Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-10-18
A TRUE STORY OF THE STAGE
From the Boston Traveller.


A young N an, member Of popular
New York dramatic company, sat on d
divan surrounded by an artistic litter of
etc. Everyone of these articles had
been the property of notable person
ages, and each had it's history.
This" he said, picking up a little
scented box, sis what | value most of
all"
He opened it and drew forth a tiny
square of the finest linen. Around it
was richly embroidered wreath of ivy,
while in one corner was the name OF
'Ivy."
took the dainty thing into my hands
to examine it, and as [ did SO an odor
of violets reached my nostrils, and |
mentally drew picture of tie owner.
"She was pretty" l said with convic-
bon; 81 am sure of it.
Pretty" echoed the young man, in
an aggrieved tone. "She was more than
pretty-she was a regular beauty !!
Bronze colored hair and eyes with am
Der tints, no color in her cheeks, skin
fair and lips a rich red. | never saw
anyone to compare with her in looks.
The Joke of it was that she had been
trying every theater in the city for an
engagement, and when my manager ac-
,cepted her, and it was nOlsed around
what beauty she was, the other man
ayers Just CRASHED their teeth to think
they had refused her. Having had no
professional experience, she was only
entrusted with small roles, but wheth-
err she spoke a few lines, or simply
walked on the stage, every glass in the
house was leveled at her. She made a
sensation in a small way, and if she had
kept in good health and attended right
to business, there is no height she
might not have climbed.
Learning that several members of
the company-that is, Miss s., her
mother, and myself dubbed together,
she asked if she might be allowed to
join us i'll our cooperative housekeep-
ing. It was impossible to refuse her.
She came, and we were more and more
charmed with her manner, her face,
herself
'She was unostentatious to the de-
gree of simplicity, but there was an in
detinable something about her that
commanded Difference from all. lfshe
entered a room the best seat was imme-
diately given to her as her just due. At
the table it was the same-the choicest
bits were reserved for the princess as
/ mentally named her.
E'Where she had come from, or who
she was (for | did not believe the name
she gave was her OWN, was a mystery.
THAT she had never been accus-
toned to wait on herself was evident,
for while she brought with her variety
of elegant dresses, which, with a little
ingenuity, would have answered for her
stage costumes, she seemed perfectly
helpless. l don't believe she ever
sewed on a button in her life, and it was
long time before she could learn to do
her own hair.
81 was only youngster them" said
the young man, with a blush; "hadn't
even raised a mustache, and, seeing
how much | admired her, the princess
used to treat me with much friendi-
ness One day l asked her for small
Notwithstanding that | could look
at when she had become famous, and
think of the days she used to smile on
humble me. She handed me this hand
kerchief, and | Immediately pock-
eted it.
Time passed on. Our princess was
ambitious, and studied diligently. In
some way she became acquainted with
young and wealthy physician, a we'll
known club man. 1t was known that
he called upon her occasionally, but we
thought nothing of it.
"One night-or morning rather, for 1t
was , o'clock-I was returning home.
The gas was out, and as | CROPPED my
way along the hall encountered some
one coming from the opposite direction.
My first thought being burglars, | Crap
pied with him, and called out, who
are YOU
"S-s-sh = was the quick reply. L am
DR.. w; don't say anything.
Mechanically | released him, and
walked along to my room. | was COM
pIetely stunned. My princess whom |
had placed on such a pedestal 1t was
dreadful But | decided that Miss S.
and her mother must know, and so |
had to tell them.
''In spite of our establishment and in
dignation, none of us had the courage
to tell her she would be obliged to
move.
every likely the doctor told her of
his encounter with me, or perhaps she
noticed some change in our manner, for
she soon spoke of finding cheaper
lodgings, and we Immediately set to
work to get her comfortably situated.
Owing to the smallness of her salary
and her helplessness, l don't doubt but
what the poor creature did get hard
up at times.
'Well, she left us, and such is the
weakness of human nature that | con-
fess to feeling only a profound regret
when the cab that carried her turned
the corner, the sun turning her bronze
brown hair to gold.