Butte record., 1854-08-12
Georgiana, the Actress.

from infancy. She had been on the
stage all her life /; had literally grown
up behind the scenes of a theatre. Her
parents were respectable, though it is
difficult to define their position in the
social scale. At the time | knew her,
her mother was paralytic and bed-rid-
den. The father was enfeebled by age,
and could only earn pittance by copy
ing law papers. Georgiana, the ballet
girl, their only child, by her energetic
exertions, supplied the whole wants of
the family. And what were those ex-
ertions The mind of the most imagin.
ative reader could hardly picture what |
know 10 be reality
Georgiana's parents kept no servants;
she discharged all the duties of the
honsehold-co king, washing, sewing,
everything. From daylight till mid
night not a moment of her time was
unemployed She must be at rehearsal
every morning at ten o'clock, and she
had two miles and half to walk to the
theatre. Bef,re that hour she had the
morning meal for her parents to prepare,
her marketing to accomplish, her house
hold arrangements for the day to make;
if early in the week, her ironing if at
the close, her sewing, for she made al
her own and her mothers dresses. At
what hour in the morning must she have
risen
Her ten O'Clock rehearsal lasted fom
two to four hours-inore frequently the
latter But watch her at the theatre.
and you never found her hands idle
When she was not on the stage, you
were sure Of discovering her in some
quiet corner, knitting lace, cutting CRATE
aprons out of tissue paper, making arti
fetal flowers, or embroidering articles
Of fancy work, by the sale of which
she added to her narrow means. From
rehearsal she hurried home to prepare
the midday meal of her parents and to
attend her mothers wants.
After dinner she received a class of
children, to whom she taught dane NJ
for trifing sum. IF she had half an
hour to spare. she assisted her father in
copying law papers. Then she must be
prepared, and her mother arranged for
the night. Her long walk to the thea
tre must be accomplished at least half
an hour before the curtain rose-barely
time to make her toilet. IF she was be-
lated by her home ocations, she was
compelled to run the whole distance. |
have known this to occur. Not to be
ready for the stage would have subject
ed her to forfeit Between the acts,
or when she was not on the stage, there
she sat again, in the snug corner of the
green room, dressed as fairy, or a maid
OF honor, or peasant or page, with
bit of work in her hards, only laying
down the needle, which her fingers ac-
tually made fly, when she was summon
ed by the call boy, or required to
change her costume by the necessities
OF the play. Sometimes she was at lib
erty at ten O'Clock, but oltener not TIL
half past eleven, and then there was
the long walk home before her.
Her mother generally awoke at the
hour when Georgiana was expected, and
fresh round Of filiaI duties were to be
performed. Had not the wearied limbs
which that poor ballet girl had laid UP.
on her couch earned their repose Are
there many whose refreshment is so de-.
served--whose rising up and laying
down, are surrounded by circle SO
holy No one ever heard her murmur.
Her fragile form spoke of strength over
tasked; 1t was more careworn than her
face That had always look of busy
serenity off the stage, softly animated
expression when occupied before an au-
dience in the duties of her profession.
She had ready smile when addressed,
meek reply when rudy chided by the
ehurlish ballet master, or despotc stage
manager. Many time I have seen the
tears dropping upon her work, but if
they were noticed she would brush
them away, and say she was fool and
cried for nothing.
Her devotion to her parents was the
strongest Impulse of her nature. In
her early youth she had been engaged
to young man, musician in the or
chestra. They had been betrothed for
several years. Some fairer face, though
he could scarcely have found sweeter
had rendered him faithless. She bore
hor daar corrou, ,r;+b ia