THESPIS IN TRAINING.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7529, 19 April 1890, Page 6

THESPIS IN TRAINING.

It is hard to disconcert an old actor. When, in answer to Lord Dundreary's famous question to his sweetheart, " Can you wag your left ear?" the lady on one occasion said "yes n instead of "no," aC the same time giving practlcalldemonstration of that accomplishment, the impersonator of the titled idiot, after one instant of blank amazement, quite turned the tables on the fair joker by quietly remarking, " Ya-as, I thought you could— you looked like that sort of girl, you know."

A similar story is told of Numa, a French actor, In the course of a piece he had to be very gay, and to dance, as he cried out; "Oh I if I had apair of castanets 1" His companion, wishing to disconcert him, had provided a pair, which he drew from his pocket, saying: Here are what you want." But Numa was not so easily caught. "All right," said he; "as you have them with yon, suppose you play them."

In a very serious drama a prisoner was obliged to read a letter which the actor did not commit to memory, as it was very long. One evening the jailer thought it would be a g«od joke to ! hand the prisoner a blank sheet of paper. The prisoner, starting to read it, was for a moment thrown off his balance. But recovering himself, he said, with the most serene calmness— "Jailer l" "Sir*"

"I am obliged to make an avowal to foil. Brought up by parents of low estate, do not know how to read. I beg that you will have the goodness to acquaint mc with the contents of this letter."

The snarer was snared, but his wit saved him, too. After nervously fumbling the letter, the jailer sail: " Willingly, but I most go and look for my spectacles." Naturally, he brought back with his spectacles the genuine letter. A young actor was playing the part of an old servant. It was very warm, and as he stood in the wing he took off his white wig. Suddenly hearing his cue, he entered without donning his wig. His companion in the scene, seeing nis plight, could hardly refrain from laughing, but said, calmly: "It i 9 not you whom I want, my friend, it is your father." The actor returned to the wing, seized his wig, put it on, returned, aud with equal coolness said: " Warned by my sou, I have hastened hither."