The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-01-11

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make great reputation should she decide
to go upon the STAGE"
Miss Bt ssie Williams had never had
thought of going upon the stage until,
day or two after having taken part
in the private tbeatricals, she read this
complimentary notice of her perform
anoe in the column of the local newspsp
er But now she was fred with q new
ambition. she cut the notice from the
paper, and read it again and as she did
so, she began to rise above the common
place things with which she bad before
been fully satisfied She began 10 take
great interest in actors and actresses.
One day, when her mother entered her
room and unannouuced, Bessie was
discovered artistically draped in
trailing scarlet blanket, ber long, dark
hair hanging down her back, her bare
white arms folded on her breast, and
her head thrown stiffly back, as she
stalked back and forth before the small
mirror on her bureau.
aye do hot know with whom ye
have to deal!" she was declaiming, in
the tone of queen Of tragedy, as Mrs.
Williams softly opened the door.
"Well, what on earth! Why Eliza
beth Williams, what do you meanY" ex-
claimed her mother.
so ma" cried Bessie, turning quick
| ly around in great confusion, her face
almost as scarlet as her blanket, "I-
/ was only practicingl'
"Practicing what?"
"Ob, a-a-piece saw played once y
replied Bessie, s she unpinned the
blanket and began binding up her hair.
"Well l think you had better leave
such things to those who can't find any
tlinl better to do" said Mrs. Williams,
in her direct, sensible way. II supposed
you were up here working on your
crazy quilt, which you'd better have
been doing than wasting your time and
getting foolish ideas into your head by
such silly performances as THIS
But the crazy quilt and the embroid-
ery and the other little feminine oocu-
paiions that had previously given her
pleasure in her spare moments, no
longer had any interest for Bessie
She began to have feeling of disgust
for practical duties, and a sense OF
superi rity over those who could be
satisfied with what she called the mar
rown ss' and stupidity" Of life il
ED, rton.
Her mothers rebuke did not change
her mind or her conrse.
Bessie knew that many famous
actresses had entered the profession
. in opposition to the wishes of thei
parents, who had, in after years beer
! | proud of the success OF their daughters
and sorry for the opposition that had
delayed the beginning OF their careers
That was not the last time she poset
in striking costumes and strange atti
tudes, and when she found hersel
alone in the house, she recited the mos
thrilling parts of the few plays she hat
lsten-performances which her self
couceit told her were proof of hel
dramatic powers.
Ed rton was a small town, and the
few dramatic companies whichsvisite,
it, and gave representations in tn
town hall, were Of the lowest order o.
> merit; but at YoungtoD. small cit,
ten miles from Elderton, there was
"Grsnd Opera House, in which "star
= of indifferent brilliancy had occasion
ally appeared.
A few weeks after what she REGARDED
as her awakening to the consciousness
that she possessed dramatic genius, an
nouncement was made that madar
B-,"a world renowned" actress, wit
a talented company, was about to vis
Youngton. Bessie resolved that sh
would call on madam B., confde t
" the famous actress her hopes, recit
some of her best passages as specime
of what she could do, and, if or
couraged to do so, that she would joi
the company, and begin her gloriou
career as an actress.
She kept this resolve TO herself, fo
she knew we'll that her parents woul
forbid her carrying it into fleet. Sh
was really duliful and obedier
laughter. but her head bad been s
tn nd during the past few weeks b
her belief in her own power, that n
had d Iuded herself into the b, lief th;
it was not only her duty, but the grea
est kindness she could do her parent
to 90 upon the stage. The time won
come she felt sure. when they wonld /
gladtlat she had neglected to oonsu
them but had conn it d herself to u
guidance OF her own genius.
1t vas easy enough 10 get consent
90 to Youngton. Bessie frequent
visited an aunt who liv, d there, and,
it happened, an invitation had come
her, asking her to spend several da,
with this aunt. On the first night
her visit, Bessie saw Madam B.
play the heroine in drama OF ella
that yourg girls should neither see NJ
read but the infatuated girl lost sig
of its vulgarities and impurities in Il
dazz'iug splendor of the stage setting
in the beautiful costumes of the han
some actress, and in the thrilling stu
tions in which the heroine was left
the end of each act. The ronnds OF a
p ause had a great charm for the e
cited girl, and she tried to imagine no
she should feel if they were for he
Her heart sweled and her chez
hu-hei with pride at the thought.
Without telling anyone of the o
iect of her errand, Bessie went dow
town the next morning. 1t was
, little before noon when she enter'
. the hotel at which she knew MAZDA
/, B was staying. Her little ca
. vas sent up to Madam B--'s rool
/. and Bessie waited in the hotel parl'
. her hear, futtering IN spite Of her {
forts to appear self possessed. MAZDA
: B. returned word that she won
see the lady, and Bessie followed t
= porter of the hotel TO her room. Ma
n am B. was lying on lounge. a
. Bessies ,imidity gave way to smai
as ment ss she looked at the woman
4 fore her. The Madam B. she h
= !; seen the night before was young a
o beautiful woman with long, gold
q curls, sparkling eyes and a hapI
u ioyous manner. She had worn su