Telegram-herald., 1890-04-05
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"IGT II interesting - thlnk Il ia
slighs incident u ones life or whicl
hinges ones career" s4id sright Nelli
NcHenry the other day Nov, M oe
ing al actress Is purely tas res1ls q 81
unforeseen ineiaent Oas dxy was 81
nv way hcune ffcn school and Iast b
Virgins st Iilst time the comedian Ia
Ben De Bars theatre, -. Louis. and y hC
oocupied tie same house with ny par
eats. Said Virgins - me.
" here are yea going little NellisF
s'sThis j. g kSlf holiday and I'm going
10 play with some girls. said /.
Were you ever IN : theatre in
9uired ne
No; bat ! would ike TO-
".wsn, come along. be replied, and
OF We started 70 The theatre.
s'It appeared that Mr Virgins was on
his way 70 ! rehearsal, and when We
reached the theatre everything was ct
skies and sescns. Feuillets play o. &
Romance Of s Poor Young Man was in
rehearsal, and Mr.. Lawrence Barrett wac
cast for the head. The child who was
10 have played the flower girl had been
detained at home because Of the Illness
u her mother-both o. US were ~. Louis
girls. it appears Well, Mr.. Barrett es-
pied me standing at the entrance. Turn
ing 10 Mr.. De Bar, who was at that time
on the stage, he said; Whose child is
that,
You've got me. ] don't know. II
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
II heard every word OF the conversa-
tion, 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.
Yves, 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.
80 off / 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 60 ahead
in an assuring way, and finished as proud
" 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.
"'Can't you study those lines and come
here tonight and speak them as you have
read them| 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 for
the theatre | 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 a blank.
With the tears streaming down my
cheeks I seized the little book, pored
through 1t and soon had the part pat
~ arrived at the theatre long before
the time for the performance, and slowly
went through the lines over and over. As
the time drew near for the curtain and
during the overture my heart, which had
long before began humping my ribs,
continued to pit-a-pat faster than ever.
Observing me standing and twitching
nervously in the wings, Mr.. Barrett
walked slowly up and in his quiet and
reserved manner said:
"'You need not be afraid TO speak too
naturally, my child. Put yourself in the
place of the part you play, and if you
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 ear
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 al school out of me. Every
time / saw Nr De Bar--and | made it a
point to see him often--my inquiry for o
position in bis 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
The Dependent Pension Bilii