New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-18

ners 80 actors who are engaged IN nc scene re.
Onr ,rermiited 10 OCCUPY the stage. The play vas
hestsee e N Lyoas Mrs. Vernon, "a M11l no Da3chi
The bouy as Pauline, took seats 70 open the irst
renes The acors crowded around the wings eager to
scene; asment on the trembling dfJufaHt~ rhe stage
pess seated at his table scanned her with cold and
mss,ng eyes The pale promp,er laid his book upon
M me that be might stare at her more deliberately
L. Ire sleepy little call boy regardless of the summons
Ms hand put the sapen look aud attitude OF cnuc'
I'LL could but shut out all these eyes said 70 my
.sf But, turn whatever way would. they Inst N
Isnned IN all sidos-girded me with freezing "a
Aaer wo had taken our seats, there "" mnments aw
nj slence. II was broken by Mr. bsrry dlsineo '
- aarmnely dgnifed Commence II you Pi5naSo
Mr.. Vernon spoke the first lines OF tho play Dy re-
.ouie effort forcing myself into comPosnre, Iep.u
cannot tell why but the sound OF nay owl 49, sd
and untremulous resssured me Inc hueioon "as
Thought no more Of tho surrounding eyes 50 Ian OF
rpecalation"-Of the covert Ill wisnes-ci .ne sec!e
ooIdomnstiopa cave myself up 81 the part ana acted
In al The aLosdon and intensity Of which was caPa
BILE IL, 49,. . .....iol -
udden Inrst of applause II came from crowd OF actors
:. dc aide scenes-an involuntary and most unusual
shpte To coy hst il produced no effect upon me would
be affeciatien. For moment my eguammHy was pleas
uaby destroyed had tasted the hrst drop In ths non
!. eyed cup Of success
Go on if you pleasego on said Mr. Barry, noticing
J the pause--andI went on.
Tfe play continued and ended without further Interrupt
ion When il was the company gathered around
me with tokens OF undfguised interest, From many ups
I received the delightful assurance that il was mol
frightened at night should achieve great triumph
Fl hall not he frichtrpedr Ianswered confidently
mot be frightened reiterated Mr. sfer5e' Is
AT that time the low comedian of the PARK iheatS
don't lay any such HaderiDg JUNCTION 10 your s9uI'
When night comes you viii be frightened nan ou Oh your
sensesyou don't know what %SgeJ,gfi r7o;s,
81 have a talisman TO keep on Stage Hls"' '''''
1--WE shall sec was his incrcdulous answer. IT,
The morning of my de6ut passed with my SISTERS
Scarcely an ausiOn made 20 the trying event whlcn
must take place that evening The rch apparel spreai
out upon the bed received tie hnsnng oacne' % ea7a
nv sisters onlyIuie the yOunges-had courage 10 Dc
present when that attire worn.
NV costume was chosen by Mrs Vernon almost the first
setress with whom became acqaaintad-a lady highly re-
scted and beloved in the profession Her name and taa
Of her relatives have dene honor to the stage Tor long
, series OF years.
As we drove to the theser at night the carriage passed
my fathers house There group at the window watch
ing for Handkerchefs waved as long rs we were IN
light
cannot help wondering what sort Of place the wori in
general imagine the star dressing room TO be- In the
boudor prettiy and comfortably furnished 70 wnich tne
prncessos of the stage retired to take tho e
But Oh the difference The star dressing room usually
small closet ike apartment, with few strips OF well
worn baze or carpet the floor. rude WOODEN sheh
runs along one side Of the wall and serves as dressing
table dngy looking class compile Of superannuatel
chairs rckety wa.hstand-these are generally speaking
the richest Injuries Of the locality Ssch was the star
dressing room to which Introduced at the Park
Theater Mr. MOwstts request obtained for me Lpuan
sofa particularly hard that il was at once recognizable
as theatrical properly "a thing of sham designed Tor
the deception of an audience. believe eventh deHahd
for this deusiye accessory to comfort was consdersdV
was inst dressed when there came slight tap upon
the door, accompanied by the words, Pauline You are
called"
opened the door The call boy stood whoOt-the in
separable long strip Of paper between his fingers. in
qUired who he wanted
"YOu, ma am you are called
What singular piece of familiarity! thought TO
myself at is / whom he is addressing Is Pauline.
