The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-02-02
About stage Kisses.

ABOUT stage Kisses.
.'such kisses, = said the little act
ress scorafully, shaking her golden
curls and arranging her rosy lips in q
delightful pout, "are not worth hav-
ing. In fact they are nothing more
nor less than q hideous parody on
the genuine article
Now, to anybody who did not know
the subject Of our conversation, such
q remark as that just made would
have been startling. I should really
be seriously embarrassed if were not
permitted to explain matters, be-
cause. as Twas the only person pres
ent at the time my little sunny haired
friend gave vent to this sentiment,
you will readily see that I might sub.
ject myself to unworthy suspicious.
The fact is that We were merely dis.
cussing the stage kiss, in which sus-
ceptible theatre goers are deeply inter-
ested, and l was endeavoring to ex-
tract 9 little information about it
from the dainty little lady who was
only too willing to give it.
"Ihe audience imagines," she said,
"when they see a handsomely dressed
young man, good looking, and alto.
gether stylish-I hate that word,
don't you?-fervently embrace the
leading lady of the company that the
kiss, even though it may not be given
Nth oon,,ino fool;ro ,,,,,ce ,.>1,c,4l,o
less, be agreeable. Oh, my dear boy,
do, If you can, contradict this for my
sake. Never was there so fatal an err
ror or q scpposition so stupidity war;
ranted by the real facts of the CASE"
She was evidently deeply in earn
est, and earnest people are always
entitled to profound attention, so I
became profoundly attentive.
II must make a confession" che
said, in more subdued tones, 'and
tell you everything. The first time
knew / had to be kissed on the stage
by the goodlooking leading man-ah!
you would be surprised if told you
his name-1 admit that l was de-
lighted. Yes, I was by no means
averse to it. l knew that tho role
called for the kiss and ! was salts
fed: Shall l ever forget that kiss!
l think not. Hound face beside my
own, so besmeared with rouge, so ill.,
crusted with powder, so moist with
cosmetic, that I assure you it didn't
look like a face. AS l said, this was
my first stage kiss. I don't say it
was my first kiss, mark you we'll, be.
cause-well, l have three brothers.
Ha! hal"
She laughed provokingly, and felt
vexed without knowing why.
Ellis awful face" she went on, twas
pressed close to mine, and it positive.
ly sickened me. The leading man W as
French, and he had dined deliberately
on food exceedingly favored with gar
lie. remember l had to spring back
after the embrace and exclaim: How
dare you insult me with your kisses.
Give them to her who will appreciate
Them
II made that speech from my heart.
thor oughly meant what 1 said, and
the effect upon the audience was ex.
cellent. Only, for the life OF me, l
couldn't think of any one who would
appreciate such kisses. l wouldn't
have offered them to my bitterest
foe."
She laughed at the recollection and
then went on: "Staee kisses are gen.
orally disgusting. OF course, some
times they are merely make be-
leive kisses, but when you are right
in front of the audience that is I'M
possible. The audience may some
times be shocked at the apparent
warmth OF stage kiss, but they
would be shocked if it were not given.
A man who is so enveloped in paint
isn't man. You are merely kissing
a painted doll, with a mustache so
colored by cosmetics that you are in
mortal agony lest it leave some trace
on your lily white skin. Oh, yes?"
she added, smiling, ':many are the
property mustaches have loathed
for that reason"
Then she uttered the remark which
embarrassed me at the beginning.
''Do you know" she said, beaming
seraphically, shat at one time was
so utterly sick OF stage kissing, and it
became so revolving to me, that re-
ally thought-yes, did, honor bright!
that should never again be able to
tolerate kissing off the stage" ALAN
Dale in New York Evening World.