The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-10-14
SHE WAS READY.
A Plucky Woiaan saves Theatrical
Company from Embarrassment.


There is a little actress now playing
modest parts who is not well known and
who may never be known to the public.
But she is an example of the plucly
American girl who has to make her liv-
ing and perseveres in her work The
writer was told of her case by theatre
cal manager who was telling of the
rough paths a company has often to
tread when on the road. 1t was in d
town out west where the company was
to play only thee nights that three Of
the actresses fell i'll. One of them played
the leading part, and while the troupe
was on the road there was only one I'M
derstudy-the one for the leading lady.
The leading lady had been i'll for sew
eral 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 were
severely i'll, as this left the three princi-
pal parts without those who regularly
played them and there was only one
understudy.
But theatrical manager is accustomed
to facing hard tasks at short notice, and
he at once set to work to reconstruct for
one night his company. A woman who
took minor part was hastily rehearsed
for the second role in point of impor-
lance. She did not make a success of it,
but the manager breathed sigh of re-
lief when he had satisfied himself that
she could stumble through her lines in
fairly decent fashion.
Now" he said, having disposed of
this knotty problem, ~ must make some
arrangement for the third part.
A little woman who was standing on
the stage came forward and said firmly:
81 would like to play that part"
She was one of those women who are
to be found in every play, one who is a
lady-in-waiting in one scene, a part of
the mob in another, and perhaps one of
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 CURLY, you have never
had a line, have your
mot many" she answered simply.
"You haven't two hours to learn the
lines"
"Oh, l know them very well. Won't
you rehearse me?'
well, said the manager doubtfully,
8 I 10 b IL
something. Come, let's try it."
AS the quiet little woman with the
serious eyes went over the lines 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 hearty
cry of applause.
"Goodw he cried. You do better
than Miss M, who is going to take
the second part. All" he added, shade
of disappointment darkening his face, eff
you only knew those lines"
"But l do she said, delightedly.
"You do? Then rattle them off just
as fast as your tongue can wag."
So they went through those lines, the
manager becoming more and more cheer
full Miss NJ, glad to be relieved of
her responsibility, was rehearsed in the
lines of the third part The curtain was
few minutes late in rising that night,
but it was II smiling and grateful man
ager who watched little woman. whose
name he had not thought to ask, save
the compeHy in so graceful a fashion.
When the curtain came down on the last
scene he asked her how she happened to
know the lines.
81 learned them, was the happy re-
ply. Il know all the lines in the play"
"But you rehearsed so well?''
"Oh, l used to rehearse myself in my
room after the play. thought l 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
there was a new name on the programme
"a name which had never before been
on any programme, and the little woman
whose pluck and intelligence had saved
the company played that part for the
rest of the season.-New York Tribune.
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