Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-05
CLARA MORRIS.
How the Dramatic Invalid Lives M
Santa barbara.

NOW the Dramatic Invalid Lives at
Santa Barbara.
From the Chicago Tribune. February 27th.l
This lady is rusticating for her health's
benefit and enjoying the mud baths of
Santa Barbara, from which point she
writes the following entertaining and
characteristic letter to friend.
The journey was little too much for
me. Oh, that dreary, dreary ride of
ennui and pain. How we ratified and
banged for days and days over weary
ing plains, and then climbed the long
reaches of desolate hills in the teeth of
icy blasts, make remembrance q night
mare. And how | have worked here,
stimulated to effort by the warm sympa.
thizing hearts of this wondrous people.
| remember your telling me once chat
crossing the Rocky mountains seemed
to enlarge human nature, making a Cal
ifornian out of man as a grizzly bear
might be supposed to be made from our
little brown fellow. They nearly killed
me, kind hearts | had physician four
and FIVE times day, was carried to and
from the theater, while between the acts
we had procession with an almost life
less body carried to and from the dress
ing room. But how their enthusiasm
stimulated me. When acting or called
before the curtain | seemed full of rare
old wine.
! am better to-day, and have been for
a long drive. got out of the phaton
when we gained the beach and sat myself
down under the hot sun, and basked
like any little animal. The weather is
simply perfect; while you are shivering
in ice mountains, |, in the open air
draw in great mouthfuls Of health giving,
delicious air, and giving in return
mouthlul Of pain.
We have had two earthquakes and
fire. The last did not mind to any dis.
agreeable extent. | am used TO that
article, having been burned out twice at
midnight But must confess the earth
quakes left me very cold about the lips
and shaky in knees and elbows. Much
as ! fear lightning, / prefer heaven
artillery, however loud or crashing it
may be, to this ague in the earth. It is
so horrible to feel the solid, everlasting
earth giving way under one. Think of
the thin crust, on which we hustle out
our little lives, with the werld of molten
FIRE beneath
On Saturday night, or rather morning,
for it was haltpast three, we were awak.
ened by the cry of fire. We are on the
top floor, with but one stairway, and the
fire was at the head of the first flight
pleasant that to one who does not be.
lieve in cremation. | was equal to the
occasion. told Fl. to take the jewel
case, and | seized my birds and dog.
Couldn't help laughing at the absurd
idea that seized me, that, if we did Gre
mate, we would appear before St. Peter
with all our household goods But as
sistance came, and the fire was extin-
guished, and, returning to bed, slept
that sleep of peace and innocence that
comes from a matinee and night per-
formance.
| have visited the Chinese quarters,
been in their eating-house, their Joss
houses and their opium-dens. was
received with high honors at their thea
ter, and taken behind the scenes. What
sight They had one small department
to serve as wardrobe.room, green-room
and general dressing-room. The place
was crowded with men; no females act,
you know the men taking female parts.
What are dear Mrs. Stanton, Susan and
Dickinson, that this is permitted? A
number of actors were changing their
costumes, and the cool indifference, not
to say gravity, with which they stripped
themselves to the bare brown skin in my
presence was startling l had some diff.
ficulty in finding a nook could fix my
eyes on without being shocked. While
| stood looking about me, so as to avoid
male chemise in the abstract, one al
mond-eyed gentleman approached and,
smiling, asked.
You ee act.eeP
nodded in the Affirmative whereupon
he shook his brown little hand from out
his long, flowing sleeve, and extended
it to me with genuine American grasp.
The manager then remarked.
Ell muchee big act-ee2"
And every actor present, more or less
dressed, nodded and smiled, and nod.
ded and smiled back again.
| then visited the kitchen, for, mon
ami, the Chinese actors live in the thea
ter and their sleeping dens, pah | |
sicken as think of them. The leading
man receives 800 (gold) a year aud his
rice. Happy thought Why not engage
Mr.. Hector Buskin for two thousand a
year and his liquor, or Helen Lofty aud
her bouquets2