The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-04
SCRATCH-PAD
REFLECTIONS

Richard Mansfield IS a queer genius and
probably no actor on the stage at the
present time has essayed greater num-
Der of characters. nor as many requiring
as wide range Of versatility. 1t Is but
natural that with so much talent there
should be mixed many striking eccentrici-
ties. His most notable popularity is his
very apparent dislike for applause during
the progress Of play, that Is, he mates
| to respond 10 more than one encore IL
| Is especially noticeable when he Sings
! that pretty little German song IN the
second act Of prince Karl
At performance of this play in the
| Garden Theatre. New York not so very
long ago, this self-same song was en-
cored repeatedly, and by the enthusiastic
audience present. Finally he lost all pa
tieDce and stopped the play just long
| enough TO step 10 The footlishts ana OK
| CCriate the aIplauders 80 one who was
present viii ever for-ot the expression
OF his face during The delivery OF the
few incisive words which must have gone
straight TO the heart Of the crowd, as
evidenced by the ensuing silence. Ills
countenance looked as f Z had been
frozen. He told the people that applause
during The movement Of play when 1t
was oyer-done WAS in the
worst possible taste; that 10 not only
evidenced q act that the applause
came princh - from persons Of shall
low nature, who could not properly judge
Of the character portrayed. but that II
destroyed whatever sentiment might be
connected with a play. He concluded
rftf, fat Hp ell X
highest recognition of artistic work.
You could have heard pin drop in any
portion OF the theatre during the rest
of the evening.
Broadway, as Broad street is now often
called, is much afflicted these days with
lady-kilers. They stand on the corners,
sometimes five or six IN a crowd and
ogle LA belle s0ciete," rs she takes
her morning stroll. These Washers are
not so bold as their northern prototypes.
yet they often cause annoyance TO the
female promenaders, by their criticisms,
which sometimes reach the girl or girls
being discussed. There is a pretty little
maid whose father died not very long
since, leaving her mother and herself with
but a little home and no money. Per-
force the girl had to go 10 work. She is
we'll had her lines fallen on less rough
place. Despite everything she holds her
little head up and walks down Broadway
10 the Office where she is employed every
morning. and comes home the same way
i'm the evening. she wends her way home
ward after o'clock. and her beauty
has attracted consideration from the ia
dy-killcrs. None Of them had the temeri-
~ TO address her, but there Us one young
II an Who has been rather forward I'm
his attempts TO make her notice him. His
plan seemed 10 be TO walk past her and
stare sideways and then turn around
on the corner and come back looking
her full i'm the face or course the girl
was aware of his tactics, although she
took no outward notice Of tnem. II was
evidently annoying 10 her. but how could
she get rid of him: She tried plan that
few women would have had the nerve 10
carry out under the circumstances.
While going home recently / noticed this
youth repeat his attempt TO attract her
attention. She looked him full in the
face, and murmured graciously Good
evening" as ne passed her on his return
trip. Her manner was the essence Of
good breeding. Did the young man fol-
low and try to join her! Not bit OF
IL, he pulled his hat down over his eyes
and went his way. My maid goes 10 work
the same way now, but when she meets
this chap he is always looking across
the street. Why?
Nearly every magazine one picks mp one
sees some sketch Of poverty IN the large
cities. often accouIanied with pictorial
views. The sort Of poverty that strikes
ore i'm New York or Chicago is here too.
l.. 10
result, principally. Of oversight. Here we
touch il. The sort we do not reach though.
Is that which is screened by tho rocky
wall Of pride: that kind OF foolish pride
which starves and nIurmurs not, that
brought this old Commonwealth through
the stormy reconstruction days You
know the grade OF pride that Thomas
Nelson Page describes ia that quaint little |
story Run 10 Seed 1t Is that type. IN |
the heart Of that section. tho West-End, |
Wnere fashion dwells, there lives Il woman |
a lady in every sense of the word. She |
was the wife of a physician, promi- |
ntnt IN the medical fratcinities. Ike |
many others. he lived up 10 the full ex-
tent OF his means and died leaving the |
wife four small children with absolutely |
no means of support. After Il year OF |
mourning she married again nan young |
err than herself by several year,, lie |
stayed ty her side until pol erty pinched |
too hard. and now nobody knows where /
he i. The woman is warmed only by |
the embraces OF her children. She has /
10 stove 10 cook on. even il she was ever /
sure that there were things TO prepare /
Does she ask add No. Why IOt2 She is /
the daughter OF an old race. Who helps 4
her-how does she live2 Hy The aid OF |
the few things sent b. those souls which 1
leave parcels without the names Il their
donors and which cannot he returned. |
It's a queer old world isn't itg