The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08

With the opening OF the dramatic sea-
son this year an unusual number OF stage
struck girls have been discovered about
the city. The influence that has caused
such an outbreak of the histrionic FEVER
at this time is difficult to. locate,
but there Is no question that the per-
centage Of the young women who have
ambition to shine with incandescent ra-
dance before the footlights is on the IN
crease. Many insist that the desire for
laurels on part Of some of the young peo-
pie Is the result of kirmess enterprises
and other affairs in which young amateurs
are successful as entertainers. This may
be the case in certain circles, while in 9TH
ers the cause may be attributed to the In
ducements offered by the managers OF the
numerous fly-by-night combinations that
are floating about the country. These
companies, with the exception of one or
two leading characters, are usually made
up entirely of ambitious amateurs who
are working solely for glory and hygenic
results; and the managers are willing that
country girls with fresh. pretty faces
should have the opportunity OF being
courted on the stage by Lord Wibblety-
wobblety;" dying in the arms OF the
heavy villain, or posing in abbreviated
costume in the Amazon march. SO long
as the ambitious creatures are actuated
by pure love for the art" When the
stage-struck woman begins to feel that
she Is entitled to salary, her place Is
usually filed by the first applicant with
a pretty face. And the young woman
with high histrionic ideals returns to
her former sphere. may be. or goes to the
bad. There are few exceptions TO the rule,
and the manager who deliberately advises
young people regardless of qualifications
to enter upon Il profession In which fail-
ure Is almost inevitable is little better
than the confidence man or bunco-steerer.
In perusing an old scrap book the other
day l stumbled upon poem which must
have been published in the ffties. The
author Is unknown; but whoever he may
have been. the sentiment in the somewhat
crude composition shows that the writer
comprchendcd the proper view that one
should take of life. For the benefit Of
readers who were born long after Its pub
lication, the poem is given:
THE HAPPIEST TINE is NOW.
Talk not to me of future bliss,
Talk not of joys gone by:
For us the happiest time is this
When Love bids Time to fly.
Tho future doubts may overcast
To shadow Hopes young brow,
Oblivion's veil may shroud the past
The happiest time is now.
Though flowers in spicy vases thrown
Some odors yet exhale,
Their fragrance when In air tits blown
Brcathcs sweeter on the gale.
Like faded flowers each parted bliss
Let memory keep: but how
Can by gone joys compare with this?
The happiest time is now.
Unmarked our course before US lies
on Times eternal tide
And soon the sparkling ripple dies
AS DER the wave we glide.
Like birds. which weary of the wing,
Are rocked on swinging bough,
Wen gently float and gaily sing:
The happiest time is now.
In this age when we have occasion to
censure SO many of our American women
for their foreign title hunting, 1t Is re-
freshing to know that there are some of
our girls who do not forget their Yankee
heritage as soon as they step foot upon
British soil. The following Is an extract
from letter written by Miss Portal to
friends in this city: II went to a tea at
the home of Sir Henry Oakly, given by
his daughter in our honor, after which
she took us to u garden party given by
the Duke of Teck in the Royal Botanical
gardens, where. with the Duchess of Teck
and Duchess of York, they received. Miss
Oakly asked me If | wanted to be pre-
sented. but ! declined as in that case
would have to bend my Yankee knee be-
fore each of them. I thought | would not
bow before any Britisher just to have 1t
said | was presented to royalty" Miss
Portal is u California girl who Is doing
the continent. She visited our city dur
ing the summer while en- route from
California to New York, being the guest
of Mr.. and Mrs. Van Dyke, Of Jefferson
avenue.
The bicycle scorcher has a new fad
which is becoming more popular daily. No
crook neck squash flyer now considers his
wheel perfect unless it Is equipped with
an arrangement of strings which produce
aeolian harp effects when he rushes along
the streets. The sounds produced by this
instrument are like the echoes of a distant
buzz saw. While not pleasing to the ear
they amuse the scorcher and are Of utility
in giving warning to the pedestrian that
danger is abroad in form Of the rapid