A FAMOUS PERFORMER.

Thames Star, Issue 3829, 23 August 1879, Page 4

A FAMOUS PERFORMER.

Old Astley was a famous man in his

day. Ho had a celebrated trick horse ..called Punch, who after a variety of gambols with the clown, would thrust his head and neck through a napkin, made for the purpose, then sit down to a well-spread table, knock his hoof on the table as a hint to look sharp, and a warning to the clown who was his attendant; lie would furiously seize with his mouth a bellpuU ; bellpulls were then common in every house; he would eat whatever wns put before him, mock turtle, ie.'i bran mash, a bread fowl, beans, • turnips, carrots, oats, &c, dignified by choice terms French dishes; then taking a kettle in his mouth by the handle would pour out some water in a punch bowl, seize a trick bottle made for the purpose and marked " brandy," pour it into the punch bowl and deliberately lap, j nodding good .health to the clown—then j waltz gaily, and finally fall down as a drunken man would. This scene used to elicit rounds of applause, in fact, Punch was one of the stars of the company. Old Astley concocted a scheme to send some of his big people into the provinces, and amongst them Punch. They exhibited with varied success until they reached Belfast, where, from bad management, they collapsed. Telegraphs Were not invented then; bad weather and other causes prevented Astley hearing the sad news. .Ruthless creditors seized the effects and stud, and amongst them poor Punch was hauled off and sold at a horse fair. All traces of him were lost, but though lost to sight, he was to memory dear;: for.on Astley hearing Punch was was not to be traced, he advertised as largely as he could in those days of limited inquiry. But Punch had vanished. 1 About eight years after, going into a low quarter of the town, he saw in a costermonger's cart a poor cast-down abject creature, the bones protruding through the skin, a wretched semblance of his: lost but beloved Punch. Astley paused in doubt, then tremulously muttered " Punch." The animal pricked up his ears, stood up on his hind legs, upsetting, the costermonger and the contfnts of his cart, theu waltzed up to his old master. The meeting was a itrange one, but positively affecting. AstleyV "down, sir," was instantly obeyed, Punch's heck was as instantly grasped, the caresses of the horse and manager blended, and the recognition was complete. "Well, I'm dashed," said the costermonger, " he is the devil, and no greens; everybody swears it, and so will I." •'Will you part with the animal?" said Astley. " Will I, won't I. and clad to get rid of him. Oh, Lord, tiir. don't have anything to do with him; he's a born ; devil. The tales I've 'erd about that there Aanimal is enough to take yer 'air hout by the roots; why, if,ever he sees.a kettle on the fire he'll rush in, he'll seize it, and commence all sorts o' games ; everj' bellpull he sees, up goes his 'oof on the table, and there he tugs and bangs till table or bell comes to smash. If the band plays in the street, he waltz's like a hateral Christian, and then pretends to fall dead as a herring." He was re-purchas-d by his old master for a five-pound note, well fe.d and tended, and in less than a month i'unch was at his did post, ringing bells and drinking brandy and water daily.— Sydney Mnil.