Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-23
A Light aing Change of Costume

QulIer
Calling on an actress friend al the
Madison square theater the other day
was enabled to solve problem
which had long puzzled me. TIE
double stage in use at this house does
away the long recesses between the
acts. The curtain can be dropped on
scene and raised on totally diff
erent one within single minute. In
practice, however, the interval is from
| two to five minutes, the latter time
covering an entire change of costume
by the lady whom I visited in the
green-room. How this could be &C
complished was the enigma / saw her
just long enough to exchange greet.
ings, and for her to say:
$50 into my dressing room, and
Ill meet you there at the end of the
act"
Her maid led me into the small
but coy apartment, situated in an
adjoining building, for the sliding up
and down of the elevator stage pre-
vents the usual utilization of space
above and beneath for dressing
rooms. There I saw handsome
evening dress spread out on chair
with orderly precision. 1t was an
elaborate combination of satin and
embossed velvet and lace, made up In
one of the newest styles; but it had
a popularity of being open in front
from neck to hem; like a wrapper,
but it was 80 contrived that the open
ing would not be discernible when the
garment was worn. Another odd
feature was that all the bows, jewels,
and other ornaments, such as women,
ordinarily spend an hour or so in ad-
: iustipg, were already fastened on in
! the proper places. By the chair
!, was pair of satin slippers, and or
E a stand was pair of kid gloves and
! a fan. On block was a blonde wig
dressed in the latest fashion, with 6
ribbon and gilt ornament all in place
The maid glanced with anxious eyes
; at all these arrangements, and seem
ed afraid that [ would disturb them
J, I was just realizing that they were
planned to effect lightning change
. Of costume when the actress hersel
4 bounced in. She was warm from be-
exertion on the stage, but not bi
: Hurried. She did not lose a single
: moment, though she chatted glib,
. with me all the while.
First, she picked up the gloves ant
: began to put them on. At the SAM
time the maid unlocked her dres
from TO bottom with quick, def
: fingers, and stripped off the Who'll
garment in fwinkling. The prett,
creature stood before me in her whit
. clothes laughing at my expression O
. surprise and rapid disrobement. Sh
: seated herself and extended her fee
d for the maid to take off the shoes an
/ stockings. The latter, being strip
ped down over the feet in jiffy, di
q not disclose the naked flesh, bu
o deliberately clicked silk hose, so tina
4 the fresh pair were already on. B
L the time the slippers were on tn
0 actress had got the last button of he
gloves into it's button-hole. A mir
o ute and a haff had elapsed. Bot
Il had not only worked with great rap
q idity, but without any false motion
e or vexations of any sort. Then th
e maid took off several puffs and boz
{ from her mistress head-her hair j
+ the last act having been simpl
IS dressed-and put on the more elabe
D rate blonde wig, fastening it in plac
;, with hairpins, and, setting loo
K here and there into place. Next til
g actress stood up, and the maid swift
; ly put her into the dress that had lai
/ on the chair. Every part of it feI
n admirably into place, the draper
across the front hiding the junction
and plentiful hooks and eyes holdin
e all together. Standing before flu
It length mirror, she finally surveye
is herself critically, at just three min
n ules and half from the start. Hal
6 minute more was employed in put
e ting some additional rouge and pow
r, der on the face, and then she wa
|. ready to go on the stage. There is
l. hint in this for women who are NO
d actresses. We spend vast amour
|. of time in adjusting the accessorie
: of q toilet. only to take them apar
d when we doff the dress. Most G
e them might as well be fastened pei
. manently where they belong.
f