Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1889-10-30
cHILpHooD'S MELopRAMA.
Varied Ways in Which the Theatrical
Instinct Asserts ItsoIf.

Lonely children particularly develop
the dramatizing faculty, creating COM
panions, as, lacking toys, they are in
gepious at inventing playthings A
brotherless and sisterless four-year-old
OF my acquaintance, taken upon a
journey, gaye her fond mother some
sensation, the little one being ove.'-
heard reciting to friendly stranger
the outrageous praniSs, including
theft. assault and battery and incen-
diarism, to which her "big brother
Peter" was addicted. As an Offset to
the disgrace Of this relationship, she
dwelt with sweet enthusiasm upon the
winning traits of her little sister,
Sally Pinl1er." On being questioned
by her mother, it appeared that this
Hypothetical brother and sister were
very distinct realities to the solitary
child. nor for q long time would she
drop them from the list of kinship.
As child, my record for truth-tell-
ing and ingenuousness Of behavior was
never impeached; yet recall instances
of mental chicanery which, had they
been made patent, would have sufficed
to raise grave doubts in the minds OF
my natural protectors whether | should
not become q perjurer of the blackest
stamp. We'll do recall that dull.
rainy afternoon when, open-air sports
being out OF the question, | cast about
for some novel entertainment indoors.
I had heard of the extraordinary delu-
sions which had seized upon a relative
of mine while in the delirium of u
fever. |, too, would be delirious, sae
visions and talk wildly. succeeded
so well at this kind of feign-
ing that not only was my ten
der mother alarmed, but | myself
became genuinely i'll, unnerved by the
vividuess of my own fgments and the
blood-chilling character of my own
incoherent utterances Also, well re-
member being taken to the photog
raphef's, and the lugubrious result
attending the united efforts of the
artist, my parents-and myself
However exhoFted to smile, the rec
ord OF each experiment showed Uni
form grimness of pursed lips, saucer
eyes and slightly corrugated brows
The 'infant sphinx as the photo
graph was afterwards known in the
family, WAS often clandestinely in
spected by ms with extreme delight
Before and during the operation had
pocn1un4 fj,at IF T
picture taken I would look noble
1synonymous in my mind with se-
vere)- That had succeeded in my
design was the fond impression re
taincd for several ycars.
Beside this witness to tho theatrical
impulse in children might be placed
another portrait which was lately
shown me--that of q iaughing-eyed,
dimpling, coquettish Lalage face. The
lady whose child-self is thus daintily
memorized tolls me that the motive
of the sitter was to 'look as though
my sweetheart had just kissed mei' II
was this same elf who, having been
corrected By her mothe', conceived
Pion All ihSOf dslJS lli5 dASdit VI UhS III
furious parent. Her eyes being at the
height of their showevy fit, she canght
up crimson-hound picture book, and
bending over it, let fali upon lis ad-
mired cover two great tear.d drops with
infinite satisfaction watching the
spreading circles OF stain WHICH in
future yssrs should SO poignantiy re-
paoaeh the maternA despot. The little
ged book is stsll extant, and | have
seen 1t, with It's twin hieroglyphs ex-
pressive ui Sc mueh naiyete and