The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-10
MISS eRAcrEs EXPERIENCE.
How She Began Her Career - An Actress,
and What Came of n.

Fron u, SIa Ftuncvo GoLiaa Eru.
Miss Oracle came to me and said she
wanted to mako some money. She thought she
would like to do something whereby cash could
be accumulated Az she was handsome. dash
ing brunette advised her to go upon the stage.
She said sho liked admiration. and as actresses
have their full share OF that, she believed she
would try 1t. Armed with letter OF introduce
tion to the manager OF frst-class theatre, sho
made her application He told her that " after
six months study sho might venture on tho
mart Of n soubrette." When she learned that
this WAS a chambermad she was Infinitely dis
gustcd besides. she wanted to do something
right of. She tried another theatre where they
brought out show pieces" but here they
wanted her to stand on one leg over ioHn; "a
rather stout. and tumbled owe" whenever sho
made tho attempt; SO this. would not do.
Finally the manager, who was prepOssessed
i'm her favor told her that he was going to bring
on The Lost Child " tho Prairios. ana ne
would give her,a chance to personate me lost
child. She had not much to DO except To wan
der over the prairies with q buncn on grass IN
her hand, and listen to the Bold Buck OF tho
nct there wns cave scene whore n wicked In
dian tried to carry her OF TO hc his unwilling
bride and where she rose in the might 81 vir-
tuous Indignation. and completely cowed him
by moral force alone.
Owing TO the temporary sickness OF the actor
who was 10 personato the wild Indian, there
was no rehearsal Of the cave scene until tho
day before the play was to be presented TO the
public, and as Miss Oracle had got through all
the other acts first -rate. she invited me up to
witness the final rehearsal. | was quite de-
lighted at the manner in which she performed
the first two acts. walking about with her arms
full OF straw TO represent grass. and casting
love-sick glances at the Bold Buck Of the Black
llilis. | didn't think much OF him. He went
through his share Of tho loVc-makinG Just us
though he were in tho habit Of doing II every
day Of his life.
At last the curtain rose on the final act. There
"a n on NgHifI hHN -. frN
in. and n fro burning in one corner. Miss
Gracie, rs the Lost Child of the Prairies. sat in
front OF the stage on a stone, plating 4 wreath
morrow night | shall b., his wife. How sweet
that sounds Yes. will be marrid 70 Buck,
think see him now lie comes He is behind
me nowl feel his hand around my waist
turn-he kisses met All this time the wild
behind her. put his hand round her whist, and
when sho turned To kiss Bold Buck. Wild ln-
dian was 10 stand with tomahawk upliftcd 10
chop her head on. At this point & was Intended
by the author that the Lost Child Of the Prairies
should rise in all the majesty OF virtue and cry:
Down. miscreant down! lest | call on the
lightning OF heaven TO aycngc the innocent!
and. after an animated dialogue. n rock tumbles
on the wild Indian. and Bold Buck. springs
through tho opening and embraces his love;
But when Miss Oracle said. He kisses meV
and turned round aud saw the Ratchet, she was
So scared that she gave shrek and Jumped
The actor who personated tho villain sup,
posed that she did this to prolong the scene and
Increase the effect. and. in order to do his pnrt
properly gave vent to war whoop and fol-
lowed her, at the same time drawing out a huge
bowie knife. Miss Gractc. frightened almost
out OF her wits. rushed from one part Of the
stage TO another. displaying such real terror
that all the people about the theatre gathered
at the wings. ApplAuding veh, mently under
tho impression that she WAS developing his
trionic genius. Go away she screamed
Go away" All OF which seemed natural
enough for any sort OF a girl to say in such q
position: and, at last. Selling pitcher OF wa
ter. which had been left on the stage for the re-
frcshment OF the company. she Hung the whole
Of its contents over the astonished tragedian
and then jumped into the parqust. where she
began TO cry and sob violently
In vain the stage manager urged her 10 try
the scene over again. II was long time before
she would consent 10 do II once more. and wher
she finally acquirsced the pcrsonatOr OF thu
wild Indian declined 10 play with one who
would throw cold water over him. He said
" II WAS not for this that the tragic muse frs
trod the stage" His friends got around him
however. and nt length persuaded him. an,
then the manager said he wouldn't be bothered
with two such fools. and they might go 10 som'
other place TO act. rs IL was now his turn 10 re
fuse. This ended Miss Gracie's career rs M
actress. and She cast about for some other ave
nue. OF employment