National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-15
ANGELS OF THE STAGE.
APeep In tho Drossina Room.

glimpse, pcnned by a capable correspondent
Of life 'behind the scenes" Of q theatres but
here comes, and from an equally picturesque
quill, a temptingly piquant view OF the "stage
angels" Gas "outsidcrsn arc inclined TO call
the female members Of the ballet corps,) as
seou In their own exclusive domains, prepaf-
ing for conquest. IL u mooee,y W I,i
article, on subject OVERLOOKING with Black
Crooked morality, and is entitled, with
much propriety, IA Peep In the Dressing
room"
Miss Flora Fansee, as is usual with her,
arrives late; abe PUSHES In through the stage
door, bestows q passing nod on tho back door
keeper, and with all dispatch wends her way
to her dressing -room, where she fnds two or
three other beautiful blonde burlesqucrs" In
different stages uf transition from the grub
street clothes to the butterfly complete bur-
lcsquo costume. Flora, pushing aside with
no gentle touch the chrysalidos In her way,
finally reaches her drcssing-place and pro-
ceeds at once to dress or uudress.
After carefully removing her bonnet and
shawl, or sack, or whatever she wears, aud
placing them on the shelf, she proceeds 10 I'M
button her dress; this done she removes the
dress by taking 1t off over hey head and turn
ing IL inside out, aud either hangs 1t up, II a
rack Is handy, or she throws II over the back
Of q chair; then with a skill only acquired by
females she fuses q little while around the
waistband OF her skirts, and giving two or
three Jumps, rs though dancing mild sort
of "cure," the skirts all descend to the floor,
and lol Miss Flora stands arrayed In single
garment, which reaches almost TO her high
boot tops, and Is RULED at the bottom and
embroidered at the top.
Feeling easier she sits down, and while
taking off her shoes and stockings she de-
sires to know II the "half hour has been
| called. Being told that the "half hour" and
Fifteen minutes" have both been called, she
"a. Ia boa .alR AsNta
| know how she'll ever get through her songs.
Having given this much valuable informa-
| ton she desires some. return, and therefore
asks to be informed how long before th0Or-
| chcstra will be rung Ia. Being satisfied on
this point, she further enlightens her room
mates with tho intelligence that jim Little
brain, her last 'nash," Is In front with an
immense basket Of flowers, and adds TINT
jim Is the biggest fool she ever met, but no
has got lots OF money.
Her shoes aud stockings being OF by this
time, she reaches over to where her tights
have been hanging to dry since the night pre-
vious, and securing those necessary adIuncts
/ to the burlcsque wardrobe, sho proceeds to
don them. Tho tights, which are not, as
might be supposed, oil one piece, but merely
| long silk stockings sewed on to pair OF cot
ton trunks, such as men wear TO battle In,
having been pulled up and fastened loosely
for the noncc, Miss Flora sits down, and
lcisurely-for Its work OF some time and
great agony-puts on and laccs up (supPos-
/ Ing there Is no dresser In tho theatrc) her
satin stage shoes.
This done, she divests herself Of the long
white rufiied and embroidered garment be-
fore mentioned, snd putting on short mus.
lin sack, she stiids In front Of her glass and
commences the most Important part OF her
iabors, her make up. Taking her bloom Of
youth, or blsmuth and rose water, or drop
chalk, or whatever she may use Miss Flora
applies II literally to her face and neck, and
even Qhough not at this stage, but after be-
ing dressed) to her arms. Carefully brushing
off all superiuous bits Of the whiting she ap'
plies with much delicacy the rouge (Flora
uses Dauran's No. Is, and II necessary also
puts that preparation on her lips that gives
them the beautiful cherry color which so fas-
cinates Jim Littlebrain. After this Miss
Flora plentifuly emears her eyebrows with
black cosmetic, and heating hairpln In the
gas runs 1t into tho black compound, and
while the amount that adheres to the hairpir
Is soft with the heat she applies II to her eye
lashes both upper and lower. This, together
with little black line at the extreme outside
corner OF the eye, enables tho lovely Flora tC
assume that melting, voluptuous expression
which Is admired, and ut the same time give,
her eyes larger appearance than nature In
tended.
The makeup" being complete, then come,
what Paul calls glory to woman, her long
hair. This has been carefully combed ant
brushed by q halr-dresser, and Is now, witt
great cars, so as not to disarrange Its curls Of
crimps, placed by tho fair Flora on her loyel,
head. The wig adjusted tho great work Il
done.
Being made up Flora now dcvotcs oil he
attention to her tights. First removing the
little sack and tucking In the little-wha
shall we call lt-Hauberk that she wears, sh,
begins to pull up her tights so US not to lca,,
wrinkle In them; this she docs by means Of
strings securely sewcd at the joining Of tn,
silk stockings and cotton trunks, and hayin.
pulled them up to perfection she crosses tn,
strings at the back, and bringing them rount
her waist ties them In front. Some OF Flora
tights, however, have no strings on them
when she wears those she buckles stral
around her waist, pulls them up under 1t, ant
turning them over pins them with yerl
large I'M which she calls IA corker."
The tights being arranged to her satisfac
tlon, Flora then puts on her trunks, which
are little, tight, short brooches, with elasti
around the bottom, to make them set close Il
the leg and hold them In place, and either |
gathering-string or button at the top will
which to fasten them. After the trunks Mis-
she secures well, aud then puts on her bras
girdle or belt, II she Is not wearing kir
dress. II her part calls for skirt dress, sh,
puts the little skirt on before the waist, ant
when the bars or other kind of belt Is claspct
(Which requires deal Of strength to accom-
plish) 1t hides all deficiencies OF the joininl
Of trunks aud waist-and then Miss Flora
dress and makeup are finished.
Turning around and around to be vicwet
by the other girls, (who have been one In tn
first scene, and come of and back to tn
dressing room, and got their assurance tina
she is "all right" Miss Flora leaves tn
dressing-room, and, stopping for momen
In the green. room to see Low she looks Il
the mirror, goes on the stage, standing in tn
entrance and waiting with much equanimit.
for her cue. ..g 2
Suddenly she says to the prompter, will
little regard for syntax; whats that
| 'Cupids little bow i'--that's me, " and bounce
on where we leave her bowling her thank
70 the tumultuous reception she always re
| ceiyes