The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-07-19
cHiLDHoOD'S MELODRAMA.
Varied Ways in Which the Theatrical
Instinct Asserts Itsclf.


Instinct Asserts Itsclf.
Lonely children particularly develop
the dramatizing faculty, creating COM
panions, rs, lacking toys, they are in
genious at inventing playthings- a
brotherless and sisterless four-ycar-old
of my acquaintance, taken upon a
journey. gave her fond mother some
sensation, the little one being ove--
heard rcciting 10 friendly stranger
the outrageous pranks. 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 Piuker-" On being questioned
by her mother, it appeared that this
hypothetical brother and sister were
very distinct realities to the solitary
child, no- for a long time would she
drop them from the list of Sinship-
As child, my record for truth-tell-
ing and ingenuOusness OF behavior was
never impeached; Yet recall instances
of mental chicancry which, had they
been made patent, would have suf7iccd
TO raise grave doubts in the minds of
my natural protectors whether / should
not become "a periurcr of the blacllest
staElp. Well do / recall that dull,
raiE.y afternoon when, opcn-air sports
being out of the question, ! cast about
for some novel entertainment indoors.
/ had heard of the extraordinary delu-
siGns which had seized upon a relative
OF mine while III the deliriUm of
fever. /. too, would be delirious. see
visions and talk wildly. l succeeded
Sd well at this kind OF fcign-
ing that not only was my ten
der mother alarmed, but l myself
became genuinely i'll, unuervcd by the
vividuoss of my own figments and the
blood-chilling character OF my own
incoherent utterances. Also, well re-
member being taken to the photog-
rapher's. and the lugubrious result
attending the united efforts of the
artist, my Parents-and myself
However eXhOrted to smile, the rec
ord of each experiment showed a 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 mo with extreme delight.
Before and during the operation ! had
resolved that II | were to have my
picture taken l would look noble
(synonymous in my mind with Sc
vere). That l had succeeded in my
design was the fond impression re-
tanned for several year,
Beside icis witness to the theatrical
impulse in children might be placed
another portrait which was lately
shown me--that of a laughing-eyed,
dimpling, cOquettish Lalage face. The
lady whose child-self is thus daintily
memorized tells 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 mother, conceived
plan for decorating the heart of the In
curious parent. Her eyes being at the
height of their showery fit, she caught
up crimson-bound picture book, and
bending over ii, let fall upon its ad-
mired cover two great teaF-drops, with
infinite satisfaction watching the
spreading circles of s:ain which in
future years should SO .poignantly re-
proach the maternal despot. The little
red book is still extan1. and / have
seen it, with its twin hieroglyphs ex-
pressive of so much naivete and
fnesE- Atlantic