Thomas County cat., 1890-08-07


E A Plucky Woman. -.
! There is little actress now plaxinr
modest parts who is not wen known and
who may never Be known to the public
But she is an example Of the pluckv
American girl who has to make her liv-
ing and perseveres in her work. The
writer was told of her dase by rheatri-
cal manager who was telling of tho
rough paths company has often to
tread when on the road. 1t was in q
town out west where the company was
to play only three nights that three Of
the actresses feldn Oneof them played
the leading part, and while the troupe
was on the road there was only one un-
derstudy-the one for the leading lady.
The leading lady had been i'll for sew
trail days, but she hoped to appear that
evening as usual Toward evening
however. she sent message that her
physician had insisted on her going to
bed. This threw her part to her under
study. The manager was thrown into a
panic few minutes later by getting
word that two more of his actresses wers
severely i'll, as this left>the three princi-
pal parts without those who regularly
played them, and there was only one
understudy.
But q theatrical manager is accus-
TONED to facing hard tasks at short
notice, and he at once set to work to re-
construct for one night his company.
"A woman who took minor part was
hastily rehearsed for the second role in
point Of Importance She did not make
success oft but the manager breathed
a sigh of relief when he had satisfied
himself that she could stumble through
.ler lines in fairly decent fashion.
Now he said, having disposed of
this knotty problem, 81 must make some
arrangement for the third part"
A little woman who was standing ON
the stage came forward and said firmly:
II would like to play that part"
She was one of those women who are
10 be found in every play, one who is a
tady-in-waiting in one scene, a part of
the mob in another, and perhaps one of
o garden party in another-one who
walks great deal, changes her gowns
many times, but never says anything.
When she volunteered to try the part
the manager was vexed
: "Why," said he curtly, "you have never
had line, have you?"
"NOt many" she answered simply.
"You haven't two hours to learn the
lines"
"Oh, 1 know them very well. Won't
you rehearse me?"
"Well," said the manager doubtfully,
Il suppose must. We have got to do
something. Come, let's try it"
As the quiet little woman with the
berious eyes went over the lines a pleased
smile spread over the managers face.
He nodded his head approvingly as she
continued, and she, encouraged by his
friendliness, lost her first shyness and
ended with fire and spirit which called
forth from the worried manager q
hearty cry of applause.
"GOOdv' he cried. "You do better
than Miss NJ, who is going to take
the second part. Al" he added, shade
of disappointment darkening his face,
IF you only knew those lines"
"But do" she said delightedly.
"You do? Then rattle them off just
rs fast as your tongue can wag."
: So they went through those lines, the
manager becoming more and more
cheerful. Miss NJ, glad to be re-
lieved of her responsibility, was re-
hearsed in the lines of the third part.
The curtain was a few minutes late in
rising that night, but it was a smiling
and grateful manager who watched
little woman, whose name he had not
thought to ask, save the company in so
graceful fashion. When the curtain
came down on the last scene he asked
her how she happened to know the
lines.
Il learned them." was the happy re-
ply. II know all the lines in the play"
"But you rehearse so well?"
"Oh, used to rehearse myself in my
room after the play. thought could
do it." she said, with a proud smile on
her face.
The actress whose place she had as
sumed did not appear on the next night.
She had been sent home seriously i'll
When the play opened in the next town
here was new name on the programme
: name which had never before been
On any programme, and the little woman
whose pluck and intelligence had saved
he company played that part for the
rest of the season.-New York Tribune
Throw Away Your Curling Irene
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