The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-09-28
AN INFANT PRODIGY,

She was tho only child Of two a~rtistes
engaged at one Of the boulevard thea
ters.
Slaves to their profession, they had
no time to spare for Lucette, who was
left to the care of her grandmother, a
dear old lady Of 60 years, who loved
the little ''morsel,' just opening its
eyes on existence, with the strength and
fervencv Of three-father, mother and
self.
All day long she would play with
Lucette, while her son and daughter-in-
law were learning their parts OF re-
hearsing their roles at the theater. Poor
little LUcette. From her earliest days
she had been lulled to sleep by long
speeches and awakened by explosions of
dramatic wrath. How many times in
the apartment Of the Eernieres. which
looked upon u gloomy court in the Rue
de Bondy, had she been startled by the
melodraMatlc voices and extravaganza
gestures Of her parents while repeating
Robert Macaire," 1.-THE Wandering
jew" "Thirty Years Of an Actors
Life and other works OF The same
class. When the Vernicres were con
tour, the grandmother delighted to
take Lucetta for a day, outing in the
suburbs, where the grass was green
enough and the trees tall enough to
make one think oneself really in the
country.
"The child needs a breath of fresh
air." she would say, and while she sat
upon a folding stool, reading with \ Y
found attention the journal shSwN
brought with her, Lucette wouldH
upon the grass in happy innoce
amusing herself with chasing but6ot>
flies. pulling flowers o. listening to the
blackbird whistling in the branches.
On these occasions the little white
face would glow all over with health
and pleasure, while the good old dame,
made happy at seeing ''her child" look
ing so much stronger and better, would
thank God for her and lie down to rest
with a peaceful smile and quiet con-
science.
When she was 6 years old, Lucette was
lively as a kitten and sang like a lark.
The grandmother took especial pride in
teaching her to repeat passages from
Racine and fables from La Fontaine,
which the child would recite with a Sc
rious air in a voice both musical and
impressive.
About this period tho parents began
20 hoctNxu ,,pro otfonticn M tlair oh - nv,
ing little daughter.
One evening at dinner Lucette gave a
recitation, and Verniere, listening with
his mouth full, cried: wife, We must
make an artistic Of this youngster. What s
bred in the bono comes out in the flesh.
She's in love with the boards already.
She'll do"
"Not quite a bad idea said the
mother.
"Bah!" %interposed the grandmother.
There's plenty of time to tax abou,
that. There's
"Listen. granny. There'sno time Ike
the present. Now, in q very short while
they're going to put ON The Old Cor
poral' at the Theatre du Nord. I'm cas-
for the principal role, that of Corpora
Simon, in which 1 succeed tho grea
comedian, Frederick Lemaitre, but ths
manager has no one to fill the part O
Emmeline, the little girl that Corpora
Simon carries perched on his knapsaci
at the siege Of Ulm. Well, if I were t.
propose Lucette"-
you're a fool" interrupted the OH
lady, with great energy. "A child of
years-delicate. sensitive! You want t,
kill her p%erhaps?"
"Get along with you. Don't worry
yourself with nonsense Of that sort
Il The child will take no harm
She will be with me. It's an %opportunit,
not to be thrown away. She will max
respectable acquaintance and at til
same time learn her profession. Jus
leave US alone. and all will go right.
The old grandmother had to submit.
Fifteen days after Lucette was lette
perfect in the short part of Emmeline
and Verniere. having laid his propose
before the manager. brought his daugh
tor down to rehearsal.
"She's a prodigy. She'll cram tn
house." was that astute gentleman's re
Fiction M he watched the performance
At the finish no accepted the otter All
closed the bargain.
The curtain rose for the first act Q
"The Old Corporal" 1t was the cam
before Ulm. General Roquebert. WHOM
Na;sioon had ordered to ''draw the Aus
trisa.a'' IN order to mask IN importsu
movement Of tho main army. was COT