Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-08
4 Debutante's Story.

y DtDutdHIp StOft.
The one dream of my life was to be-
come an actress. believed was born
to electrify the world. In my very soul
/ felt that l possessed talent, and that
too, OF high order. For was not every
movement Of mine and every glance of
my eye suggestive of the highest TRACE
dy Did not initiate the stalk and
stride OF every leading lady that l had
seen, TO perfection? Why, of course
did And my halt was SO perfect that
my friends became alarmed and feared
that | was getting hip disease. Ny old
est sister suggested that had better sit
more, AMI not be forever busting and
arranging the little sitting-room.
Debar me from the sitting-room |,
Shut me out from the scene Of all my
flights of imagination the place where
I walked on air-sacred to my dream Of
future greatness-and where there was
mirror wherein l could see myself
from head to foot with no one to OBJ.
serve O, that would never do!
So | made up my mind to leave off
my halt in my walk till at least the sit
ting-roOm door was closed behind me.
Then l was in a world of my own. l
could stride up aud down as 1 wished,
make mouths at myself in the mirror,
andpractice falling backward on q little
bed that was in an adjoinging room.
practiced all these things daily with
the most gratifying result. One day
when l was doing the back fall with
more than the usual force, and crying,
I die; die !" the bed gave way, and
every Stat came down on the floor with
fearful racket. was pitched back
ward, head down and heels up, in which
position l lay, unable to extricate my
self, until the whole family was a. the
bedside in wild alarm.
knew it I knew it = exclaimed
mother. "She's killed at last; she's
killed at last knew no good would
come OF her talking to herself and mop
ing up here all alone -
No, she has only fainted," said my
sister, helping me to my feet. How
on earth did this happen 2" she asked,
looking from me to the bed, and from
the bed to the ceiling, from which, she
afterward told me, she half expected to
see broken rope dangling.
1t was no use asking me, would not
explain; SO my actions remained as
much mystery as ever. intended
that it should be 80. For, notwith-
standing my intense desire for public
life, l was of very retiring disposition.
extremely sensitive to ridicule, and very
nervous. l knew that to explain to
them would bring down on me the
wrath of the household as we'll as the
laughter and sneers of my friends. for
they possessed all the old-time preju-
dice against the theater. However, my
unwillingness to explain only excited
their suspicious; and found that no
matter where l went through the house
l was always sure to find some one
there, too; and whenever l CHANGED to
look up l always found somebody
Watching me. o, couldn't stand it!
so l resolved to allay their suspicious
by not seeming to avoid them.
offered to help mother with the
kitchen work, which pleased her very
much. But my soul was above such
employment. 1t was filed with dreams
OF the future-visions of glory 1t
scared beyond the dull confines of the
Kitchen, to the stars in the theatrical
armament. 1t could not be controlled
ny the common events of this life
neither could my arms; for when mother
told me to 60 to the pantry for some
thing she wanted, would find myself
striking an attitude, my arms extended
even with the shoulder, and the words.
Who dare command me r. springing
70 my lips. Then again, when l was
told to put coal on the fire, would
suddenly become conscious that had
the shovel appraised as if to strike an
imaginary foe, and then looked around
IN fright to see if anybody observed
me.
felt Il t tragedy was my forte; and
longed t, shed the light OF my genius
on the world.
Three days passed in the greatest
mental excitement; excitement that
was hey ord control. SO absorbed was
III my thoughts, that 1 would forget
everything around me.
One evening, after returning from
matinee, my mother set me to peel some
potatoes for supper. Imagine a TRACE
dlenne OF The future peeling potatoes
AS L Continued to peel. my mind be-
came so filled with the play that had
last seen. and with visions of fnture
triumpLs NJ successes, that it was
not until l had taken two or three
strides into the middle of the floor.
scattering the potatoes in every direc
tlon. furnishing the knife above NV
head, ala crying, William, do your
worst!' that became aware of the
situation. My fright was SO great that