SOME RECOLLECTIONS: ON AND OEE TI1E STAGE . 
395 
society from a distance, 
as massive men with 
huge chests, broad 
shoulders, arid black 
beards, I proceeded to 
transform myself into 
as near an embodi- 
ment of these physical 
attributes as 1 could. 
Weighing about nine 
Stone four pounds at 
the time, I had all my 
work cut out. but still 1 
AS HERR SCHMIDT, IN “THE 
SILVER SHELL,” ONE OF HIS 
FIRST (Hi EAT SUCCESSES. 
AS DUN BILK, IN “STILL WATERS 
IiUN DEEP , 55 
I'rom a Drawing bn Mr, IE. // Ke-dal. 
fancied I could manage it 
with just a little padding 
here and there. Having 
purchased a second - hand 
postman’s tunic and 
secured the loan of a black 
patent leather belt with a 
very pretty buckle from 
one of my sisters, and 
wearing my own dark-blue 
serge trousers, so far as my uniform was 
concerned my outfit was complete. To this 
I added various chains and keys, which I 
borrowed and hung on my belt to assist in 
the disguise. I know it seems to be rather 
giving away “ professional secrets,” but l 
think I ought to say that my robustness was 
arrived at by a series of towels, well tucked in- 
under my tunic. As I had pulled in my belt 
rather tightly, I assumed quite a graceful 
contour — though my legs did seem to stand 
back a bit ; sideways, indeed, I might pardon- 
ably have been mistaken for a buffet barmaid. 
The question of putting my beard on rather 
troubled me, but I was fortunately well pro- 
vided with a quantity of crepe hair of a bluish- 
black hue. I thought I couldn’t go far wrong 
if I made it into a sort of pancake and spread 
it over my face and trimmed it afterwards. 
Having placed on my face 
as much “ beard ” as the 
spirit-gum would hold- 
somewhat resembling a 
rook’s nest that had been 
run over — and breathing 
heavily through my nose, 
1 was about to trim it, 
when I heard a sudden 
shouting from the mana- 
ger to say that the stage 
was wailing for me. 1 
rushed down and made 
as dignified an entrance 
as the occasion demanded 
• — to realize, too late, that 
I had omitted to make 
any parting in the beard 
over my mouth, so that 
when I had to say impres- 
sively, “ The prisoner 
sleeps,” the effect was 
somewhere between a cleft 
palate and incipient ven- 
triloquism. Thank good- 
ness, I hadn’t to remain 
on the stage very long, 
as there was a general 
struggle, and in the met fa 
the escape of the prisoner 
was effected. Not, how- 
AS WHEATCROFT, IN “A WHITE 
LIE.” 
Fran i a Drawing by Mr, W, TJ. Kendal. 
ever, before he had 
thrown a pitcher of 
water over me an 
incident in the play 
which I afterwards 
discovered was quite 
unintended by the 
author. I can only 
add that at the end 
of the week 1 felt 
that I had fairly 
earned my guinea ! 
I continued to draw 
this salary for several 
months. Some slight 
alterations were sug- 
gested by the man- 
agement as regards 
a warder’s make-up, 
MR. HUNTLEY IS A 
CLEVER ARTIST AS 
WELL AS AN ACTOR, 
AS JHIS SKETCH OF 
HIMSELF, IX ONE OF 
HIS EARLY PARTS, 
SHOWS. 
