The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-01-04
DRAMATIC ABILITY.
A Story With an Excellent Moral
for Girls.

for Girls
'oThe acting Of Miss Bessie Williams, as LAZY
MoHtGgue at the amateur theatricals in Mrs
Greene's parlors on Thursday night, was sur
prise to all that yoSng lady's friends. 1t gave
evidence of dramatic talent of high order and
she could doubtless make a great reputation
should she decide to go 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 theatricals, she read this
complimentary notice of her perform
ance 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 so, she began to rise
above the commonplace things with
which she had before been fully salts
fed She began to take 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 stiffiy back, as she stalked back
and forth before the small mirror on
her bureau.
I'VE do not know with whom We have
to dealr' 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 mean?" ex-
claimed her mother.
20 ma, cried Bessie, turning quickly
around in great confusion, her face al
most as scarlet as her blanket, IL
was only practicing!"
"Practicing WHAT"
"Oh, a--a-piece saw played once, ."
replied Bessie. as she unpinned the
blanket, and began binding up her
hair.
We'll, 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 embroid-
cry 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 a feeling of disgust for
practical duties. and a sense of superb
ority over those who could be satisfied
with what she called the "narrowness"
and stupidity" of life in Elderton.
Her mothers rebuke 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 OPP
position that had delayed the beginning
OF their careers. That was not the last
time she posed in striking costumes and
herself alone in the house. she recited
the most thrilling parts of the few plays
she had seen-performances 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 1oungton, small city ten miles
from Eldcrton, there was a Grand OPP
era House." in which ''stars" of indif-
ferent brilliancy had occasionally APP
feared.
A few weeks after what she regarded
as her awakening to the consciousness
nouncement was made that Madam
B. "a world-renowned" actress. with
a talented company. was about to visit
Youngton. Bessie resolved that she
would call upon Madam B, confide to
the famous actress her hopes, recite
some of her best passages as a speci-
men OF what she could do. and. if en-
couraged to DO so, that she would join
the company, and begin her glorious
career as an actress.
She kept this resolve TO herself, for
she knew well that her parents would
forbid her carrying it into effect. She
was really dutiful and obedient daugh-
ter. but her head had been so turned
during the past few weeks by her belief
in her own power, that she mad deluded
herself into tho 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, she
felt sure. when they would be glad that
she had neglected to consult them, but
had committed herself to the guidance
of her own genius.
1t was easy enough to get consent to
go to Ioungton. Bessie frequently Wis
tied an aunt who lived there, and. as it
happened, an invitation had come to
her, asking her to spend several days
with this aunt On the first night of her
visit, Bessie saw Madam B play the
heroine il drama of class that
young girls should neither see nor