Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-03-08
SECRETS OF THE ART.
How Actors Look and Talk In Their Dress-
ingROomS.

The world behind the scenes of q
theater is not only interesting because
i is strange to those in front, but the
actors themselves and the life they
lead are strange in themselves. The
other night New York san reporter
was in stars dressing-room waiting
10 go up town with the actor. What
he saw aud heard was all part of the
world ntterly strange TO the great ma
;ority of the people. The actor had on
nothing but trousers and drawers, and
was washing off his makeup. He had
appeared as nobleman of the middle
ages, and was made up to look like an
extraordinarily handsome youth. with
preternatural splotches of red on his
cheeks, and his jet-black ewes and cor
al lips and all the rest. He stood be-
lore the mirror over table, on which
vas a box of many compartments.
zach one full of paints. These paints
look like the sticks of cosmetic that
men use to dress their mustache with.
they were much the same thing-mere
Thick pencils Of grease dyed with diff
fefent colors. Brushes, bottles. pots,
1 litter of false jewels and bits of fin
cry were all around. Dozens of cos
times hung on nails around the walls,
md queer shoes. slippers, tights. and
Edds and ends of costumes were on the
SDor. the chairs aud the trunks. The
1csor suddenly smeared his painted face
atsss q glissening bath of something
that shoue like oil.
'It's vaseline." said he. at removes
the paint"
He rubbed on more and wiped it of
and rubbed on still more. aud again
: wiped it of with dry towel. Some
times" said he. '.when il is very cold
ont. we don't wash this of. We rub
enough of It off so that it does not
shine. and then we go home and wash
There. That prevents the face from
chapping.
''How did the piece 60 in 'front.'" he
asked.
..Oh. very well. indeed. The house
was enthusiastic"
what did the newspaper men say?
Arc they going to give IL rats. or
what"
..whv. they spoke well Of you and
not as we'll of Mr. Jones, VINO over
does his part. But Miss Brown will
get some good notices on account of
her pretty figure"
.Is that SOP" said the actor John,
GO and call Miss Brown. J. that YOU,
auntie? Don't come in iill get au
nvercoat on. I'm in frightfai dis
hahiiie"
= .sYou're growing very nice all of .
.es,..c1s, ii.o'.o've oi tie pretty actress
sounded from the other side of the
dres<ing-rnom door.
Yes; but it's only because I've got
some friends here. Now (bu;toning
up his overcoat) YOU can come in.
They re- newspaper men or | would
have asked you right in. | say. auntie.
the papers are going to make Bice
reading for you tomorrow because You
looked So pretty. and they're gone ON
your form"
Are thcy?" said the little actress.
who was quite as bewitching in a long
Newmarket and Partisan bonnet as
she had been in tights few moments
before. Are they, Well I'm glad
they did not see how dreadfully ner.
vous was. I'm trembling yet New
York makes US all afraid. gentlemen.
Its a horrid. cruel place. where the
papers say just whatever they please,
aud kill Us of right and left'
'.Auntie,' said the star. Il want TO
tell them about your form"
well, 60 on. What you invcnting
now?
You know. gentlemen" said the
star, "when this piece was cast aud we
knew that soc,e of the ladies would
need to wear tights, there was great
deal of buzzing. and one lady boasted
that she would make great hit Her
legs were simply wonderful. she said.
and We would all see how they would
eclipse everything on the stage. This
little woman said not a word. She i.
50 small and quiet that if any Qua
thought OF her it was to guess that she
would not amount 10 much in tights.
Well. the dress rehearsal came and she
appeared, and we never heard an
other sound from the woman that had
boasted Of such prodigious wonders Of
human perfection rs she had claimed.
Auntie Knocked them all out And
auntie's are her own. want YOU to
know. l satisfied myself of that"
You may be sure he did," said the
actress.
II took dagger and went for them,
and how she did howl"
We'll, can 60 now?" said the ac-
tress. 'NOh, here he is. Twas waiting
for my husband. I'm all ready, dear.
Goodnight. gentlemen"
Other members of the troupe, male
and female. came in. cigars were light
ed. and chatter few around the room.
One actress, seated ou u trunk, carried
all before her with her wit.
This is delicious" said she. You
know. the manager orders that | shall
not receive anybody in my room.
thought it was going to be dreadful
not To see any body ut all, but | can
come here and entertain rs much as
like in your room-can't MIR. Brace
bride? On! d" enjoy getting around
his horrid rulrs!'
shes only been on the stage fifteen
weeks" said the star.
But what about the other rules?
I'm not to have any body see me home,
and I'm not to receive gentlemen ut
the hotel. you know Dear me! but
those rules will have to 90, too.
Ihcrcll be war. but it will be fun"
The rules did have to go. She went
out of the theater with four male es-.
corts, and all were invited to her
room, with its confusion of lace night
caps and photographs and dresses
hanging up, and its bottles of perfume
and china pots of mysterious toilet ar
ticles. Again cigars came out, and
walters flew around with glasses. and
the strict rules and the night both flew
away together.