The new North-west., 1888-03-30
Mime. Modie.ka's First Critics.

When the little company had been out for
year manager from one of tho larger
towns called upon Modjeska and offered to
engage her for his own theatre. The oppor-
tunity seemed a good one, and she accepted
it. She was put into operetta, played inge.
nue. parts, and she believes that she obtained
here some of the most valuable teaching she
ever received, although it happened in an
odd way. The gallery audience was COM
posed chiefly of university students. For
this place in the house large metal entrance
tickets were provided, on which q piece Of
paper was pasted. These tickets were re-
tained during the performance, and the
young fellows had habit of writing critical
remarks upon the paper. These were given
up when they went out, and in the morning
actors and actresses would 60 into the Office
to read the remarks made by their censora
After Modjeska's first appearance in oper-
eta she found written on one Of these tab.
let's: "Wil Mime. Modjeska please not to
sing, or, if she will sing, not to sing SO much
out of tune as she did tonight; because, if
she does, next time we shall hiss"
On another morning, after she had acted
in a drama, this was the polite request:
'Please, Mme Modjeska, will you kindly
take the trouble to pronounce well the ends OF
your sentences; as you speak them the effect
is as if we were deaf, and I am sure we are
not deaf" On another occasion they wrote:
"Why do you 60 in that corner of the stage
and remain there so long without moving? It
would be better if Nine. Modjeska would not
use her arms so much, for they are too thin,
and the effect is not pretty" All these sug-
gestions were taken in good part, and, many
Of the hints being useful, the result was
steady improvement. Modjeska at this time
was playing in boys parts almost entirely, at
salary Of less than $50 a month.-Dramatic
Times.
The Real Estate Agents Ways.
The real estate agent is generally young
man, more or less good looking and more or
less gentlemanly. He has glib tongue and
wears rose colored spectacles, which he wishes
to fit to the eyes of his customers. If you in
quire who owns the houses an inscrutable ex-
preston usually appears on the agents face.
He does not for palpable reasons wish to put
you in connection with your future landlord
until the bargain is made. If you 60 to see
q house that is new or not occupied he ac-
companies or sends clerk with you, and it's
q singular fact that out Of fifty-seven houses
seen under these circumstances not one hada
flaw.
Drainage, furnace, range are prophesied to
be perfect. II the opposite side Of the block
is built up, SO much the better; there will be
no blasting, no torn up road. If the oppo-
site side of the block is not built up, SO much
the better; YOU will have more light and air.
II there is no basement dining room, SO much
the better; there will be no going down Into
the cellar" for meals. If there is basement
dining room, how fortunate; the smell Of
cooking can be confined to the lower regions.
It is the same with stationary washstands.
Absent, they are pronounced dangerous,
poisonous; present, a delightful convenience,
saving Of expense. Always and all the
time you are admonished that dozens of peo-
pie are after that identical house. and ad-
jured to save yourself trouble, to snap at the
bargain there and then.-New York Press.