The Washington critic., 1885-10-29
CHILDREN ON THE STAGE.
Rose Etyngc's Experience with the In
fant phenoncnons.

Rose Etyngc's Experience with the In
fant Phenomcnons.
One morning, says Rose Etyngc in
the World, found myself advertised
to play the dual role in EAST Lynne"
that evening. The resources Of my
company did not provide me with
child to enact William, who is supposed
to be consumptive infant of some six
summers In this dilemma | consulted
the local stage manager He at once
set at rest all my anxietics by telling
me that there lived in the town "a fine
little boy" who always played the
children's parts, and who, having
played lIttltdm many times, would be
call right at night" and was withal
strong local favorite.
In the multifarious cares of trying
performance | failed to inspect my
WH'idm, and when the act introducing
him to the public and myself arrived
there strobe on the stage to represent
an invalid infant a fine, stalwart boy of
at least twelve winters and summers.
His presence was certainly, in the Ian
guage of the eloquent Dick Swivellcr,
somewhat of 'staggercr. But
the audience accepted him, and as he
appeared TO be indeed local fayoritc,
being invited by friend in the audi.
ence somewhat more enthusiastic than
judicious,to "go in and win, and as he
"spoke his lines with discretion de-
termined to accept him in good faith
and reconcile myself to his length and
breadth.
The next act came on in due course.
/ found my William laid in his death
bed, y his fine frame duly night -gowned,
and his face duly powdered, but his
| hands were somewhat crimson as to
color and black in the region of the
nails for dying infant. | covered one
hand with the bed-clothcs and made
prisoner of the other, and so determined
TO make the best of it.
The act went we'll
The curtain fell.
The dropping into poetry in the
above was unintcntional. Forgive 1t
|, lost in the realism of the scene and
exhausted by my efforts had fallen
half on the bed, half on the lloor--my
face and, naturally my eyes, covered.
In response to the applause the curtain
was raised. | was recalled to myself
by mingled cry of laughter and dis
may. | lifted my head to discover
my William" standing on the stage,
in trousers and boots, in the act of re-
moving, over his head, the night-gown
in which he had just died He was
indeed fine little boy
This painful incident reminds me OF
story Mr.. Wallack told me of an Incl
dent that occurred when he was play
ing the Stranger in Kotzebue's senti-
mental drama of that name.
Francis, the faithful servant of the
Stranger, is sent to bring the two chill
dren of the melancholy misanthrope tC
visit their parents They are supposed
to be lisping innocents of three and
four years old, respectively. The peo
pie attached to the theatre succeeded In
finding sweet little girl, but there wa,
n difficulty about the boy. In this di
lemma they bethought them of a dwarf
n resident of the town, then ut home
con sick leave" from the travelling
"show" to which he was regularly at
tached. He was secured, dressed il
the dainty shoes and socks and pretty
simple garments limited to his supposed
tender years, and, albeet his face wa
somewhat wien" and his breadth anC
sinews somewhat massive, he nigh
have passed.
Unfortunately Francis on introduc
ing the two children on the scene, pro
ceeded with the dialogue, which made
it incumbent on him to say to til,
(supposed) boy, And, my little man
how old are your" The dwarf, findin!
himself in his familiar place befor
the footlights, forgot his assumed
character and remembered only hi
regulation reply to that oft-repeateC
question and, in all the pride o
dwarfdom and in a deep, bass voice
replied, '1'm fortyfour"
The servant looked ruefully dow
on him and sadly said, "My boy, yor
look it,"
THE use of highly seasoned animal foo