Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-11-12

is on the board as usual, the commotion
is almost as great as that which prevail
ed when its impracticability was decid-
ed on, and Jenny is of course freely dis
cussed.
"Oh, the sweet angel p cries Miss
Somerville, the chambermaid with the
inhammatory part. "I'm quite certain
she'll be a success; and, oh, Simpkins"
with an ecstatic burst to the low CON-
edian-"we shall have our business with
the donkey and the stuffed stick, after
all"
81 never heard of such a thing p
quayers Mrs. Harman, the old woman,
in her squeaky treble. "The assurance
of young beginner attempting part
like that! When was a girl. managers
didn't encourage novices in making these
exhibitions of themselves"
"But that was long ago, granny p
sneers young Everard, the walking gen.
tleman, who have always fancied cher
ishes sneaking regard for Jenny, and
who knows Mrs. Harman's age is rather
sore point with her.
cat least walking gentlemen were not
walking sticks in those days" snaps the
old lady, viciously.
"Frank, my boy. you shouldn't let
your wife make such fool of herself"
growls Johnson, the "heavy' man.
But answered them all very briefly.
Truth to tell, my heart sinks within me
when l think of the magnitude of Jen-
ny's enterprise, and l walk home weary
and despairing.
l find my wife hard at work on my
return and hard at work she remains
during the tedious hours of the night,
long after have sunk into a feverish
and unrefreshing sleep.
In the morning we are punctual at re-
hearsal, and Jenny, by my advice, reads
her part, and, cutting out all the long
speeches, comes at once to ''cues." [
know by bitter experience how difficult
it is to SPEAK fresh part when you are
not acting it, and when you are inter-
rupted every second minute by the stage
managers directions. In case of quick
study. however perfect you may be, the
words seem to fly from you, and you be-
gin to think with absolute terror that
you know nothing of the part at all. l
feel that, if Jenny is to get through any
how at night, it will be better to spare
her so heavy trial /; and. though the
company shake their heads and look lu-
gubrious, mutely prophesying an entire
collapse, Jenny placidly reads on in a
voice scarcely raised above a whisper,
for have cautioned her against unnec-
essary exertion.
Everybody connected with theatre
knows what the rehearsal of new play
is on the day of its production. Car
penters are hammering away at new
scenic devices, the property-man rushes
frantically about in pitiful confusion,
painters are putting the finishing
touches to their work, the stage mana
ger is vituperative and denunciatory,
and everybody in general is thoroughly
disagreeable and uncomfortable. But
even last rehearsal must come to an
end at some time, and at six o'clock we
are at length dismissed to take what re-
freshment we please, and make such
preparations as are possible before the
performance at half-past seven.
Jenny refuses to leave the theatre, and
retires to the ladies' dressing-room
where the gorgeous apparel originally
designed for Miss Rawlings is laid ou
in readiness for her, and the wardrobe
mistress is engaged in stormy discus
sion with the dresser. This being spe
cial production, the ladies are not ex
pected to find their own attire-luckily
for Jenny, who of course is without the
atrical properties of any sort leav'
my wife half the contents of my purse
telling her to be sure and send out TO
some tea, or whatever else she may fan
cy in the form of restorative, and ad
journ myself to the nearest cofee-house
thoroughly tagged out.
When I return to the theatre, l fin
that the doors are open. and that tn
house is filing rapidly. At the stag
entrance l meet George, the gas man, a
, old retainer of Chumleign's, who is deep
ly attached to him.
; "You are looking dead beat. sir" h
remarks, compassionately.
81 am very tired indeed" l answer
s.I don't feel as if I could do auythin
at all tonight"
"Don't give in like that, sir, for pity
sake 70 the man exclaims, with an anz
, ious face. "For all our sakes you mus
do all you know in the new piece. The
do say, if it's frost, the poor old gu'
l nor'll have to bust up"
So even our workmen have got win
r of our managers insolvency
: "Don't be afraid, George; l sha
E manage to get through | reply. wit
r assumed cheerfulness.
&c xynv,, ho.r