The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-12-25
THEATER BOX FOUR.

| IHEAIER BUA EUUK.
LIE monde est lie iivre des femmes.-Rosseau
Away back in the seventies we were
touring in the midlands with the legiti-
mate, and success had attended us thus
far We were booked at 7. R. Trevor
ton for six nights, and there opened
with Hamlet" on Monday to a full
house
During the entr aote had time to
| glance round the theater and take stock
of the audience. The pit and circle were
filed with respectable tradesmen, arti
sans and others, while throng of the
proverbisl irrepressible "boys" were
perched, like the sweet little cherub
that sits up aloft, in that region known
to the playgoers as ''the gods"
Only one of the boxes was engaged,
and this, No 4. on the first tier. 1t was
occupied by lady, elegantly dressed,
who, noticed, sorutinized me through
her pince nez and occasionally resorted
to pair of opera glasses.
Whenever was on the stage she had
her eyes on me, and 1t was a matter of
comment among the company that it
was only when l appeared to recite the
lines set down for me that she appeared
to eyince the slightest interest in the
piece.
However, nothing of note occurred.
The curtain fell at the close of the play,
and the house rapidly emptied.
The following morning was chatting
to Guy Tracey, the acting manager,
when he remarked:
lyon We evidently caught on here. I"
"How's that2'' / hazarded.
1.-The lady who occupied box has
been in this morning and booked it for
the entire week. -
"She's evidently devotee to the
Swan"
$50 much the better, If she patron
ICES Thespis to this tune" observed
Tracey.
The subject then dropped, but at the
evening performance the mysterious
lady was at her post, as attentive lis
tener as ever.
On this occasion 1 took the opportu-
nifty of CHANGING at her from the stage.
She was decidedly handsome, but there
was weird, vacant look about her eyes
that was almost supernatural Again
she conferred her attentions ON myself
and ignored the efforts of my confreres.
Again the badinage in the greenroom
waxed fast and furious
AS / left the theater that night |
thought perceived our fair patroness on
h., 20 Cd 80 ~.Ool nxx% I4c
missed the idea as preposterous
Thursday was fixed for my benefit.
and, as before, the lady was to be seen
in box 4.
This is getting interesting" /
thought. IT wonder who the Mephis-
topheles she isP''
The call boy cut short further medita-
lions, and in few moments l was on
the stage.
Throughout the evening she watched
me closely and more than once applaud
ed vigorously. At the end of the play
was "called, and she then hurled
large bouquet at me-
The affair was growing interesting. l
acknowledged the compliment and re-
tired / am bound to confess that be-
yond its small intrinsic value the bou-
quet possessed but few charms for me,
and meeting the lady who played Ophe
liza handed her the posy, remarking:
Render to Caesar.
She took the floral Offering and in
doing so dropped billet doux from be-
tween the buds to the stage.
"Fiel'' exclaimed little Miss Chester.
us it thus you value your souvenirs?"
laughed, picked up the note and re-
tired. My toilet finished. | was just
leaving the dressing room when 1t oc
Cured to me the note was still unread
To unfold 1t was tho work of sec
ond 1t ran as follows:
HOTEL VICTORIA. PREVENTION
"Box 4" presents her compliments to the
beneaciare, Mr.. - and will be pleased to see
him at supper this evening. BEBE
This was embarrassing, but resolved
to carry 1t into effect, despite the scan
dai likely to arise from the circum-
stances.
Rushing home to my room, hastily
changed my coat for the conventional
abomination of evening dress. This
done, made my way to the Victoria,
arriving as the cathedral clock was
striking IL.
1t was evident my visit was anticipat
ed, as no sooner had l entered the hall
than a waiter queried:
"Mr. -? Yes, sir. Cold night, sir
This way, sir. Room Z. Mind the step,
sir. Skating tomorrow, sir. Mind the
step. !"
/ found the door of room open and
the lady herself standing by it, waiting
in apparently feverish eagerness 1t was
very flattering.
She saluted me with:
"Ah, mon annie, you are little late,
but forgive you'll
l hesitated at the door; but, with o
reassuring smile, she babe me enter and
be seated.
did so and found recherche supper
prepared, but no other guests visible.
While she was engaged in giving her
instructions to the waiter ! had an OPP
portunity Of scrutinizing my mysterious
hostess Apparently about 30 years OF
age and of commanding appearance, she
conveyed the idea that she was not
lady to be trified with. A profusion Of
lot black hair was ooiled heavily about
her head. Her nose was slightly retrous-
SO, which, If anything, added to the
air Of abandon she assumed
The only feature about her, however,
/ that struck me as remarkable were her
eyes There was tho same weird, vacant
gaze about them that noticed at the
theater Whenever she spoke to me,
they became unusually brilliant
Diminishing the waiter, she crossed to
the cabinet and took out small salver
the contents Of which were hidden by
cover. This she placed on the table.
Nov for supper, she said II have
here, " tapping the salver with her fan,
"a positive triumph-in fact, 'crea-
tion' that would put 6oyer to the
blush And she laughed merrily.
MAY p
mot yet. " she said lyon actors re-
serve the Transformation scene for the
final not Ihonor your traditions and do
likewise. "