The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-14
BIJ0U.

the land, in metropolis and insignificant hamlet
this timehonored drama has held its perennial
sway for many years Who has not laughed at
the grotesuue comedy of Topsy and Marks, and
went at the pathos Of little Eva2 The juvenes-
cent god" aloft in airy gallery, with mouth
full of peanuts and eyes wide open, has vivid
memories of the grand tableau, Little Eva In
Heaven"
Astute managers, desiring to lead competitors,
have increased the realism of the bloodhound by
introducing scores of them, and now the show
:omes to town heraded by paper and poster as
Double Uncle Tom," ct cetera; Two Topsys
ct cetera. 1t has even passed into proverb
among actors that familiarity with the lines of
the play evidences successful apprenticeship.
But of my story, which tells of little child, an
almost baby, who played little Eva When l
first met little Biiou" as the play-bills named
her. it was at a rehearsal of this ancient drama
She and her mother had just joined the COM
pany, and rehearsal had been called for their
benefit The picture her spirituelle face and
fluffy masses of brown hair made l can never
forget The child interested me from the mo
mont saw her, and the scenes 1 had with
her-I being the Uncle Tom of the organization
Affected me more. How very young and
fragile she was, and yet so old! had even
some misgivings that she was too tender in
years to assume the character, but when
/ heard the sweet plaintive voice and
felt the glance of her eyes, knew that little
Bijou was genius, and that her baby intelli-
genee understood the requirements of the role.
Gan l ever forget her eyesl So large, so wstful,
SO full of visions, that she seemed not of this
world; the clear blue depths revealed spirit too
ethereal for this gross earth. l remember as if
ii we're yesterday, the effect of her acting,
seemed startled, and electri6ed-and l read my
lines as 1 never read them before Beside me
was no living automaton with childish treble to
fill the hiatus of dialogue, but unconscious
master of her art When we had finished and
had taken her by the hand and led her to the
wings, she looked up in my face and said with
yearning voice;
''You are Uncle Tom
The highest praise that mortal could receive!
/ whispered unconsoiously; You are little
Eva"
How true my words She was the perfect
conception of the author. AS we again took our
weary fight across the country, and I grew to
love and know her, haunting fancy would take
possession of me. Was she transplanted among
us but for a little whol Would she be trans
figured like her prototypea
The child, in her daily life the street. in
hotel, in conversation, was the same sweet, pa
thetic and hardly understood child whom all
loved and who had wound herself so around
my heart that did not realize, until Earnscliffe
joined us, how much loved her.
Earnscliffe was handsome manly fellow and
had been engaged to play the part of ''St Clair"
His personality was most winning, even to me,
cynic that was Yet 1 noticed with jealous
pang that he strangely influenced little Bijou,
as strangely as she influenced me. Earnseliffe
possessed a rich. sympathetic voice, and his
greatest pleasure was on the dreary Sundays at
the hotels to take the child in his arms and sing
to her from his extensive repertoire She would
lay her head upon his bosom, and, with closed
eyes and long drawn signs, be moved to dlmplng
Smiles or pensive tears by his mellow baritone
notes. Her sensitive organization was like the
swaying reeds, which music shook and caused to
tremor in reciprocal melody The childs capac-
ity to enjoy or suffer was SO great and her
imagination so wrapped in the glamour ofhis art
that | could not or dare not gainsay her l
would sit in the corner and sulk. She noted my
unoodiness, and her childish intuitions told her
the truth, for she dragged Earnscllfe to me-
pand. taking both our hands, said
You must be friends. Will you not, when
like you both so very muchW
Who could help smiling! And so Earnscliffe
and became fast friends AT last we were to
leave the miseres of the provinces, and week
in the city was before us-a week of comfort
Earnscliffe was in high spirits, for he had many
.Acquaintances in the city, and he had con6ded
ITO me secret, that q mauger had made pro-
posals to star him the coming season. He also
said of our protege:
Il intend to have the critics see our little
genius, my boy"
1t was awfuily good of him, 1 thought So we
commenced our engagement at popular prices, y
and as reward for managerial diplomacy had
packed houses What cared we for critcs Ali
! remembered little Bijou: perused the papers
early the next morning Yes sure enough, she
was praised as phenomenon
| came to the theater that night, intending to
read the notices to her, when, to my surprise,
found lutte group on the stage, the managers,
little Bjou, and her mother, and two other per
sonages, one of whom a constabulary
badge AT my entrance the child ran to Inc and
whispered: "They want to keep me from act
Eng"
turned and looked at the troubled face of the
mother. From the conversation / CLEANED that
the agency of The Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty was at work What could be done9 l
was ignorant of the statutes and the authority
of these individuals. Suddenly heard Earns
ciiffe's whistle like clear bell pulsing over
troubled waters. He had entered the theater
called to him. The managers had retired for
consultation. He glanced at the group, and
lifted the child in his arms.
What is the matterlo he said answered
him.
He turned upon the officers and exclaimed in
Bcornful tones $50 you would try to prevent
this child from acting9 Because she is too
youngl Because the influences are badl Bah!
The child's mother is here's her legal guardian,
and consents to her appearance. How about the
child2 She will even tell you that she loves to
act. Her efforts help fill the family purse and
her art sends home men and women
from this theater with better impulses and
more humanity in their hearts. Would you kill her
S.H,, hol,1 inv k,,Sr, a.
world. You would drive out the sunshine
Your ideas have been gathered from the pages of
highly-colored romancesl Brown" he turned to
the manager defend this suit and the fines
may come from ny salary. No injunction has
been prayed. and we will prevent duressH
The agent Of the society and the constable