The Dickinson press., 1890-05-24
1T WAS By CHANCE.
Flow Favorite soubretto Camo to Go On
the Stage-From Flower Girl Onward,

" WAS ~ CHANCE.
How Favorite Soubrette Csme to Go On
the stage-From Flower Girl Onward.
"Isn't it interesting to think of the
slight incident in ones life on which
hinges one's career:" said bright Nellie
lIcHenry the other day. "Now, my be-
ing an actress is purely the result of an
unforeseen incident. One day 1 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 Nellie! ,
"'This is half holiday, and I'm going
to play with some girls, saidI.
"'Were you ever in theatres? 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 verything was at
skies and seyens. Feuillets play of a
Romance of 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
that?
"'You've got me. I don't know. It
struck me as she might possibly do the
flower girl. The other child is absent,
and l 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 ready' 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 lit
tie friend. Never think fora 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 rs possible, and
using my best efforts to prevent my legs
from trembling beneath me. Finally
mustered up courage enough to go ahead
i'll all assuring way, and finished Us proud
| ly as if it were my debut, and 1 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.
"'Can't you study those lines and come
here tonight and speak them as you have
read themT he asked.
Certainly, SIR"
"Well, you may go now. Study your
part well, and come back tonight and
you can act
81 can never forget how posed over
my part. Taking position before the
glass, with my part in one hand, the arm
outstretched and the other as free as pos.
sible, gestured and read and expressed
When the time came to leave home fol
the theatre 1 laid my manuscript aside
| for few moments to snatch bite OF
| food. In those few moments the lines
had worked SO hard on had taken
wings and my memory was blank.
With the tears streaming down my
cheeks seized the little book, pored
through it and soon had the part pat.
| 81 arrived at the theatre long before
the time for the performance, and slowly
went through the lines over and over. A.
the time drew near for the curtain ant
during the overture my heart, which hac
long before began humping my ribs
continued to pit-a-pat faster than ever
Observing me standing and twitchine
nervously in the wings, Mr.. Barrett
walked slowly up and in his quiet ant
reserved manner said:
"'You need not be afraid to speak tot
naturally, my child. Put yourself in the
place of the part you play, and if yor
ever adopt the stage, never forget this
and never did.
"As was entirely ignorant of the time
to go on, some one whispered in my cal
in the middle of the scene: 'Now's your
time, Nellie. When you've finished your
part, turn about and walk off, So on
| went, and never faltered in line. All
the people in the company praised me
warmly, and their encouraging words
knocked all school out of me. Every
time saw Mr.. De Bar-and made it a
point to see him often-my inquiry for a
position in his company would be the
first thing. His reply would always be;
'Oh, go home and grow, Nellie; you're
too SMALL At last the opportunity ar
rived, and you know the rest. boston
| Globe