The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-29
A CRITICS HEART.

Alfred Smithers,' who was young.
loved. He had loved before, but never
so creditably Ernestine Gilbert (pro-
nounced zheelbear) appealed as well to
the better side Of his nature. Itwas an
appeal whose merits he made haste to
recognize
Until Snithers mot her he had thought
Of marriage as speculation, in which
bis friends seemed TO have made absurd
failures, and as a handy ending to plays
which should close dramatically at or
about 1880. Smithers was--is, for that
matter--a dramatic critic.
When "Ihe Fulluess of Life" was
produced at the Empire, his criticism of
the performance was so pleasing to 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 a personal reason for this
special laudation which Smithers him
self hardly suspected at the moment.
He had seen his ideal in the flesh for
the first time.
There is in the most calculating of
men a spirit Of chivaly which appears
unexpectedly. Apretty girl in whatever
distress wrings the heart of any man not
responsible for the distress.
Smithers was sensitive to dramatic
injustice, and his ideal practically was
an "extra" His prerogative, within
certain limits was 10 discover unrecog-
nizod genius and to deprecate the reoog-
nized
"The Fullness of Life'-this piece
dealt with the social problems of the
day. The leading woman, an ample
blond Of aesthetic proportions, played
the role of an adventures of the modern
type-a woman corrupt in mind and
manner, but keeping her place in soci-
ETY. and outwitting many of the good
people in a discouraging fashion.
The action Of the piece called for the
appearance Of dressmaker's assistant.
The wicked society 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 single line to speak,
but il is appropriate. And it struck
Smithers on the opening night Of the
piece that although the contrast of good
little seamsress and bad big mondaine
is an old one he had never seen vice and
virtue moro effectively compared.
The young seamstress was pretty,
well formed, us yirtuous as women
should be TO make their position CON
vincing, and she had just that modest
way of using her eyes, that gentle man
ner Of speaking which Smithers, in his
mood, liked. He was much attracted TO
the little seamstress. He thought per-
haps he would marry her.
If ne had seen her the week before,
she might have impressed him less, in
deed not at ALL But his personal affairs
suddenly had taken such turn that he
questioned the veraeity Of all women
and rather hoped that he might die or
have serious illness.
So it came about that he hungered to
know such woman as he felt Ernestine
Gilbert TO be. That she was but be-
ginner on the ladder of fame rather
added to his interest and piqued his
vanity. He believed she had talent. and
it would be his proud privilege to help
her develop it.
These dramatic fellows are well gifted
with imagination, and Smithers was
young.
Thus he wrote Of the production good
humoredly, even enthusiastically. as
niece which should be seen by all who
are interested in the vital questions of
the day
He omitted to speak i'll terms of
uraise of the performance Of the leading
woman. the ample blond, aud this
pioued her. Ii Smithers honestly had
explained this omission to himself. he
would have said that he was annoyed
because his seamstress, with her un-
doubted womanliness and talent. was
forced to play SO inconsequentiala la part
while the leading lady, who might or
might not be qualified. had matters her
own way.
Others guessed that Miss Gilbert was
moor. lived in hall bedroom. bad
hard time to get along. and that she
know few men. She would be much
eratiiied to find that person OF ms
standing took an interest in her lie re
solved TO call The stage doorkeeper
rave him her address. Next day he went
r was an unusal proceeding. but smith
ers orgued that il would be less embar-
s',ssino Cor him 10 see her at her home
than 10 send his card to her at the the.
ater. Theatrical people are so jealous OF
each either. They would put base mo-
uvss upon his attentions.
Miss Gilbert was in. And she pleased
him. Ingenuously she conhded to nm
her cnthusiasms, and he was cnarnleu'
nis call did moi seem to surprise her.
ant smithors accounted for that by her
inexperienced.
sho had been ia the city but con'
paratively short time, had come rom
,na couptry. filled with ambition TO 90