The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-12
Big Reductions
-@1..@
In Stamped Linens,
FOIE Z MORRISON.
STAGE KISSES.
They are Sometimes of Very Real
istic Character.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Love-making on the stage is generally
supposed by the unsophisticated public to
be more or less of q perfunctory business,
a make-believe affair, as dry and taste
less to the performers as the property
food and drink which they affect to swal-
low at their banquets. Romantic and
sentimental people will be glad to know
that the tender passion. as represented
on the boards. is not all pretenSe, and that
occasionally, at least, Cupid gets in his
work without shame or conjunction right
before the footlights.
A case in point is said to have occurred
recently in popular comic opera troupe
in which the prima donna and the BARI
tone were the victims of the sly little god.
How or where the mutual attraction first
began is not stated. but that it had not
only begun, but was well advanced, was
made manifest to the audience soon after
the baritone joined the company.
II was part Of the barltonc's duty to
kiss the prima donna, and it was supposed
that he would do it after the ordinary
stage fashion, as man eats who IS not
hungry or drinks who is not thirsty. But
what was the surprise of the spectators
aud Of the other members of the com
pauy to see that he performed the duty
as II he liked it, and liked il very much,
indeed
In fact. he kissed the prima donna with
so much ardor and enthusiasm, and she
apparently reciprocated with so much
earne5tness and vigor, that the labial
scene soon became the most prominent in
the opera. A witness in describing 1t said
the baritones zeal reminded him of the
realistic manner in which Rignold, the
English actor, discharged similar duty
in Henry ""
Rignolds kiss was linked sweetness so
long drawn out, or drawn in. that when
he began the sporting gentleman in the
front rows of the theater would regularly
time him to see If he would break his
previous records. The baritones kisses
were Of the same sort, and when he adj
ministercd them in Philadelphia he
created such "a sensation that the gal
lery howled and the orchestra chairs
| tainted"
The manager rushed behind the scenes
| and asked the baritone what he meant by
| such performance. Instead Of modifying
the kiss, however, he intensified it,, until
| the composer and the author were en-
| tirely forgotten in the wild, delirious eX-
| pectancy with which the audience waited
| for that kiss.
The manager in despair discharged the
| baritone. who said he would rather sur
! render his salary than his right to kiss
| the prima donna, and to kiss her con
scientiously AMI with all the elaboration
/ that the scene demanded. The prima
| donna declared that the interests OF art
| demanded that she should support the
| position .aken by the baritone, and she
! promptly resigned an engagement worth
| 523. COZ rather than not be kissed in a
soulful and resembling style.
The manager stood firm for few days,
! but without the fervent kiss the opera
! lost much Of its magnetic power, and he
was, it Is said forced 10 capitulate and
summon the prima donna and the bari
| tone back 10 his service. A kiss for which
| a man is willing TO forego ambition and
| employment and woman 81, 900, during
| such o financial crisis as the present
must be sweet, indeed
| Who would not be a baritone or a prima
donna with such delightful perquisties as
| this