did not suspect that customary to call the per
~ u
Called for what inquired. in a manner that'was in
tended to impress the daring offender with sense OF the
respect due 10 me-
dor wLafp" he reIorted, prolonging the rda with an
ndescrbably humorous emphasis and hrustng his tongue
against bis check why for the stage, to be sure That's
the eh0fl"
"Oi" was all l could say and the little urchin ran
down stairs smotLerng his laughter It's echo however
reached from the groenroom whore atter making ms
call" be had probably related my uns0phsucated III
quiry
Al tbet moment Mr. Mowat came to conduct me to the
stage Mrs. Vernon, who played my mother, was already
seated at small table in Madame Deschapeess drawing
room took my place sofa opposite TO her, holding
ia my hand magnificent bouquet Claude supposed oer
After few whispered words Of encouragement, Mr..
Mowatt left me, TO witness the performance from the
font of the house Somebody spread my Pauline scarf on
he chair beside nc Somebody else arranged the folds
my train symmericaly. Somebody fingers gathered into
their place few stray curls. The stage manager gave
the order Of Clear toe stage ladies and genemen and
heard sound the little be for the raising Of the curtain
Until that moment | do not think pulse in my frame
had auiekened its boating But then Twas seized with
sitting sensation, though were choking could only
gasp out, Not yeti cannot! -
OF course there was general confusion. Managers
actors prOmpter all rushed on the stage some offered
water some scent bottles, some famed me. Everybody
seemed prepared 10 witness faniing i or an attack OF
Mysteries something equally ridiculous. was arguing
with myself against the Gbsurdy OF this ungoYerna0le
emOtion-this humiliang exhibton-and maSing despe
rate endeayort regain my self possession when Mr. S&e
re thrust his comic face somebody shoulder He
looked at me with an expression OF ql]zch e1nl'aon
and exclaimed
The words recalled my boast Of the morning or rather
they recalled the recoecons upon which that boast was
founded My composue returned as rapidly as it had de
parted. laughed al my own weakness.
Are You getting better kindly inquired me staSe
manager
4" Let the curtain rise was the satisfactory answer
Mr. Barry clapped his hands signal for the stage 10
he vactted,-the crowd at once disappeared. Malams
Dcehspelles and Pauline sat alone before The tnEn5
bell of warning rang, and the curtain slowly ascended,
disclosing first the fooghs then the ocean OF heads
beyond them in the pit then the brilliant array OF ladies' IN
he boxes tier after tier and finally the thOngei galleries
found those footghts Invaluable aid to the necessary
Illusion. They formed dazzling barrier that separated
he vecator from the ideal world in whchthe actordwe
Their glare prevented the eye from being distracted by OBJ
without tho precincts Of that luminous semicrsie
They a friendly protection, warm comfort, an
lealZing auxiliary.
The d65rfanie was greeted warmly This was but q
matter Of course compmentpad by NewI or audience
10 the daughter OF a well known citizen.
"Bow bow " whispered a voice from behind the
scenes And obedeniy bent my head
Bow TO your right said the voice, between the I'll
ervsls of applause bowed TO the right
Bow 10 the left /" bowed to the LEFT.
"BOw again |" bowed again and again while the noisy
welcome lasted.
The play commenced and with the first words uttered
concentrated my thoughts and tried to forget that had
my existence that of the scOrnfA Lady ct Lyons
When from seats and approached the foot,
ights Mrs Vernon gave my hand roasSGgng pressure.
i was kindness scarcely needed Ihadost all sensation