A COMEDIAN'S TRICK.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1523, 19 March 1886, Page 3

A COMEDIAN'S TRICK.

In Rouen, some few years back, at the Theatre des Arts, the leading low comedian gave so much trouble to the management by his laziness and general neglect of duty that, after having recourse to the powers of the law, the engagement of the refractory artiste was cancelled.

Thus east upon the world, the actor ▼owed revenge; and an opportunity soon presented itself for carrying out bispurpoo.

The director announced his first appearance in the principal role of a tremendous sensatian »1 d.-ama, in five or six acts and innumerable tableaux. The piece began and all progressed merrily till the middle of the third act, when the manager, who was the heavy villain, occupied the stage alone, and went through an interminable soliloquy.

A door at the back suddenly opened and, to his astonishment, the comedian he had dismissed from the theatre slowly stalked down to the footlights, dressed in deep black, with long ringlets, Hessian boots, and his face made up in the most cadavor<'u< fashion. In sepulchral tones he addressed the furious impresario—It is I! Thou didst not expect me !" " Get away!" roared the other, foaming with rage. " 'Tis well," said the actor, unmoved; "111 go, but I'll soon return. Ha, hal" and he slowly made a majestic exit. The public were de!ii>h<el with the new character, as thev thought, and amused themselves between the acts by trying to guess who the m) sterious visitor would turn out to bo.

Directly the curtiin came down, the manager, half crazy, everywhere, and threatened to discharge everyone in the theatre, but without avail; no one seemed to know where his tormentor was hidden.

The fourth act was nearly over, and once more the traitor of the play was alone on the stage.

A trap opened almost beneath his feet, and the incorrigible comedian again appeared, paler and more sombre looking than ever. " I §aid I would come back—behold me !" he exclaimed. The enraged lew e began to have enough of the joke, and, an idea suddenly striking him, he resolved to put an end to the visits of the strange personage. Taking from his breast a pistol, which he was to use iu the concluding scene, he aimed it at the actor. "Angel or demon, whatever thou art, persecute me no more !" He then pressed the trigger, and the malicious comedian, who had not counted upon the presence of mind of his victim, could do nothing better than pretend to fall mortally wounded.

As for the spectators, they were completely dazed; the plot of the drama itself was extremoly complicated without the addition of a character whose appearance succeeded in sending them home in a state bordering on insanity. The company laughed heartily at the fun ; and the manager, obliged to join in the general mirth, thought that the only way to get rid of so dangerous an adversary was to re-en-gage him, which he accordingly did, and the two became fast friends.