St. Paul daily globe., 1885-05-31

Inc musical director was playing the piano
with one hand and waving his baton with
the other as quartet vainly endeavored to
master their new parts. Then the chorus
of maidens came on like flock OF sheep,
bllndly and without order. In an instant
the stage manager was among them, push
ing them here and there until he had them
arranged to suit his critical eye, and then
made them retire and come on again. -Four
times was this repeated, and even then he
was not satisfied and grOwled like the ira
ditional bear with the sore head Then
Dick Deadeye, whose very youthful ap-
very big voice, stepped to the front
and sang something about 'sthe
heavy dragons and was mercilessly
abused by both stage manager and director
There was no attempt to act, neither did
the maidens look languishingly at Bun
thorne, nor heaye deep sighs because of
his lack of appreciation Of their amorOus
feelings. 1t all looked strange and not at
all like play or opera. The dialogue was
carried Oh in m0nOtOnes without the least
attempt to put life or meaning into the
words. Once more were the difficult parts
gone over and then the director closed his
piano with bang, while the stage manager
said wearily, That's all; good night" 1t
was then after 2 o'clock, and some of the
performers had three miles to go before
they could retire to rest. The GLOBE man
climbed down off
HIS LOFTY PERCH
on the cabin, and approached the motherly-
looking damsel before referred to. ''Fve
been on the stage for ten years." she said,
''and can't say that dislike it. There is
something fascinating about the life, and
although the pay is not great, it's more
than could make in any other
business, and am satisfied
even if do have to work pretty
hard. Then there's no travelling around,
which makes this place desirable, and even
at a small salary it's better than being on
theroad and getting home only at the end
of the season. And then my husband-Oh,
yes, am married-doesn't want me in a
travelling company. Yes, he used to object
to seeing me in other mems arms On the
stage, and having other men make love to
me, and it took long time to convince
him that stage embraces and stage kisses
are only part of the business" and don't
count He gets real angry even now, when
some dude sends basket of flowers or
bouquet, but take the flowers and don't give
a second thought to the sender: Well,
must be going. Good night" and smiling
pleasantly she started off with group of
her companions.
''IT's HARD WORK."
said the stagemanager, ''much harder
to drill an opera company than dramatic
company. You see, the actor interprets
his part and the only trouble is to get the
situations. In opera the voices have to be
harmonized, and the situations have to be
produced the same as in drama. The first
thing the singers do is to learn the music,
then get their lines, cues and positions.
The business can easily be worked up
later. To train chorus is a task more
difficult than you imagine. If manager
is good natured, let him work with chorus
and he'll get as cross as two sticks; but if
he be of a nervous temperament he will go
crazy, sure. It's after o'clock, so let's
be going," and so saying, the solitary
gas jet was extinguished and manager and
newspaper man felt their way down the
narrow stairs to the street. CHENEY.