, 1888-12-02
CASTING REFLECTIONS.

CASTING REFLECTIONS.
Yes, I'm as bright as ever, though
I've had some hard rubs in my day
particularly from the hands of do
mestics. No wonder | am called cold
and hard, but nevertheless l am the
ostsympethetic creature in the world.
lsmile with those that smile and weep
with those that weep. At times it is
difficult, for no matter how dull may
be feeling | am expected to reflect the
look of the most casual passerby how
eyer, . always manage to present a
smooth surface, and am acknowledged
by al to be highly polished. And
hough | have met reverses, | have
never yet had q fall. With ladies |
I'M, tand always have been, a great
favorite. They consult me on all oc-
casions-it seems as if they could
never tire of me-and | am not
sighted by the men either, but some
of them do dread To look at me in the
face in the morning after a late sup
per at the club.
An artist strolling through lie
Temple" in Paris threw "a glance
my way; | reflected his look of appre-
citation, and he at once purchased me-
| served him faithfully, but never fiat
tered, assisting him almost daily in
criticising his sketches; in fact, Icould
reverse anything for him, except his
luck. We had been together some
time, when one day she came into our
studio.
Now, I'm n keen observer when
people are in front of me, and am ac-
customed to study faces, but she rather
puzzled me. She impressed me as an
actress, but still her general appear
ance was almost too artistic for that.
She was accompanied by n literary
friend, who had persuaded her to pose
Is the heroine for Il novel which the
artist was to illustrate.
While all this was under discussion
her eye fell on me, and | realized Miss
Swansdown was what would be called
IN simple parlance "a society beauty"
And the effect she was producing ON
Brown Lake made my heart ache for
Lis peace of mind. Naturally, in look
ing around the studio she took me up,
and | will acknowledge it was a mu-
tual pleasure, and as she laid me down
with evident regret on leaving l felt
that l had been to her what she had
been to the ILLUSTRATOR bright spot
in that day.
Well, they came more or less
llrly to the studio, and the posing be-
gan. 1t was a long MS, and some of
the situations were rather pleasing.
vt times she had to stand as if in u
conservatory with the hero of the
novel whispering in her ear. Thea
she was placed at the piano as if he
was turning the music. Again he was
supposed TO be holding her hand as
she stood on tho stairs. All these po-
Eitions she took with grace aud ease.
It was then that l learned she was eel
cbr2ted as an amateur actress, which
explained the impression .she-at first
llade on me-.
Brown Lake often found it necessary
topose with her in order hat she might
get the right action; then he'd leave
her and rush at his pencil to make the
sketch, but in some of the scenes he
took much more time, it seemed to me,
thai wa really required in posing her,
particularly when the situation allowed
him TO assume a tender attitude. On
some occasions he used his friend
Roberts, who was a regular visitor, to
assist IN the grouping. During the
rest, y she devoted herself with COM
mendable zeal to playing the banjo and
depicting the bonbon box. l learned
cne was deep in rehearsing one of Gill
hert's comedies, 'TheWeddin March,"
in which Lake was persuaded to take
L minor part; so besides the meeting
1t the studio they saw each other at
the rchearsals.
Now, though l have seen a great
Ge2l of life, and consequently a great
deal of acting, / had never been pres
ent 1t q play-and so was delighted
when taken the first night to the -
Club theatre.
IL was entirely o new world to me.
There was only one small looking
glass IN u dressing room, and it was
fiatter1ng to me to be so much in de-
maEd; 1t was also a revelation to sec
with how much eagerness the ambi-
tious amateur looked into my tell tale
face. / had always been accustomed
to this from the "gentler sex, but TO
be SO sought after and consulted by the
men vcS q new and amusing expert
ence.
Afterward I was taken into tho
make up room, where two busy deco
rators were making the peachy checks.
the jetty eyebrows, the cherry lips and
the alabaster arms for the stage; and
though there were two large mirrors
IN the room, they were SO crowded
about, thct, when my presence became
known, L Yves nearly crushed by the
general cagerness to get ono look into
my clear face.
The room was IS bright and pretty
c3 C bed of flowers in full bloom. The
costumes wero picturesque and becom-
ing to the young ladies', who wore any
dscss that suited their particular style,
While ,ho men, according to the play,