, 1889-01-13
CONFESSIONS oE AN ACTRESS.
How a Chicago Girl Made Her First APP
Pearance on tho Regular Stage.

How a Chicago Girl Made Her First Ap-
Pearanoe on tho Regular Stage.
You may talk of the pride and joy
of the war horse when he ''smelleth
the battle from afar." l tell you his
feelings are tame compared TO my
emotions when l signed that contract
II was my first engagement That is
to say, my first real good engage
ment l had gone on and said, My
lord, the carriage waits, and, "A gen
tleman to see you, my lady," before,
but j had never had a chance to play
q good part, and now / had not only
one, but half a dozen, good parts, for,
you must know, we were going 10
play a repertoire" At last | could
let out my Pent up feelings in an emo
tional part
My friends had never shown that
enthusiastic admiration for my talents
which | felt was my due. Now |
wouIl show them that | was not what
they were pleased 10 call "a stage
struck idiot" but a heaven born
geniusI' When | applied for my first
engagement | was deeply incensed
wheI | found what my part was. |
meaI the "My-lord- the-carriage- waits
part but | reflected that all geniuses
were sure to be snubbcd. / would be
patient | would bide my time.
When | saw Miss c., the leading
lady, rchcarse l was sure she could
not play the part SO | laid my plans.
True, only had two lines TO speak,
but / would deliver them with such
telling force ms TO astonish every one.
In the meantime / would learn the
leading part by listening 10 rehearsals.
II would be apparent TO every one the
first night that the leading woman
was miscast They would want
change. / would play the part, make
n hit, and then my fortune would be
made. / felt sorry for the leading
woman, for she was always pleasant,
but | reflected that she was 25 years
old and if she was ever going to make
an actress she ought TO be one by this
time. So the sooner she found out
she could not act the better for her.
The first night came. l was at the
theatre at G o'clock making up. | was
all dressed by z. l walked up and
down the dressing room, thinking
what ! would say to the manager when
he offered me the leading part. At
last the curtain rang up. did not go
on until the third act but | went up
on the stage and watched the play.
To my surprise the leading woman got
n great deal of applause. At the end
of the second act she was called before
the curtain. SHE must have n great
many injudicious friends in front"
thought |. When the third net went
on | was at my place. When my cue
came l went IN in the style | had
practiced. With n stately tread ! ad-
vanced to the center of the stage. My
lnr1 f1a 90, $50, .ra ,y-,,.. - - D y
best Delsarte voice. The leading man,
to whom / addressed my remark,
gazed at me in dumb amazement. The
leading woman turned scarlet under
all her make up" AHA" thought
], 'she sees a rivalr' When | wentoT
the stage what was my chagrin TO see
her in spasms of laughter. The leading
man seemed angry about something.
l thought he was indignant because
she laughed. whats the mattcr1' |
said to him. 'Matterl How dare J gu
come on and ruin MY best scenel
Whoever put you up TO that will an
swer TO mt for it. 1t was that scoun-,
drel Jones that did it. Just because
he knew | would make n hit in the
part. I'll teach himl"
What on earth did he meant | was
perpleXcd, uncomfortable. What had
donef Was this n plot against met /
had heard of such things. Miss G.
called me TO her. Como here, nv
dear, she said; don't feel bad; he'il
get over it; he is quick tempered, but
he's kind hearted. You meant all
right, but where on earth did you get
that walk and that tragic voicef"
She nearly burst out laughing again,
but her cue anne. She gave me a
kindly little pat on the check with her
fan and went On. Dear, kind hearted,
fun loving Annie c.. How many
times since we have laughed over that
night. l went down stairs in n daze.
Where were all my plans, my dreams1
Vanished, as many n poor girls have
vanished on the first night of a new
piece.
learned afterward hat the stage
manager was going TO take me out of
the part, but Miss G. interfered and
begged them to let me keep the two
lines and she would coach me in them.
She did, too, and then began the long
list Of favors / have TO thank her for.
But, goodness, how l have wandered
from my subject l was going TO tell
you Of my first good part, but this let
ter has grown so long l am afraid to
write more, so I'll leave hat until an
other time. -Columbine in Chicago
Tribune.