Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-02-28

OhC lulu Voc niue VI u IOuuleKlDS,
now four years old, commands salary
of $50 a week.
How long has she been on the stageg
Ever since she was carried ON in her
mothers arms. The first time she
spoke, the Ines were in her mothers
play, "a Woman's Lie," which was
produced at Dockstader's. The little
wee bit of an actress is Miss Dot Clar-
endOn, daughter of Helen Morrat,
who is q well-known actress and the
author of several successful plays.
Papa calls me Bumblebee," said the
little Clarendon to me the other day,
'but my name is Katrina Smith, and
then she added in a confidential tone,
81 had my picture 'tooken' the other
day with flowers on my head" and she
might have finished the sentence by
saying lit is pretty as pretty can be-"
When only n years old, she made
her debut with Ben Maginley in To-
ronto. She wore a brown dress which
came down to her ankles. The sleeves
were large and pulled, and her general
appearance was so quaint that it
earned for her the soubriquet of THE
little brown Jug"
Too little either to read or write, she
has, nevertheless, very decided opin-
ions on different subjects and partic-
ular fondness for a doll that possesses
only one eye, land if any one should
put out the other l would holler," she
remarked with dramatic flourish.
Her favorite part is Sissy in the ISL.
yer King"
Imagine child with large velvety
blue eyes, her long hair twisted up in
two door knobs to keep it out of the
way, and dressed in a blue flannel
wrapper, and you have the Ristori or
Bernhardt of the future as l saw her
the other day in her nursery, sur
rounded by dolls and toys and full
half dozen brothers and sisters, three
of whom have been on the stage and
are being educated as professionals.
Even the baby in this household can
shout, Murder! murderp-most ba.
bies can, | believe, in a certain way
but this particular baby's way suggests
vim of histrionic talent in his compo.
sition that gives fair promise of max
ing tragedian of him.
Another professional in the family,
Kenneth Barnes by name, years Of
age, has taken the part of Little Nc
Duff in Mckee Rankin's play. He has
already, in recognition of his services
to the profession, been presented with
silver cup, which was given him
when he was called before the curtain.
Fifteen dollars a week is his average
salary, although on occasions he has
received more. He takes the part of a
girl or a boy, as is most convenient,
and always has two sets of wardrobes
on hand. Rolinda, an elder sister,
when 8 years old made her debut in
1.-THE Queens Evidence"
Little Elma Smith, aged two and a
half, made her first bow few weeks
ago, and received quite hearty APP
plause as did some OF the bigger actors
and actresses, and in her childish way
astonished everyone by her cleverness.
frankie Reynolds, about the same age,
is also child of great promise.
Nine. Anna M. Wade, a directress
and instructress of stage children, says
that the two essentials in teaching
children are, first, never to lose Your
temper; second, give the children
plenty of praise.
Now, darling, you have said that
splendidly, but / expect even more OF
you, for | know you are capable OF
great things, or, sweetheart, that was
very clever bit of acting, but you can
improve trife,' and so forth and SC
on; children like sweets in any form
and with most children preparing for
the stage certain amount of praise is
necessary. Let your words be honey
added, "and if the children have any
ability teaching will not be difficult
task.
II first learn all the parts of the play
myself, for in coaching my little play
ers / cannot keep my eyes on the book
/ must be all eyes, ears and attention
for them, and be able to say to them
Now you put your hands this way; OF
Now put them that way and Nov
you look up or Now you look down,
until they catch the idea.
Madame says there is an occasional
strong temptation to hurl book-not
perhaps at the head of the child who
has no conception of her part, but in
the immediate neighborhood of thai
part of her anatomy.
"Flrst, | sit down and talk to the
children and tell them what they are
to represent. BY the third or fourth
rehearsal they are usually line per
feet, as we call it, and their books are
taken from them. In order to give
finished performance of play, foul
weeks preparation, or about twenty
days rehearsal, is necessary"
Madame thinks that all children are
naturally actors, the ones who are en-
dowed with pretty faces and sympa
thetic voices having, of course, the
advantage over others not so favored.
MANY parents bring their children
to me-" said one instructor, "and ex
pect that will convert them at one,
into Langtrys or Irvings Although
they may have some natural aptitude
they have such thick little voices that
all can do with the children is te
train them for parlor or private enter.
ments."
We all know, from experience prob
ably, what misnomer the word
"entertainmenp' is in such cases, and
doubtless every one can recall numer-
GUS occasions where the infant prodigy