The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-02-06
CONCESSIONS "a AN AcIREss.


fL,w Chicago Girl Made Her Fina At,.
pearhhee on the Tseruiur stage.
You may talk of the pride and Joy
Of the war horse when he .'snelleth
the battle from afar / tell you liis
feelings are t;iIIie compared TO my
emotions when signed that contract.
II was my first engagement That is
to say, my first real good engngc-
mont. ] had gone on and said, My
lord. the carriage waits, and. "a gen
tleman 70 see you, my lady" before.
but had never had chance to play
a good part, and now had not only
one. but half dozen. good parts. for,
you must know, we were going to
play s'reper4oire 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 l felt was my due. Now /
would show them that wasino what
they We're pleased TO call "a stage
struck IDIOT" but a s.heaven born
geniusi" When applied for my first
engagement was deeply incensed
when | found what my part was. /
mean the '.My-lord- the-carriage waits
part. but reelected that all geniuses
Were sure to be snubbed would be
patient. / would bide my time.
When l saw Miss G., the leading
lady. rcllcarse 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 as 10 astonish every one.
leading part by listening TO rehearsals.
IL IA INea
first night that the leading woman
was nliscast. They would want a
change. would play the part, make
hit, and then my fortune would be
made. felt sorry for the leading
woman, for she was always pleasant,
but reflected that she was 20 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. was at the
theatre ut 6 o'clock making up I was
all dressed by 2. / 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
a great deal of applause. AT the end
OF the second act she was called before
the curtain. She must have a great
thought l. When the third act went
came / went on in the style l had
practiced. With q stately tread ad.
vanced to the center of the stage. my
lord, the carriage waits, !" said 1, in my
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
l, "she sees rival" When went off
the stage what was my chagrin to see
her in spasms of laughter Tho leading
man seemed angry about something.
l thought he was indignant because
she laughed. Whats the matter?'
said to him. 'tMatteri How dare you
como on and ruin my best scenel
Whoever put you up to that will an
swer to me for it. It was that scoun-
drel Jones that did it. Just because
he knew | would make a hit in the
part. I'll teach him"
What on earth did he meant was
perplexed, uncomfortable. What had
done7 Was this a plot against me2
had heard of such things Miss c.
called me to her. Come here, my
dear" she said; don't feel bad; he'll
get over it; he is quick tempered, but
he's kind hearted. You meant ALI
right, but where on earth did you get
that walk and that tragic voice7"
She nearly burst out laughing again,
but her cue came. She gave me a
kindly little pat on the cheek with her
fan and went on. Dear, kind hearted,
fun loving Annie c.. How many
times since VIC have laughed over that
night. Invent down stairs in a daze.
Where were all my plans, my dreams2
Vanished, as many poop girls have
vanished ON the FIRST night of new
piece.
learned afterwara that the stage
manager was going to take me out of
the part, but Miss C. 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 fayors have to thank her for.
But, goodness, how l have wandered
from my subject. / was going to tell
you of my first good part, but this let
ter has grown SO long 1 ann afraid to
write more, SO I'll leave that until an
other time. Columbine in Chicago
Tribune.