The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-06
The Co2feSsioq Of a Rival.

| In the winter of lSj - was the rrinci-
pnl dancer at the Varieties Theatre in
B.. At that time was beautiful, l
wns kind hearted, was pleasant to all
about me, and above all WAS hnppy-up
to IL certain time. My life was regular, l
bad surfet of praise and glory, but de.
lighted only i'll the ease and comfort which
my employment enabled Inc to bestow
upon my aged father who lived with me in
neat apartments two or three blocks away
from the theatre.
We lived in each other until the end of
February. What pleased me pleased him;
whatever did met his approval; he
thought my dancing divine and was always
in raptures at my singing. He often came
| to the theatre and would never fail to
throw to me an immense bouquet, at which
acts all the young gentlemen would laugh
| until he told them he was my father,
whereupen they would beg an introduction
| TO me; but when this was liint,d at the
good old gentleman wonid scowl and
shake his head, and laugh with me when
we got home. learned new songs and
was constantly inventing new ideas and
souibs and catches, SO that became the
first theatrical attraction i'll the city. The
house was crowded nightly and the man
agement was in ecstaSies.
On the thirteenth of February I noticed
that the house WAS little thinner than L
had right to expect. l asked the manager
10 tell me the reason.
."Oh," he said, 'the people have gone
to the Gaty' Isuppose, to see the new
actress, Marie Chabot, the Frenchwo-
man. Everybody says she is very beau
tiful"
At the instant the words were pro
nounced the sharp sting of jealousy enter d
nv soul. I had often heard of the ele-
game and beauty of this woman, but had
! paid little attention to it, because l had
/, ! felt so secure in my own stronghold. But
now l listened with painful eagerness to
= everything that was said about her. /
Il was with bitter reflections that brhelt
. my audiences diminish night after night
Il and read in the papers the most glowing
: accounts of her performances and persona
q appearance.
Il Que day it suddenly appeared that ther
If was a contest between her and the MAN
s ayers of the theatre, and that she WA
ri about to hreak her engagement. I W"
oveljoyed at the trouble. I forsaw the IL
crease of my audiences again and the re
turn of my worshippers.
"a But What was my misery at discoverin
la that the managers Of my theatre had effec
u ed terms with Marie Chabot, and that
three days she was to come to our theatre
- I was furious, looked over the articles I
cr my agreement. There was nothing
OF prevent the act being completed
Il, thought of throwing up my position al
IL taking the risk of being obliged to pi
damages but unfortunately my poor faith
es fell sick Just at that moment, and his tro
+: bic promised to be of long duration. 1 W
IS, afraid to take the risk of lawsuit, ther
e' fore l was obliged to smother my rag
0' The new actress came. I was introduce
of to her at once. ...
10 Never in my life had beheld such loy
us lipess. She was dark, with brilliant eye
yo white teeth, and with clear olive col
IS; plexion. Her face was full of vivacity, a
H. her manner was lady-lke and quiet in t
extreme. l felt that she surpassed n
ITO that was oyershadowed by her. that L
'er power was gone from that instant.
,,U ,n was furious, though I smiled and fail
we kissed her.
W. 1t took only one evening to demonstra
, her superiority to me. Every person
i'll i'll the audience was ready to fall down befr
wv her and worship her. and was forgott'
IA; or, at best my appearance upon the Sta
en- en-, was signal for but a few faint claps
ove cries, which I felt to be mere inst
lne !i,i rather than applause.
a,, ,an On the third night of her advent "
rye sitting down beside my father, who
= still quite i'll. was in frightful state
ne me dependency at my subordinate position
drv second favorite. 1t was after the theat
rec and eleven o'clock. Still had visit
! ,ne He was young gentleman who had tt
'his to write for the stage, and who had OF
am consulted me in regard to affairs which
fals t'na knew little about. He now told me that
add had just returned from another city,
ing; had brought with him piece which
oo,' had written expressly for me. He k'
- lathirg Of my disposal and did not