St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-02-23
DRAMATIC ABILITY.
A Story With an Excellent Moral
for Gnls.

A Story With an Excellent Moral
for Ghls.
''rhc acting OF Miss Bessie Williams as LAZY
XOsfag1s at the amateur tilcatricals in Mrs.
Grccne's parlors on Thursday night, was a sur
prise to all that young iadys friends IL gave
evidence OF dramatic talent of high order, and
she could doubtless make q great reputation
should she decide to so upon the stage"
Miss Bessie Williams had never had a
thought Of going upon the stage until.
day or two after having taken part in
the private thcatricals, she read this
complimentary notice of her perform
ancc in the column of the local news.
paper. But now she was fired with a
new ambition. She cut the notice from
the paper. and read it again and again.
and as she did 50, she began to rise
above the commonplace things with
which she had before been fully satis-
fed. She began to take a great inter-
est in actors and actresses. One day,
when her mother entered her room
quietly and unannOunced. Bessie was
discovered artistically draped in a trail
ing scarlet blanket, her long, dark hair
hanging down her back. her bare white
arms folded on her breast, and her head
thrown stifily back; as she stalkcd back
and forth before the small mirror on
her bureau. =
.'Ye do not know with whom ye have
to deal!'' she was declaimin:, in the
tone Of a queen Of tragedy, rs Mrs.
Williams softly opened the door.
'.Well. what on earth! Why. Eliza
beth Williams, what do you mean?' ex-
claimed her mother.
20 ma" cried Bessie. turning quickly
around in great confusion, her face al
most rs scarlet as her blanket, Ill
was only practicing!'
..Practicing what?'
..Oh. a--a-piecc 1 saw played once, !"
replied Bessie. as she unpinned the
blanket, and began binding up her
hair.
..Wcll, / think you had better leave
such things to those who can't find any
thing better to do" said Mrs. Williams.
in her direct, sensible way. Il 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 cmbroid-
ery and the other little feminine occu-
pations 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 superb
Ority over those who could be satisfied
with what she called the ''narrOwncss"
and ..stupidity" of life in EldcrtOn.
Her mothers rcbukc did not change
her mind or her course. Bessie knew
that many famous actresses had entered
the profession" in opposition to the
wishes OF their parents, who had, in af-
ter years, been proud Of the success of
their daughters, and sorry for the op-
position that had delayed the beginning
of their careers. That was not the last
time she posed in striking costumes and
strange attitudes, and when she found
herself alone in the house. she recited
the most thrilling parts OF the few plays
she had seen-pcrformances which her
self-conceit told her were proof OF her
dramatic powers.
Elderton was a small town, and the
few dramatic companies which visited
it, and gave representations in the town
hall, were of the lowest order OF merit;
but at Youngton. small city ten miles
from Eldcrton. there was ''Grand OPP
era House." in which ''stars" of indif-
ferent brilliancy had occasionally sp-
peared.
A few weeks after what she regarded
as her awakening to the consciousness
that she possessed dramatic genius. an
nouncement was made that Madam
b. "a world-renowned" actress. with
a talented company. was about to visit
Young,on. Bessie resolved that she
would call upon Madam B. confide to
the famous actress her hopes, recite
some OF her best passages as speci-
men OF what she could do. and, II en-
couraccd to do so. that she would join
the company, and begin her glorious
career as an actress
She kept this resolve to herself, Tor
she knew well that her parents would
forbid her carrying it into effect She
was really dutiful and obcdient dangn-
w><Dry
ter. bnt her head had been 90 turneo
during the past few weeks by her belle,
in her own power. that she had deluded
herself into the belief that it was not
only her duty. but the greatest kindness
she could do her parents. to 60 upon
the stage. The time would come. sne
felt sure, when they would be glad ina.
che had neglected % consult shem' oss