Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-24
LITTLE DOT, THE CHILD
VOCALIST

"He's a splendid card," ex
claimed the manager, enthusiastic
ally.
aIs he, indeed /? said Vance Ray
mond, rather abstractly, as he ga2
ed at the packed auditorium.
They were standing in the lobb,
of the Varieties. Raymond haC
dropped in for few minutes Will,
making his nightly rounds of tn,
theaters. The manager, eager of ,
good notice in the daily upor
which his companion served as {
dramatic critic, was making him
self almost Extensively agreeable.
"The hit of the showl' he EN-
phatically affirmed. "You will
wait for him, won't you ?'' He
comes on uext."
81 don't know whether I car
spare the time," said Raymond
smoothing out the piay-bill thai
had been crumpled up in his hand.
And, in type that stood out boldei
than the rest. he read: "Little
Dot! The Phenomenal Child Ar.
tlst, in his wonderful character
changes wed by more terms
of laudatory character, similarly
extravagant.
Raymond carelessly cast his pro-
gramme aside and watched the two
upon the stage. They were going
through what figured on the bills
as ''acrobatic song and dance"
Presently they executed a remark
able somersault that brought forth
a cloud of dust, and made their
exit, followed by the deafening
applause of the gallery. In res
ponse. they came out and bowed,
and the stamping of feet and clap
ping of hands gradually closed.
The quiet that fell upon the house
was broken by the tinkle of the
prompter's bell. The eyes of the
audience expectantiy sought the
wings. The musicians raised their
instruments and began to play one
one of the popular airs in vogue.
"Watch him." whispered the
manager. ga born actor, and no
mistake"
AS he spoke little figure, clad
in black velvet suit with delicate
ly striped pink stocking, appeared
on the stage. A crimson handker-
chief protruded slightly from his
pocket and an eyeglasS dangled at
his side. In his hand he held a
light cane which he twirled foppish-
ly at intervals.
Such pinched, wan face he
turned toward the audience, as he
began his song in the yellow glare
of the fOotlights! A feverish flush
was on his cheeks and his eyes
sparkled with unusual brilliancy.
Raymond felt his heart grow soft
with pity as he listened to the rare,
sweet voice that to his experienced
ear already showed signs of break
ing:
"Poor little chap" he murmured,
she's scarcely seven, l should
judge" And somehow a tender
thought OF his two little chicks,
dreaming perhaps of their childish
heroes at the time, came to him.
He watched little Dot through
the mist that had gathered in his
eyes.
The song soon came to an end
and the child soon disappeared,
followed by the enthusiastic appro-
val of the audience, The manager
Joined in the applause and turned
to Raymond, his face bealning with
pleasure.
"Eh? eh ?'' he said, delightedly.
doesn't he bring down the house?
An infant prodigy, and all that,
you know. 'POn my word, it's
worth the price of admission to see
him alone"
"Rather a fit subject for the So
ciety for the prevention of Cruelty
to Children, I should say" remarked
Raymond, dryly. "For my part /
hate your infant prodigies. They
ought all to be in their beds at this
hour enjoying the sleep of healthful
children" The manager eyed him
sharply.
"Stuff and nonsense !" he grun-
ted. Then, in a more cheerful
tone: "Just watch him this turn.
His drunken man is. something
wonderful. Pm capable of criti-
cising that, you know" And he
hushed the chuckle on his lips as
Little Dot-a complete metamOr-
phosist-staggered in with high
silk hat crushed over his eyes and
white handkerchief hanging from
his coat-tail pocket. !
The drunken hiccough and thick
utterance with which he rendered |
the song fairly conyulsed the audi
ence. When he was through, he
was greeted with a terrific storm OF |
applause. !
"True to life, wasn't it ?" laughed |
the manager. "Well, it ought to
be. He's had plenty of chance to |
get points, goodness knows. His
fathers Whitley OF the Stars who |
are playing at the Globe this week. |
Good actor, but boozes too much. |
That is why he and his wife separa-
ted. It's lucky she's got the boy.
He's worth a cool seventy-five dol
lars TO her every week."
Raymond listened with his eyes
intent upon the stage. Little Dot
was responding to his second encore.
When he finished he was vocifer
ously re-demanded. Again he
came out and delivered a pathetic |
little recitation that evoked fresh |
applause. Raymond grew indig-
nant.
"What shamer' he muttered,
angrily. "They'd keep the poor
little FELLOW before them the whole |
night if they could"
At that moment Little Dot APP
peared from the wings and raised
his hand to his lips. The pink
glow on his lips had died out and
in its place was look of utter
weariness. The audience must
have noticed it, for the house grew
still and the performance proceeded
with the next act.
Raymond buttoned his Overcoat
closely and left the theatre. 1t was
bitter night and the streets were
we'll nigh deserted. The snow lay
deep upon the ground, and a raw,
bleak wind blew the still falling
fakes remorselessly in his face. In
spite of all his efforts he couldn't /
dismiss the peaked. wan face from
his thoughts. A picture arose be-
fore him of Little Dot, trudging
his way back to the hotel in the
snow at an hour when other chill
dren were costly tucked in bed,
and his heart was filled with pity at
the contrast.
"Poor little chap!" he aga
said with a sigh, "I'll give hi