The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-04-10
LITTLE DOT, THE CHILD VOCALIST.

leave, you n have no Spring again
=. J. Wheeler, in 81. Nicholas.
LITTLE DOT, THE CHILD VOCALIST.
He's a splendid card, exclaimed
the manager, enthusiastically.
lis he, iudced2' said Vance Ray
mond, rather abstractedly, rs he gazed
at the packed auditorium.
They were standing i'm the lobby of
the Varieties. Raymond had dropped
in for a few minutes while making his
nightly round of the theaterS. The man
ager, eager for good notice in the
daily uTon which his companion served
rs n dramatic critic, was making him
self almost extensively agreeable.
The hit of the shown he emphatic
ally affirmed. "Youl wait for him,
won you? He comes on next.
II don't know whether / can spare
the time, said Raymond, suA thing
out the play-bill that had been crumbled
mp in his hand. And, in type which
stood out bolder than the rest, he read:
"LTTTLE DOT!
Tho PhenOm nal Child Artist in his
wonderful character changes follow
ell by more terms of a laudatOry char
.actpr, similarly cXtravagant.
Raymond CarclesSly cast his pro-
Erammc aside and watched the two
upon the stage. They were going
through what figured on the bills as an
''acrobatic song and dance Presently
they executed a remarkable somersault
that brought forth a cloud of dust, and
made their exit, followed by the deaf
ening applause of the gallery. In re-
Spouse. they came out and bowed, and
the stamping of feet and clapping OF
hands gradually clos ii.
The quiet that Tell upon the house
was broken by the tinkle Of the prompt
cr's bell. The eyes of the audience cN-
pectantly sought the wings. The mu-
sicians raised their Instruments and be
gan to play one of the popular airs in
vogue.
''Watch him., whispered the man.
agcr. "A born actor, and no mistake. "
As he spoke, little figure, clad in 9
black velvet suit with delicatclv striped
pink stockings, appeared on the stage
a crimson handkerchief prOtrudCC
slightly from his pocket and an eve
glass tangled at his side I'm his hant
ne held a light cane, which lie twirieJ
toppishly at intervals.
Such pinched, wan face he turned
toward the audience, as he's began hi,
song i'm the yellow glare of the foot
lights, 4 fcverish flush was ON his check.
and his eyes sparkled with Immature
brillianCV Raymond felt his hear
grow soft with pity rs he listened to IN,
rare, sweet voice that To his expert
enccd ear already showed signs o
breaking.
Poor little chap ne murmurcd
hes scarcely seven, should Judge
And somehow a tender thought of hi
two little chicks, dreaming perhaps o
their childish heroes ut the time, cam,
to him. He watched little Dot through
tho mist that had gathered i'm his eyes
The song soon came to an end an,
the child soon disappeared. followed
by the enthusiastic approval of the au
dlcncc. The manager Joined in the APP
plausc ami turned to Raymond, his fac,
beamiug with pleasure.
"Eh? eh?' he said. dclirhtedIv
Doesn't he bring down the house? Al
infant prodigy, and all that. YOU know
Pom my word, its worth the price O
admission ID see him alone
Rather fit subject for the Societ
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chill
dreu, | should saw remarked Ray
mOnd, dryly. For my part | hat
your infant prodigies They all ough
TO be I'm their bCls at this hour enjoy
ing the sleep of hoalthul children.
The manager eyed him sharply.
"Stuh and nonsense ne rruuted
Then, i'm a more cheerful tone: Jus
watch him this next turn His drunkc,
man is something wonderful In
capable of criticizing That. YOU know.
And he hushcd the chucklc on his lip
rs Little Dot-a complete mctamOr
phosis i'm with n high sill
hat crushed over his eyes aud "a whit
handkerchief hanging from his coat-tai
pocket
The drunken hiccough and thick ut
tcrance with which he rendered tn
song fairy COnvulscd the audience
When he was through, he was grectc
with terrific storm Of applause.
True TO l. e, waSntit?H laughed tn
manager. 'Ncll, it ought to be He
had plenty of chance to get points
goodness knows. His fathers Whitcl
of the Stars, who are playing at tn
Globe this week. Good actor. hu
boozcs too much. That is why he an
his wife separated. It's lucky she
got the boy. He's worth coo
seventy-hve dollars to her every week.
Raymond listened with his eyes il
tent upon the stage. Little Dot was T,
spending to his second encore. Whc
he finished he was vociferously red,
mandcd. Again he came out and Il,
Iivcrcd a pathetic little recitation this
evoked fresh applause Raymond gre
indignant.
What a shamc,' he muttereC
Rngrily. They'd keep the poor littl
fellow before them the whole night
they could
At that moment Little Dot appcare
from the wings AMI raised his hand I
his lips. The pink glow on his lips ha
died out, and in its place was n look {
utter WEAKNESS. The audience mu.
have noticed il, for the house grew sti
and the performance proceeded wit
the next act
Raymond buttoned up his Overco;
closely and left the thcater. It was
bitter night and the streets were wei
nigh deserted. The snow Law deep upo
the ground, and a raw, bleak wind bic
the still-talling flakes remorselessly
his face. In spite of all his efforts
could not dismiss the peaked, wan fac,
from his thoughts. 4 picture rose b.
fore him of Little Dot. trudginr his wa
back to the hotel in al the snow at 2
hour when other children were cosi
tucked away in bed, and his heart W;
filled with pity at the contrast.
Poor little chap he said agai
with a sigh III give him good n
Gce. "