The Dickinson press., 1888-05-19

Little Actrcss-Cosmetic Color and Odor
"Property M~ustaches."
"Such kisses" said the little actress scorn-
fully. shaking her golden curls and arrang-
ing her rosy lips into n delightful pout, ARE
not worth having. In fact they are nothing
more nor less than a hideous parody on tho
genuine ~article.'
Now, to anybody who did not know tho
subject of our conversation, such n remark
as that just made would have been startling.
l should really be seriously embarrassed if l
were not permitted to explain matters. be-
cause, as ] was the only person present at
the time my little sunny haired friend gave
vent to this sentiment, you will readily SEE
that | might subject myself to unworthy
suspicious.
The fact is that we were merely discussing
the stage kiss, i'll which susceptible theatre
goers are deeply Interested, and I was ell
deavoring to extract a little information
about it from the dainty little lady who was
only tco willing to give it.
1.-The audience imagines, - she said, when
they SEQ q handsomely dressed young man,
good looking, well nustached and altogether
stylish hate that word, don't you.--fer-
vently embrace the leading lady Of the COM
pany that the kiss, even though it may not
be- given with genuine feeling, must, never
theless, he agreeable. Oh, my dear boy, do,
if you can, contradict this for my sake.
Never was there so fatal an error or a suppo-
sition SO stupidity warranted by the real facts
of the case"
MAKING A CONFESSION.
She was evidently deeply in earnest, and
cNrNpgf nann1a ara a1u.ovo ENTITLED 20
found attention, so I became profoundly at
tentive.
~ must make a confession" she said, in
more subdued tones, ''and tell you every
thing. The first time l knew l had to be
kissed on the stage by the good looking lead
ing man-ah! you would lie surprised if I
told you his name-I admit that l was de-
lighted. Yes, l was by no means averse to
it. knew that the role called for the kiss
md l was satisfied. Shall l ever forget that
kiss! l think not. [ found a face beside
my own, i" hesmeared with rouge, so in
cruStcd with powder, so moist with cosmetic,
that l assure you it didn't look like q face.
AS l said, this was my first stage kiss. I
don't say it was my first kiss, mark you we'll,
~because-well. l have three brothers. Ha!
ha!'
She laughed provokingly, and l felt vexed
without knowing why.
"His awful face" she went ON, WAS
pressed close to mine, and it positively sick
cncd me. The leading man was French, and
lie had dined deliberately Oh food exceedingly
Favored with garlic. l remember l had to
spring back after the embrace and exclaim:
How dare You insult mo with your kisses.
Give them to her who will appreciate them.
FEC On THE
II made that speech from my heart.
thoroughly meant what I said, and the effect
upon the audience was excellent. Only, for
the life of Inc, l couldn't think of any one
who would appreciate such kisses. wouldn't
haze offered them to my bittercst foe.n
She laughed at the recollection and then
went on: Stage kisses are generally disgust
ing. or course, sometimes they arr merely
make believe kisses, but when you are right
in front of the audience that is impossible.
The audience may sometimes be shocked al
the apparent warmth of a stage kiss, but they
would he more shocked if it were not given.
y man who is SO enveloped in paint isn't 8
man. You are merely kissing a painted doll
with a mustache so colored by cosmetics that
you are in mortal agony lest it leave soms
trace OH your lily white skin. Oh, yes!' she
Qilled, smiling, ''many are the property
Mlstaches l have loathed for TINT reason"
Then she uttered the remark which EN-
harrassed ME at the beginning.
"Do you know" she said, beaIning seraph
ically, "that at one time l was so utterly sicl
Of stage kissing, and it became so revolving
to me, that I really thought-yes. l did
honor bright!-that l should never again b
able to tolerate kissing off the stage."-Ala,
/ Dale i'll New York Evening World.