New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-10
Clara Morris Mt Santa Barbara

This lady is rusticating for her heAlth'a
benefit. and enjoying the mud baths Of
Santa Barbara, from which point she writes
the following entertaining and character
istic letter to q 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 wearying plains, and then
climbed the long reaches Of desolate hills,
in the teeth of icy blasts, make remem-
brance nightmare. And how l have
worked here, stimulated to effort by the
warm, sympathizing hearts of this
wOndrous people. remember your
telling me once that crossing the Rocky
mountains seemed to enlarge human
man Us grizzly bear might be supposed to
be made from our little brown fellow.
They nearly killed me. kind hearts. 1 had
u physician four and five times q day, was
carried to and from the theatre, while be.
tween the acts we had procession with an
almost ifeless body carried to and from the
dresslngroom. But how their enthusiasm
stimulated me! When acting or called be-
fore the curtain 1 seemed full OF rare old
wine.
am better to day, and have been for q
long drive. l got out of the phaeton when
we gained the beach and sat myself down
under the hot sun, and basked like any
little animal. The weather is simply per-
feet; while yOu are shivering in ice noun
tains, l. in the open air. draw in great
mouthfuls of health giving, delicious air,
and giving In return mOuthful OF pain.
We have had two earthquakes and q fire.
The last did not mind to any disagreeable
extent. ] am used to that article, having
been burned out twice at midnight. But
must confess the earthquakes left me very
cold about the lips and sbaky in knees and
elbows. Much as fear lightning, prefer
heavens artillery, however lOud or crashing
it may be, to this ague in the earth. 1t 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 world of molten fire beneath.
On Saturday night, Or rather morning,
for it was half-past three, We we're awaken
ed by the cry Of fire. We are on the top
floor, with but one stairway, and the fire
was ut the head of the first tight-pleasant
that to one " no does not believe in crema.
ton. l was equal to the occasion. l told
H. to take the jewel case, and seized
my birds and dog. Couldn't help laughing
ut the absurd idea that seized me, that, if
We did cremate, we would appear be fore
st. Peter with all our household goods. But
assistance 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 performance.
/ have visited the Chinese quarters, been
in their eating houses and their opium dens.
l was received with high hOnors at their
theatre, and taken behind the scenes.
What sight! They had one small depart
ment 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. Stan
nd :HI.
permitted. A number of actors were |
their costumes, and the cool in
difference, not to say gravity, with which |
they stripped themselves to the bare |
brown skin in my presence was startling. / |
had some difficulty in finding nook l |
could fix my eyes on without being shocked. |
While l stood looking about me, so as to
avoid male chemise in the abstract, one
gentleman approached, and,
smiling, asked:
"YOu-ee t-eef"
l nodded in the affirmative; whereupon
he shook his brown little hand from out his |
long, flowing sleeve, and extended it to me
with q genuine American grasp. The man
Rger then remarked:
'Ell muchee big act-ee."
And every actor present, more or less
and smiled back again.
then visited the kitchen, for, mon ami
the Chinese actors live in the theatre, ard
their sleeping dens, pah, sicken a. think
Of them. The leading man receives 500
[gold) year and his rice. Happy thought!
Why not engage Mr. Hector Buskin for two
thousand q year and his liquor, or Helen
Lofty and her boquets!
And now, kind heart, adieu. Next week
do not act. Only think of it-nO dresses,
10 wigs. no rouge, no rehearsals, no fear of
,ritiCs %, no tear of failure through utter |
,rOstration. 60 to the mud baths of Santa
Barbara to see if, like Antwus-was that
lis name-I can gather strength from
Ouching mother earth. Would could send
n my letter some of this sunshine, some Of
his delicious air. But send kind remem-
Frances, with the prayer that they may be
he sams.-Chicago Tribune.