The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-04-22
Stage Fright.
How Many Eminent Lecturers are
Affected by It

Affected by It.
l went the Other evening and caught
Robert J. Burdette, of the Burlington
ering Hall, just before going upon the
stage with his funny lecture. "A-hW
he exclaimed with a tremendous in
spiration. "Well, but I'm glad yoU
have come Now talk to me! talk to
mel" and he continued walking up
and down the floor after shaking
hands.
Whats the matter? What ais
you What do you mean? ?" [ said.
"Are you rehearsing? Have [ inter.
rupted you? Do you want to be left
alone?n
No! mop he exclaimed eagerly,
walking up to me; don't leave me.
DON'T go away
what on earth is the matter?' I
asked.
Scared Y he said, with querulous
laugh. Then 1 laughed. "You don't
believe ne. It's true though I'm
afraid to go on the stage"
"Pshaw man :" [ said. "Why you.
are joking. You have lectured for
years"
'Yes-seventy-five times this win
ter--but it don't make any difference.
| have to go through this absurd ex-
perience every time. There's no get
ting used to It,"
How does il make you feel ?"
Feel? Light as cork. If l were
outside l could fly right over this
building Honestly and seriously, if
knew 1 had to die to night ] should
pray that the Lord would take me
just before I went on the stage"
MANY have the. same experience.
That's some satisfaction" I suggested,
''if misery loves company"
Yes" he said, II told Beecher
about my troubles and he said, 4
can tell you one thing for your con-
ISOLATION you'll never get over it. /
suffer every time | go before an audi
ence, and I'm afraid of my own con-
gregation.' But his experience doesn't
give me much comfort"
"Does your fear vanish when you
get on the stage?''
INC; it lasts some time, usually. /
poke around among the audience for
a familiar face, and when / find a
friend lecture right at him, and don't
notice anybody else. Cough tells me
that he does the same thing. He says
he often finds himself talking TO some
sympathetic and responsive little
group in one corner, telling his stories
to thea alone, as if they were in a
little room together"
He looked at his watch. cts most
time to go on the stage If it was re-
spectacle I'd run away The notion
Of ieigning sickness often comes over
me, as it does over school boys who
want to play hockey. Are you my
jailor ?'' looking up at gentleman in
swallowtail who seemed waiting for
him.
Yes; you have four minutes YETI
Cant get reprieve ?" asked the
culprit, forcing grim smile.
Not this evening. Any other
evening. You remind nae of Theodore
Tilton. When he appeared here,
though he had lectured five hundred
times, he was so frightened that we
couldn't get him on the stage for
long while. The hall filed up, the
audience clamored, and he, hesitating
to face them, walked up and down
his room, deaf to our entreaties, wash.
ing his hands with invisible soap in
imperceptible water. Finally we got
him through the door at half past
eight"
| told Burdette that Wendell Phil
lips assured ne once that he had SINH
lar experience then slipped around
into the orchestra. The funny man
came on the stage began in a tremu.
lous voice, and his troubled eye wan
dered over the great audience till he
found friends, with whom he quietly
settled down and made himself at
home.