The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-07-06

tne coming event. Everything thus far
had tended toward thoroughly good pro-
1nction. The entire company-principala
chorus, band-all acted as IL they had,
each member, personal interest in the
welfare Of the new work. All-with the
Inevitable one exception. That exception
was the prima donna OF the Folly compa-
ny, Rose Blanville. Now, II must be con
fessed that Miss Blanville was good sing
er, a clever actress and, moreover, great
iavorite with the patrons Of the Folly.
Butch, how those three letters do inter
fore with the even current Of life's affairsi
.-she was not true artist at heart. She
was tricky, as Eighty IA woodcock,
~ unreliable az a tailor's promises, and
OF late she had tried to show her independ-
ence by sighting her work, by breaking
the established rules Of the theater in a
score OF petty ways. In all England there
was no fairer or more just stage manager
than Henley, but he did expect the rules
to be obeyed Only the "fakirs' or "shirk-
trs" ever found fault with his discipline.
But in the case OF Miss Blanville IL was
"grin and bear her impertinences, her
small misdemeanors, for Rose knew there
was not leading soprano disengaged in
all Great Britain. Kenyon knew this, Hen
ley knew IL, so they hoped she would grow
better natured, and from pride's sake, If
nothing more, GO her best in the new opera
The rehearsal Of today was the second
full one-that IL, OF the entire opera and
by all engaged in It. Excepting one or two
small kicks Of Miss Blanville, everything
had passed of most promisingly, and the
hopes of the author and composer were on
high key and at concert pitch.
Several days passed, and rehearsals con-
tinued. improvement was shown Mt each
successive trial, and even the prima donna
behaved quite decently. Changes natural
ly suggested themselves to the author and
composer, and a short scene with few
solo lines was introduced into act of
''The Waysde Inn" 1t seemed to strike
both Kenyon and Henley at once and alike
that Constance Marriott would do this lit
tie bit part nicely. Therefore that young
lady was made happy and proud by being
chosen to play this small part and also by
the knowledge that her name would no
longer be submerged and hidden in the
line-villagers, peasants, etc, by the la
dies and gentlemen of the chorus. No, al
though it would be the last on the list
there it would read: "Stella "a dairy maid
Miss Constance Marriott"
1t was quite pleasant, too, TO find that
the choice had been good one, for Miss
Marriott sang and acted the little scene
charmingly. True, both Henley and Ken
yon gave her an unusual amount of time
and attention in the early rehearsals, but
soon, however she needed no further in
structions
Thus it went on till the Friday night
before the Monday night on which "The
Wayside Inn" was to be first produced.
The local papers had been full of glorious
"advance notices. of the event, and every
seat salable had been secured for the open
ing night. Indeed the London journals
had taken up the story, and the musical
critics of The Times, The Standard, The
Telegraph and half dozen more of the
leading dailies in the metropolis and else
where had requested "seats to be set aside
for them for the first night.
Henley was happy. Kenyon was conf
dent. As the former said Everything is
coming our way" Had he foreseen Friday
nights happenings and their consequences
he might have added, "And the devil came
also"
There Is very strict rule regarding
smoking in the dressing rooms of n thea
ter. Actors-yes, and actresses, so far as
cigarettes go-often break the rule, but if
caught it means sure fine, unless for
some special reason there is a winking at
the oflense. Now, Henley could forgive
anything almost but the ladies smoking
cigarettes in their dressing rooms. Too
much lace and flimsy stuffs hang around
or lie scattered about on the chairs not to
make it very dangerous if lighted ciga-
rette should be dropped carelessly about.
IL might result in dire and dread panic,
a conflagration, the loss of many lives.
On the third floor of that part of the the
ater devoted to the dressing rooms in a
large room where some half dozen of the
chorus ladies were won't to attire them
selves for the stage between the acts Con
stance Marriott sat alone on this Friday
night. There was no change of dress for
the beginning of the next act of the opera
being played, and the fair chorus girl had
sought seclusion from the chatter of her
companions in the dressing room. Per
haps she was 'blue.n At any rate, she
seemed TO be thinking deeply of something
or somebody, and with closed eyes she
leaned her pretty head against the wall,
her chair carelessly tipped back. She was
aroused from her reverie by the sound Of
voices, not near by-no, they seemed, al
though every word could be distinctly
heard, to be far away. Comparing sight
and sound, she heard as one sees through
opera glasses reversed. Miss Marriott was
mortal, a woman, and-well, she listened.
She even blushed at the sound of the voices,
for she recognized the speakers.
Miss Blanville, I've asked you n score
Of times not to smoke cigarettes in your
dressing room. It's against the rules"
"You don't like it, chi" The sound of
woman's voice came up to the listener.
"No, f" was the quick reply, a little loud
er, "but that's not the reason of the rule
nor of my request. Smoking in the thea
ter invalidates our insurance. If p
"Our insurance-ahem Our insurance.
was the sarcastic interruption.
81 beg your pardon. The insurance.
Here came pause
"Will you be so kind as TO throw that
cigarette awayfN
Eyes, when I've smoked all wish to Of
IL and not before, was the answer.
"Then, Miss Blanville, l shall fine you
f5."
"You will, will you? And I'll not pay
II, said the feminine voice.
81 think You will, was the subdued
but firm rejoinder in male tones.
"And know blamed well I'll not, ~ an
swered the woman.
Just as the conversation ended at this
point another of the chorus girls came into