The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-22
AUTOBIOGRAPHY of an ACTRESS

"ii hctrcs>, gives llvely account OF her
debut:
The day of my debut was fixed. 1t
was in the month Of June, lS4!. | had
three weeks on y for preparation. Inces-
SAINT study, traning-discipline Of kind
with which the actor alone can appreciates;
wore indispensable to perfect success.
took fencing lessons, to gain firmness of
position and freedom Of limb. | used
dumb bells, to overcome the constitutions
al weakness of my arms nnd chest. ex-
erclscd my voice during four hours every
day, to increase its power. | wore avol-
luminous train for as many hours daily,
to learn the graceful management of
queenly or Classic robes. The day before
my debut it was necessary that should
rehearse with the company. found this
severcr ordeal than performing before
the public. There is always half mali
clous curiosity amongst actors to witness
the short comings of a novice They in
variably experience strc NC incinations to
prophecy failure. No wonder; for they
know best the nice subtleties of their own
art-thc unexpected barriers that start up
between the neophyte and his goal.
Only those actors who are engaged in
the scene rehcarscd are permitted to occu-
py the stage. The play was the Lady of
Lyons. Mrs. Vernon, rs Madame Des-
chappellcs and I, as Pauline, took our
seats to open the first scene. The actors
crowded around the wings, eager to pass
judgement on the trembling deJutante-
The stage manager, seated at his table,
scanned her with cold and scrutinzinp
eyes. The pale prompter laid his book
upon his knee, that he might stare Mt her
more deliberately. Even the sleepy lit
tie call boy, regardless of the summons in
his hand, put on the sapient look and at
titude of Of critic.
"lf | could but shut out all these eyes"
said TO myself. But, turn whatever
way would, they met; hemmed me in
on all sides-girdIcd me with freezing in.
| fluenccs.
After we had taken our seats, there
was moment Of awful silence. 1t WAS
broken by Mr.. Barry's digniti d, (Ie was
alarmingly digniieG, "commence if you
please" Mrs. Vernon spoke the first
lines Of the play, | replied. cannot tell
why, but the sound of my own voice, dis
tinct and untrcmu!ous, re assured me-
The Rubieon was passed. l thought no
more of the surrounding eyes, so full of
"speculation'-of the covert wishes
of the secret condennations. gave my
self up to the part, and acted with all the
abandon and intensity of which [ was ca
pable.
During the rehearsal of the third act.
was startled by sudden burst of APP
plause. 1t came from crowd of actors
at the side scenes-an involuntary and
most unusual tribute. To say that it pro.
duced no effect upon me would be atfecta-
ton. For moment my equanimity was
pletsurably destroyed. | had tasted
the first dlop in the honeyed cup of sue
cess.
"Go on, il you please-go on" said
Mrs. Barry, noticing the pausc-and l
went on.
The play continued and ended without
further interruption. When it was over,
the company gathered around me with
tokens Of undisguised interest. From
many lips received the delightful assn
surance that, if was not frightened at
night, should achieve great triumph.
Il shall not be frightened" answered
confidently.
Not be frightened" reiterated Mr..
Skerret, (at that time tho low comedian
Of the Park Thealre,) don't lay any such
tiattering JUNCTION to your soul. When
night comes you will be frightened half
out Of your senscs-you don't know what
stage fright is"
81 have talisman to keep of stage
fright-thc motive that brings me on the
stage"
I'VE shall see" was his increduous
/ answer.
None but actors can thoroughly com
prehend the meaning of the APPALLING
words, stage fright, tho nightmare Of
the professIon-a sensation of icy terror
to which no language can give adequate
utterance. have seen veteran actors
who had studied some new character un.
I'll every syllable Of the author seemed in.
delibly written on their braius-who had
rehcarsed their parts with the most telling
enthusiasm-who glo,ird in the prospect
of making "hit"-st last, when night
came, and they stood before the foot.
lights to embody the ideal creation for
the first time. have seen them seized
with sudden tremor--ther utt.rance
choked-their eyes rolling about, or fixed
on yacancy-their limbs shaking and eve.
~ faculty paralyzed.
| i was not initiated into the horrors o.
"stage fright" on the first night Of my
performance. But the dramatic incubu.
visited me in its worst form on an equally
important occasion. Nor was the attack
the sole one in my professional life. BJ
what magic the demon can be exercised
remains an undiscovered mystery.
The morning OF my debut was passe,
with my sisters. Scarcely an allusiol
was made TO the trying events whicl
must take place that evening. The ricl
apparel spread out upon The bed, reeciy