar and he POUNDS
a1d jaEs at 10 with the pestle The audi
ence hea-s the crunching a. Ne does IT,
Now. ladies and gents. Leonardo
starts again. having smashed the gentle
man : va'ch TO pieces I'll proceed TO show
Won now easy Il is and then he exits
quickly to where Trampers Is watching
him OF the stag.
IL takes the audience some little time
b toundersta1d what the real trouble r.. that
B the magician has got his hands twisted
and ground up the real thing instead
OF the nhony watch. When II is under
stood aud Trampers has come out and eN-
! plainei how. owing 10 the recent sad
death VI the professors little boy and only
child. aud his wife being expected IN pass
away at any time. being only human the
poor fellow has really made the mistake
Of grinding up the watch. it makes hit.
! That IL. II makes his with everybody
7 but the Mayor. He u supposed 10 he a
church deacon or elder or something
standing high in reli gious circles. Tramp
ers says he never heard a boss canvasman
IT Wild West outfit swear like that fellow
did
.Of course there was nothing 20 IL
hut 70 cough up for the timepieoe, a.
! leonardo made a quick getaway Tramp
Z ers might have done the same thing only
the show was billed for the next night al
the same time and hs had 70 face the
music
He's rssourceful though Trampers il
! A. the next performance he comes out
I IN make a little spScCl asking the audi
| enca kindly 10 contribute 10 a fund for
| the burial Of the professors child and the
care ~ his SICK wife in the town they
PLAYED the dav lpefnrp Some money was
! got hold " this way. for Trampers il a
/ good talkeT. hut the owner Of the watch
couldn't be- persuaded 20 take cent On
| lie value and h. wouldn't take hack the
! case. allowing for the gold in Il. But
I u hal fuaftlh fhs. fuamaUar dol
! Well the Empire city All Star Stock
and Speciality COMPANY quit the town next
morning money out ~ pocket on the en-
| gagement Trampers told me he snrt
Of felt that Was the beginning Of the
hoOdOo's work Later on he knew H.
In the cast wa a young chap Of the
stage name Of Vsrsatelli. the Human
Viper. He waa one Of the most useful
members ~ the COMPANY. for besides
doing his coniOrtion specially IN green
tights with spangles and SCALES 10 rep
] resent a snake he could fill in in small
/ PARTS in the regular performance; and
there wHs another stunt he could do that
was worth a lot 81 money 10 the manage
ment
-Versatelli would get on the train with
the rest u the troupe when thev were
making a iumD and smuggle himself
Under q seat 20 that the conductor wou'dnf
SO him and collect his fare. Oh that's
nothing new with some of these travelling
| companies.
To get bark 10 Trampens The CON-
many boarded the train Tor five or n x
/ hour Jump and Versaielii doubled himself
uD under a seat al snugliks, intending %
slip out when he got the chance: but that
conductor was naturally strenuous. nr
Was suspicious of members % ~ by night
companies anyway Trampers gave YER
satell the tip 10 lie low
afThavfh hssuu riding anna Tina vvhar,