St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-02
BEHIND The SCENES.
The Dark Mysteries Of a
Prima Donna'S Toilet
Exposed.
A Globe Reporters "Bull in
a China Shop"
Act.
His Profane Eyes Take In
the making Up"
Process.
Some Stage Illusions Of a
Lady's Toilet Rudely
Dispelled.

Ibid you ever see comic opera prima
donna's dressing room? No? Well then
l must show you one. 1 assure you it's
a sight, and you will not be sorry for
your experience" The speaker, Man
ager Wilbur, of the Wilbur Opera COM
pany, then took the reporter into the
narrow stage entrance leading off the
Harris Hennepin Avenue theater veSti
bule. A door was opened, and few
steps led them to the greenroom. A
SLOW knock brought no reply; Mr.. Will
bur tried again with the same success.
miss Kirwin, may | come in?' asked
MI. Wilbur, knocking little louder.
miss Kirwin is on the stage going on
with her part" came from one corner of
the greenroom.
"That's So" said Mr.. Wilbur: 'sthis
is her long scene, and we will, there
fore. have plenty of time tO.inspect the
mysteries of stars dressing ROOM"
The reporter, seating himself on the
ragged edge of Saratoga after the door
had been opened, gaZed in bewilder-
ment at the thousand and one little
thing, scattered about in the most
beautiful disorder. There were shoes
and stockings on the floor, dresses and
skirts on the wall, and those number
less mysterious articles which gOtOWard
making up the female form divine,
packed in almost hopeless confusion in
a couple of three-story Saratogas placed
against the wall. Many of the dresses
were fringed with lace, real and imita-
ton; others were ornamented with en-
broidery land some were plain, but quite
snowy. What attracted the reporters
attention more than anything else
in the room was the huge
dressing table that occupied one side
of the room from wall to wall.
The indispensable mirror hung over the
table. which was completely covered
with all sorts of Understandable little bot
ties, jars and demijohns filed with
liquids and solids, comprising almost
everything necessary for the compile
ton of stage toilet. Sponges were
noticed here and there, paints and pow
ders, thread, needles, scissors, a Whisk
broom, tooth. clothes and hair brushes,
a wig block, pencils, blue and black;
hairDinS, shoe horns and buttons, wigs
and highlands and jewelrY, all in the
strangest possible disorder and confu-
sion.
The reporter barely had time to dis
cover the nature of the various articles
when Miss Kirwin, made up as 1.-THE
Grand Duchess" in the last act, bound
ed into the room with one leap, and was
quite surprised to see stranger max
ing himself at home, in company with
Mr.. Wilbur.
.sThis gentleman" said he, sis a re-
porter of the GLOBE, and, being anxious
to obtain a glimpse of the interior Of a
lady's dressing room, l took the liberty
of showing him yours. He was just
asking me what some of those toilet ar
ticles are used for; won't you tell
him?"
II wouldn't object" said Miss Kir-
of the silly stuff in the paper"
When the reporter assured the young
lady that he had no such intentions she
said: ''Well, what is it you would like
to know? Do you want to inform your
gentlemen acquaintance that actresses
are unreal, unnatural and made up of
paints, powders and cOSmeticS"
Once more Miss Kirwin was reas
sured that the reporter would divulge
nothing, so she continued as follows:
ssYou see this lard-like WITHHOLDING
stuff in that black box? That is called
cold cream, and we use that for the
first application on the face: then
comes the grease paint you see in that
ebony jar over there"
what is grease paint used for?"
sThat'S put Oh to firmly hold the
powder, and l can tell you it saves a
great deal of trouble. because am not
obliged to run in every moment to re-
touch with powder. Well, after the
grease paint has been thoroughly ap-
piled, comes Lubin's toilet powder for
the face and other powder OF a prepared
chalk for the neck and arms"
'sThat does not complete your make
up?"
"Oh, no: if we were to 60 on the stage
that way we would look as though we
were in the last stages of consumption.
You see that stuff in the little ivory jar?
That is lip rouge, out of which are made
those cherry lips admired by the young
men in the front rows. Then we must
not forget the dry rouge for the cheeks,
which has such pretty effect from in
front of the house,"
What is that black paint-like looking
stuff in that tiny boX?"
''That is another important and neces-
sary adjunct to complete stage toilet,
and known as a cosmetic for the eye
lashes, to open up the eyes. Then
must not forget my little blue pencil,
which l use to initiate the shade of the
eyelashes. AS a rule, black cosmetic
is used for that purpose, but l pre- Ter
blue.'
"What does that bottle contain?"
''That's wash to keep the powder
from rubbing off; butt only use it in
'Girof1e-Girof1a.' when am almost con-
tinually on the STAGE
''Those handsome diamonds near the
mirror over there must have cost you a
fortune"
"a fortune? Why that's nothing but
stage jewelry, Rhinestones set in sill
yer. A good many people wear them
on the street; why shouldn't we wear
them On the stage?"
s'What is that sponge tied to a bone
used for?"
"That isn't piece of sponge tied to
a bone; that's hare'S foot, and used to
apply the dry rouge"
"What is there in that bottle?'
sBear'S grease for dressing my wigs.
You see that block over there; that's
patterned after my head. l just place
the wig on the block and dress it as
we'll as any hair dresser. Before you
60 l want to show you my nice silk
stockings, of W Itch have about thirty
pairs. You see, they are of all shades
and colors. and l wore about half a
dozen different pairs tonight. expect
to hear my cue now every moment, so
you must excuse me, for even re-
porter mustn't keep an audience wait
ing. So, good bye. But don't forget
what tell you about not publishing
one word of what l told you tonight"
And the yivacious little actress took
glance at herself in the mirror, gave her
hustle shake or two and darted for
the stage in response to the call boys
summons.
"A Roumanian Peasant Marriage.