Well, the "Corsair," clipped as it was, dragged its slow length along
to an end. We then ventured to start our great drama, "Pizarro," or the
death of Rolla. But here again I am foiled in my remembrance. I know it
took the "whole strength of the company" to fill out the many
characters needed. Carpenters, shoemakers and farmers were turned into
Spanish chieftains and Peruvians; our young maidens were changed into
sun-worshippers, and our musical man adapted a portion of one of
Mozart's masses, to sing to these words, "The _sun_ is in his holy
temple," etc., at which some of our people cavilled; but which portion,
sung by the maidens, in white, was perhaps the best of all the
performance.
I remember, however, that "the Admiral," or some one else, was
stationed behind the scenes with a gun to fire at Holla when he runs
away with Alonzo's child; that one of the great points made was, "By
Heaven, it is Alonzo's child!" and that rushing over scenic rocks he
should in imagination be shot; but the pesky gun behind the scenes
would not go off until many desperate attempts were made--no report
being heard until the play had further progressed, when all of a sudden
the gun was fired, and frightened individuals had the temerity to ask
"what that gun was for.
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