The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-05-10
II VS. By CHANCE.


How Favorite soubrette Came 60 Go On
tho staEe-FrOm Flower Girl Onward.
"Isn't it interesting to think of the
slight incident in ones life on which
hinges ones career2" said bright Nellie
McHenry the other day. "Now, my be-
ing an actress is purely the result of an
unforeseen incident. One day was on
my way home from school and met Bill
Wiggins at that time the comedian in
Ben De Bars theatre, st. Louis, and who
occupied the same house with my par
ents. Said Virgins to me;
Where are you going, little NellieT
"'This is half holiday, and Pm going
TO play with some girls, saidI
"'Were you ever in theatrep in
quired he.
"'No; but would like to-
"'Well, come along he replied, and
off we started to the theatre.
"It appeared that Mr.. Virgins was on
his way to a rehearsal, and when we
reached the theatre everything was at
skies and sevens. Feuillet's play of a
Romance of a Poor Young Man was in
rehearsal, and Mr.. Lawrence Barrett was
cast for the head. The child who was
to have played the flower girl had been
detained at home because of the illness
of her mother-both of us were st. Louis
girls, it appears. Well, Mr.. Barrett es-
pied me standing at the entrance. Turn
ing to Mr.. De Bar, who was at that time
on the stage, he said: Whose child is
thatF
You've got me. don't know. It
struck me as she might possibly do the
flower girl. The other child is absent,
and suspect she doesn't know her part,
anyway
81 heard every word of the conversa-
ton, and observed Mr.. Barrett nod his
head, stroke his chin and walk toward
me.
"'My child, can you read? he com
menced, eying me kindly and taking
me by the hand
"'Y-yes, SIR
"'Well, come here and read this part
for me, and don't forget that you are to
read as though you were talking TO a lit
tie friend Never think for moment of
your surroundings, but put yourself in
the place of the little flower girl Now,
my little girl, commence, and be as nat
ural as possible, Remember, you are no
one else than the flower girl
$50 off l started on the manuscript,
reading as naturally as possible, and
using my best efforts TO prevent my legs
from trembling beneath me. Finally
mustered up courage enough to so ahead
in an assuring way, and finished as proud.
ly as if it were my debut, and had fin
ished to the fifth curtain call
Every one applauded, and Mr.. Bar.
rett patted me on the cheek, accom-.
panied by word or two of encourage.
ment.
Cant you study those lines and come
here tonight and speak them as you have
read themg he asked
Certainly, sir"
"'Well, you may go now. Study youl
part well, and come back tonight anC
you can act.
81 can never forget how posed ovel
my part. Taking position before tn,
glass, with my part in one hand, the arm
outstretched and the other as free as pos
sible, l gestured and read and expressed
When the time came to leave home fo
the theatre laid my manuscript asid,
for few moments to snatch bite o
food. In those few moments the line
had worked so hard ON had takeI
wings and my memory was blank
With the tears streaming down m
cheeks seized the little book, pore'
through it and soon had the part pat
81 arrived at the theatre long befor
the time for the performance, and slowl
went through the lines over and over A
the time drew near for the curtain an,
during the overture my heart, which ha'
long before began humping my ribs
continued to pit-a-pat faster than ever
Observing me standing and twitehjn
nervously in the wings, Mr., Barrel
walked slowly up and in his quiet an
reserved manner said;
"'You need not be afraid TO speak to
naturally, my child. Put yourself in tn
place Of the part you play, and if 20
: ever adopt the stage. never forget this
and / never did.
''As was entirely ignorant Of the tim
TO 60 on, some one whispered in my ea
:. in the middle of the scene; 'Now's yoU
time, Nellie When you've finished you
> part, turn about and walk Oft. So on
i went, and never faltered in line. A
the people in the company praised N
warmly, and their encouraging wore
Z knocked all school out Of me. Ever
o time / saw Mr.. De Bar-and / made it
Z point TO see him often-my inquiry for
9 position in his company would be Il
: first thing. His reply would always b
e oh, go home and grow, Nellie; you
;, too small AT last the opportunity a
! rived. and you know the rest. Bosto
Globe