The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-01-25

w tilC iiiC huu DcCI uotu to-UCl-
rible! Still l stuck to my profession in the
face of more discouragements and hard
ships than you can imagine. | shall never
forget the turning point of my career.
"Tell me-" | said
81 was engaged for quite small business
in stock company in Edinburg, and at
one of the rehearsals we got message to
say that the leading man was too i'll to
appear that night. 1t was a tremendous
part. / may as well name it, 1t was
Hamlet. The manger was in despair. He
looked round at all the company hope
i lessly. Suddenly his eye fell on me, strip
ling that was. Why he selected me |
shall understand, but the next moment he
beckoned me forward. 'Burdenell, he eX-
claimed, you will play Hamlet tonight"
Everything swan before me, 1 almost
tainted. Then l grasped that my chance
had come at last. 4 will, sir, answered,
and will make a success of it. | knew
and loved the part. | went out on Calton
hill and there acclaimed Shakespeare's
| lines to the blue sky
When the hour approached for me to go
/ down to the theatre, my teeth chartered,
Miss Cleeve. The thought OF the critical
audience awaiting me- of the Edinburgh
press sitting there in solemn Judgment I'M
nerved me so completely that it seemed to
me | should never dare to open my mouth
upon the stage. My companions in the
lous; but, as it happened, it was the best
thing for me they could have done. All
my resolution returned The call boy
summoned me. | strobe to the wings, my
heart on fires My cue came. From that
have never looked back!
| He tossed off his champagne, swept the
hair from his forehead and smiled at me
pensively. "But you are encouraging me
to bore you with my "reminiscences, he
said. "Talk to me of YOURSELF
did. spent very enjoyable evening
and heard afterward that George Brudenell
had called me a charming woman" 1t
was arranged that should accompany our
hospital to a celebration supper at the
Diadem theatre, and l looked forward to
meeting him again.
The play had been running 200 nights or
300 nights, am sure, forget which. 1t
was a great success, anyhow, and there
were toasts and congratulatory speeches
and that sort of thing
George Brudenall paid me great atten-
ton. This time he did speak of a book |
had written and-shall | ever forget my
ecstacy asked me if | would care to col
laborate with him on drama.
81 am not an author, he said, "but my
knowledge OF the stage will be useful.
have an idea for piece. of course | play
the leading part
consented rapturously, and he sent me
his idea the following day. [ cannot say
that liked it very much, but | went to
work on it zealously, and sometimes he
called on me to sec how was getting on.
At least to see how | was getting on was
ostensibly the motive of his visits, but in
stead of discussing the play | generally
found that we were talking of ourselves.
, He confessed to me that he was not a
happy man; that his had been a mistaken
marriage and when he sighed and leaned
his head YEARLY on his white hand my
heart ached for him.
That he liked me there was no doubt.
Whether | was in danger or not would
not determine even to myself. But he
came often and we corresponded |
cannot say what the end might have been
| only know what it was.
At last the play was done, and sent it to
him. After week | got note begging
me to call. He was in his ''sanctum," as
he termed it, when | was shown in. The
manuscript was lying on the desk.
"Sit down." he said, with bright
smile. Glow happy it makes me to see
you here"
took a chair in front of him.
you like the drama?" | asked.
| l ike 1t, lie SAID, yes, but there are q
good many alterations needed. The lead
ing lady's part must be weakened?'
| "Wcakened."
st detracts from me, y he said. ''She
has too many good lines. Look here, for
instance; | have marked some of the places. "
! looked. He had marked 80 places if
he had marked one.
"Anh something else he said. "You
have not let me finish every act. l must
bring down all the curtains"
"But-but is that artistic under the cir
cumstances?"
"Oh, artistic" he laughed. "This is
business, not art, my dear Miss Cleeve.
The applause is too distributed as you have
written the piece. l have to stand on the
stage in one of the scenes while the leading
lady gets two distinct rounds. You must
cut those lines out and give something as
good to me instead.
The servant came in with message, and
he begged me to excuse him.
l was glad to be left alone. was dumb
founded. This was business, not art!'