The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-07
THE sELopRAMA OF CHILDHOOD.
Varied Ways in Which the Theatrical In
stinct Asserts ITSELF


stinct Asserts ITSELF
January Atlantic.
Lonely children particularly develop the
dramatizing faculty. creating companions,
as, lacking toys, they are ingenious at in
venting playthings. A brotherless and
sisterless four-year-old of my acquaint-
mother some sensation, the little one being
overheard reciting to friendly stranger
the outrageous pranks, including theft, as
sault and battery, and 1ncendlarlsm, 10
which her big brother Peter" was addict
ed. AS an offset to the disgrace of this re-
lationship, she dwelt with sweet enthusl-
assn upon the winning traits of her little
sister, Sally Pinker." On being questioned
by her mother, it appeared that this hypO-
tinct realities to the solitary child. nor for
a long time would she drop them from the
lists of kinship.
As child, my record for truth-telling
and righteousness of behavior was never
impeached: vet recall instances of mental
ent,, would have sufficed to raise grave
doubts In the minds of my natural protect
Ors whether / should not become perjurer
OF the blacklist stamp. Well do / recall
that dull, rainy afternoon, when, Open-alr
sports being out of the question, l cast
about for some novel entertainment in
doors: l had heard of the extraordinary
delusions which had seized upon a relative
OF mine while in the delirium of a fever;
l, too, would be delirious, see visions and
talk wildly. | succeeded so well at this
kind of feigning that not only was
my tender mother alarmed, but i myself
became genuinely ill, unnerved by the
TVivldness of my own pigments and the
hlood.chIiling character OF my, own inco-
herent utterances. Also, well remember
being taken to the photographers, and the
lugubriOus result attending the united
efforts OF the artist" my parents-and my
self. However exhorted to smile. the rec
ord OF each experiment showed uniform
guinness of pursed lips, saucer eyes. and
slightly corrugated brows. The Infant
sphinx" as this photograph was Afterwards
known In the family, was. often clandes-
timely inspected by me with extreme de-
light. Before and during the operation
had resolved that if / were to have my
picture taken would look noble (synony-
nous IN my mind with severe). That had
succeeded in my design was the fond i'm
preston retained for several years.
Beside this witness to the theatrical i'm
pulse in children might be placed another
portrait which was. lately shown me-that
Lalage face. The lady whose child-self is
thus daintily memoralized tells me that the
motive of the sitter was to look as though
my sweetheart had just kissed men' TWAS
this same elf who, having been corrected by
her mother, conceived plan for lacoYating
being at the height of their showery fit, she
caught up precious crimsOn-bOund
picture book, and, bending over it,
let fall upon its admired cover
two great tear-drops, with infinite
sati sfactiOn watching the spreading
SO poignantly reprOach the maternal despot.
The little red book is still extant, and l
have seen it, with it's twin hieroglyphs ex-
presslve of so much naivete and fneSse.