FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48  
49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   >>   >|  
On a large board we writ in chalk that on such a night we would "give a wonderful entertainment" in the backyard of the tavern at which we were staying; John Spencer, the great man of strength, would pull against five horses, and as a grand _finale_, Jack Buckley would jump over five horses, and a cab thrown in. I, albeit the poor clown, saw that this was a gigantic fraud, and, fearing unpleasant consequences, I cast about for some scheme to make our position safe. I arranged with a policeman, by putting half-a-crown into his hand (from behind, of course) for him to show himself in the backyard just as that part of the performance was commencing, and solemnly pretend to stop the performance in the course of duty. Well, the entertainment was begun before a crowded "house," and when the particular part in question was coming off, Mr Policeman, true to his promise, stepped forward, and said he would not see anybody killed. Spencer had got ready to draw against _one _horse when he was interfered with by the gentleman in blue--good soul! There's many a warm heart beats beneath blue cloth and plated buttons. The audience took as gospel the interference on the part of the law, and duly dispersed after witnessing other "harmless" portions of the entertainment. CLOWNS AT A DISCOUNT Next morning we were up betimes and on our way to Halifax, where we knew it was the Fair Day. We had an inkling that we might be able to engage ourselves at some of the shows. And so it came to pass. Spencer re-engaged with Wild's, and Buckley got a situation at Pablo Franco's. But clowns were at a discount. SEEKING AND FINDING However, there happened to be on the Fair Ground the proprietress of a new theatre. She was in search of "talent"--you know what I mean--eh? Oh, yes! The theatre was a wooden one, in Barnsley. It was not quite finished, but would be ready for opening in a week or so, and the old lady--"Virgin Mary," I believe she was commonly called--wanted to get a company together in time for the opening. She fully explained matters to me, and, as a result I was engaged--that is to say I was professionally engaged by her. FIRST IMPRESSIONS She, of course, saw the whole of my personal belongings at first sight. And it is often said that first impressions are lasting. She paid my railway fare and gave me a "lift" of half-a-crown, and also mentioned, by the way, that I might walk over to Barnsley if I liked and ex
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48  
49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Spencer

 

entertainment

 

engaged

 

Barnsley

 

performance

 

opening

 
theatre
 

Buckley

 
horses
 
backyard

Franco

 
clowns
 
railway
 

situation

 
matters
 

discount

 
FINDING
 

However

 
impressions
 

SEEKING


lasting

 
betimes
 

Halifax

 

inkling

 

engage

 

mentioned

 

happened

 

Virgin

 

IMPRESSIONS

 

wanted


professionally

 

called

 

commonly

 
personal
 
finished
 

search

 

talent

 

result

 

company

 

Ground


proprietress

 

wooden

 
belongings
 

explained

 
scheme
 
position
 

consequences

 
gigantic
 
fearing
 

unpleasant