St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-28

that 4 young woman who formed part
in pilgrimage which had come to Rome
to pay homage to the pope requested
the favor of being received by me.
consented to see her. Trembling and
uncertain, the young woman began to
apologize for having presented herself
to me without letter of introduction.
l begged her to be seated an to explain
the object of her visit. After some
agitation, which she found difficult to
control on account of a sort of awe with
which l appeared to inspire her. she
told ME that from her childhood
she had always possessed an
uncomfortable passion for the dra-
matte art. and as her parents did not at
all approve of this vocation they had
endeavored by every possible means to
dissuade her from carrying out her
wish. But resolved as she was to dedi-
cate herself to the stage, and to seek at
once an engagement in dramatic COM
pany, her only thought was to find the
best means for realizing her golden
dream. Having heard much about me,
she had resolved on coming to Rome to
ask my advice and protection. But how
avoid the vigilance and the suspicious
of her family? A strange idea had
flashed through her mind. Become a
pilgrim! Join herself to the faithful
who were going to Rome to pay homage
to the Holy Father gazed upon her
amazed She was rather short OF stature,
not good looking and with voice of no
great compass. Young lady," said to
her, ''your youth and your meXperience
oblige me to speak frankly to you. In
the first place, you are very much mis-
taken if you think that the manager of
lrst-rate company would engage
Young and Unknown Beginner
then and there, and when the year is
half over, simply because she processes
to entertain a passion for the dramatic
art. Such things are only possible in
the case of well-known artists whose
engagement can serve the interests of
people full of promise. Ii you have a
good disposition (of which l shall Judge
later ON, begin by practicing in some
phllo-dramatic society, or else in a
small dramatic company in order to
prepare yourself to appear on the
stage of larger theater and
before paying public, which is
a different thing from a non-paying
one. Begin with small parts so as
afterward to make progress under a
good school. Many of our best artists
commenced their dramatic career by
Joining thlrd-rate companies, taking the
parts which were entrusted to them. /,
for example, began in this way, guided
by the good sense of my father, who
maintained that above all it was neces-
sary to become familiar with the stage,
and l never could complain of the re-
suit. In this way all shyness is lost;
the presence of numerous public be-
comes Indifferent to one, and without
being aware of it one becomes initiated
into the secrets of the art. and there
fore better able to understand the teach
ings of good guide. In thus causing
you to see the real state of affairs, feel
that | am fulfilling an obligation of con-
science. But come, recite some
thing to me, so that L may form a just
opinion of your dramatic qualities.'
Natural Defects.
The poor girl trembled like leaf, as
IL she were standing before an
areopagite. Her heart must have been
beating terribly. Finally, summoning
up her courage, she recited a patriotic
to her attentiyely. Her gestures were
nothing particular; her voice not very
good, but the information fair.
After rejecting little gave her my
opinion: "You have much sentiment,
intelligence" l said, ''but you do not
always give your phrase the color neces-
sary. The tone of your voice is at times
declamatory; but l must frankly tell
you that your figure is little suited for
the stage. and the accent of your dialect
is SO marked that it would not be
tolerated by our publics. What parts
should you like to representa-"
With determination she replied,