The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-29

Josiyn has him completely In bis power
and.that II he speaks We shall bp ruined.
alone can save the family honor by
marrying the man despise and losthe.'
"Tbat was the nfst page of my story.
II will show that the plot was one never
bsfore used" said Miss Russell, throw
ing back her pretty head and laughing
heartily. 'lt's not 30 bad though In
some ways, 10 it?" she added. "You see,
l have avoided the usual two page of de-
scription introducing impossible SMILES
and elaborate pictures of things that have
nothing to do with the story. No, l
pitched right into the neat of the fray at
once, taking the advice OF one of Beatrice
Harra6en's characters long before that
character was created. You will remem-
ber perhaps, that In 'Ships thst Pass In
the Night the 'Dissereeable Man when
giving so,ys advice to Berpardine regard
ing writing a story said: III you must
have q sunset, nave IL a short one.'
what a pity that all your writer's don't
have those words printed and hung over
their desks 1t would save them SO much
trouble and their readers still more.
"Thst should ever become an actress
had at that time never entered my head.
II had given vent to such thought /
should at once have received mild re-
buke from my mother, who ut that time
shared the almsst universal prejnoice of
country people of her generation. l am
sure she ould nave tainted IL any one
had told her that not only her two
daughters, prim little country girls, but
also baby Tommie, who afterward was
celebrated ss Little Lord Fauntleroy out
was then just beginning TO lisp his first
words, wonld in after years be stage
folk
"How people change In their ideas,
don't they? And how natural 1t 10 for
parents to think thoir children great in
whatever they undertake. AS l said be-
fore, my adopting the stage as prcfss-
sion wac pure chance. 10 oblige some
young people in the church of which my
father aud mother were members, I con-
sented to take part in one of those dramas
for which church fairs are. noted,
which, IL presented by professionals
with the suitable surroundings of seem
cry and lights would be wicked; but
which when staged by amateurs sne only
wicked because the work OF the author is
sure TO he murdered. In this instance,
sickness had at the last minute prevented
the leading woman from appearing and
was pressed into service not
because / was thought to be particu-
larly suited to the part, out because
was celebrated among my school mates
for the rapidity with which could COM
init to memory.
81 TOOK the part in the morning and
played it that night. No one was more
surprised than myself when / found i
was the hit of the piece. From that Dme
was the leading lady OF all the village
,heatricals. played for church fairs, q.
A. X. festivals, high school receptions and
benefits. When we moved to the city,
which We did soon sfterward, / drifted
into the saine sort of thing, and from
well known dramatic club it was such an
easy and natural step TO the professional
stage, that was an actress before knew
it. My first professional appearance, by
the by, taking place IN that celebrated
catapault of stage TALENT II. NJ. s.
Pinafore.'"