Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-28
Experiences of a Critic.

nounced LheelDedI) appealed as wei
TO the better sluL OF his nature. il
was an appeal W4.U5e merits he made
haste TO recognize.
Until SmiLuers met her he haO
thought OF marriage as a speculation
in which his friends seemed to have
made absurd failures, and as handy
ending TO plays which should close
dramatically at or about 1920
Smithers was-Is, for that matter-a
dramatic critic.
When THE FulIness of Life Was
produced at The Empire his criticism
Of the performance was so pleasing &c
the management that they put it first
on the list upon The poster which was
placed conspicuously in many parts OF
the town.
There was personal reason for this
special laudation winch Smithers him
self hardly suspected at the moment.
There is in the most calculating OF
men a spirit of chivalry which ap-
pears Unexpectedly. A pretty girl in
whatever distress wrings the heart OF
any man not responsible for the dis
treSS.
Smithers was sensitive to a dramatic
injustice, and his ideal practically was
an extra" His prerogative, within
certain limits, was to discover unrec-
ognized genius and to deprecate the
recognized.
The Fullness of Life"
"; L. 49, -
lens of the day The leading woman
an ample blonde of esthetic proper
tions, played the role of an adventur-
eSS of the modern type-a woman cor
rupt in mind and manner. but keeping
her place il society and outwitting
many of the good people in a discour-
aging fashion.
The action of the piece called for the
appearance of a dressmaker's assist
ant. The wicked woman is made by
the dramatist to scold the girl SOundly
for a delay, and to slap her in the
face. The girl has but a single line
to speak, but it is appropriate. And it
struck Smithers on the opening night
of the piece that although the contrast
of good little seamstress and bad big
mondaine is an old one, he had never
seen vice and virtue more effectively
compared.
The young seamstress was pretty
we'll formed, as virtuous women should
be to make their position convincing
And she had just that modest way oil
using her eyes, that gentle manner OF
speaking, which Smithers, in his
mood. liked. He was much attracted
to this little seamstress. lie thought
perhaps he would marry E.r.
If he had seen her two weeks befOr+
she might have impressed him less, in
deed, not at all But his personal al
fairs suddenly had taken such turn
that he questioned the veracity OF all
women, and rather hoped he might
die, or have a serious illness
So it came about that he hungered
to know such q woman as he felt
Ernestine Gilbert to be. That she
was but heoirnor on the ladder Of
lame rather added to his interest, anG
piqued his vanity. He believed she
had talent and i: would be his proud
privilege to help her develop it.
These dramatic fellows are vel
gifted with imagination, and STither'
was young.
Thus he wrote of the production
good-humoredly, even enthusiastically
as a piece which should be seen by al
WHO are interested in the vital ques
lions of the day.
He omitted to speak in terms o
praise of the performance of the lead
ing woman-the ample blond-anC
thus piQued her. If Smithers honestl,
had explained this omission to himsel
he would have said that he was an
moved because his seamstress, With he
undoubted womanliness and talen
was forced TO play so inconsequentia
part, while the leading lady, VIII
might or might not be qualified, ha
matters all her own way.
Smithors guessed that Miss Gilber
was poor, lived in a hall bed room
had hard time to get along, and tina
she knew few men. She would :,
much gratified to find that a person G
his standing took an interest in hel
He resolved to call.
Next day he did. It was an unusua
proceeding, but Smithers argued tha
it would be less embarrassing for hi1
to see her at her home than to sen
Some Heart Experience 2
his card to her at the theater. The9
trical people are so jealous of eac
other; they would put base motiv.
upon his attentions
Miss Gilbert was in. And sh
pleased him. Enormously she cor
fided to him her enthusiasms, and h
was charmed. His call did not seel
to surprise her, but Smithers a,
counted for that by her inexperienc
She had been in the city but a con
paratively short time, had come fro
the country. filled with ambition to
great things. Her manner half sh
half scornful of Smithers' sage cal
tons, was delightful He learned
her antecedents that they were mode
country folk who wished she wou
come home. Smithers made the obje
of his visit that of telling her he, {
experienced critic, believed in her ia
ent and would be glad to do anythi1
he could for her. She asked him ear
estly to call again. He solemnly pror
Used TO do so.