St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-10
, KISSING UPON THE STAGE.
1t is a Most Hideous Parody OF
the Genuine Article.


the Genuine Article.
New York World.
Such Kisses" said the little actress
scornfully, shaking her golden curls
and arranging her rosy lips into de-
lightful pout, ''are not worth having.
In fact, they are nothing more nor less
than hideous parody on the genuine
article.'
Now, to anybody who did not know
the subject of our conversation, such
remark as that just made would have
been startling. | should really be seri-
ously embarrassed if were not permitted
to explain matters, because, as l was
the only person present at the time my
little Sunny-haired friend gave vent to
this sentiment, you will readily see that
l might subject myself to unworthy
suspicious.
The fact is that we were merely dis
cussing the stage kiss, in which sus-
ceptible theater-goers are deeply inter-
eSted, and l was endeavoring to extract
little information about it from the
dainty little lady, who Was only too
willing to give it.
''The audience imagines," she said,
when they see handsomely dressed.
young man, gOod-looking, well-mus-,
tached, and altogether stylish hate
that word, don't you?-fervently en-
brace the leading lady of the company,
that the kiss-even though it may not
be given with genuine feeling, must,
nevertheless, be agreeable. o, my
dear boy, do, if you can, contradict this
for my sake. Never was there so fatal
an error or suppOsitiOn so stupidity un-
warranted by the real facts of the case"
She was evidently deeply in earnest,
and earnest people are always entitled
to profound attention, so became pro-
foundry attentive.
81 must make confession" she said,
in more subdued tones, land tell you
everything. The first time knew | had
to be kissed on the stage by the good
looking leading man--ah! you would be
surprised if told you his name-1 admit
that was delighted. Yes. was by no
role called for the kiss and l was
satisfied. Shall ever forget that kiss!
| think not. found face beside my
own, so besmeared with rouge, so ilI-
crusted with powder, SO moist with cos
metic, that assure yon it didn't look
like face. AS said, this was really
my first stage kiss. / don't say it was
my first kiss, mark you we'll, because
well, have three brothers. Ha! hap
She laughed prOvokingly, and l felt
veXed without knowing why.
His awful face" she went on, twas
pressed close to mine, and it positively
French. and he had dined deliberately
on food exceedingly favored with gar
lie. remember 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.
/ thoroughly meant what said, and the
effect on the audience was excellent.
Only, for fine 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: ''Stage kisses are gen.
orally disgusting. Of course, some
times they are merely make-believe
kisses, but when you are right in front of
the audience that is impossible. The
audience may sometimes be shocked at
the apparent warmth of stage kiss,
but they would be more shocked if it
were not given. A man SO envelOped
in paint isn't a man. You are merely
kissing painted doll with mustache
so cOlOred by cosmetics that you are in
mortal agony lest it leave some trace OH
your lily-white skin. Oh, yes!" she
added smiling, "many are the property
mustaches have loathed for that rea-
son.
Then she uttered the remark which
embarrassed me at the beginning.
'sDO you know" she said, bealning
seraphically, shat at one time was SO
utterly sick of stage kissing. and it be-
came so revolving to me, that l really
thought-yes. l did, honor bright - that
should never again he able to tolerate
] kissing off the STAGE"