Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-27
Continued.

pretty place. comloftaple, S0SS!'
bright. and deserving of its name, in
broad day, it is none OF these things.
A sQualid drearinesS seems TO have
settled upon tit has a peculiar at
mosphere of its own--au atmosphere
dark, heavy, and strangely Favored
with odors Of escaping gas and crushed
orange peel. Behind the scenes these
odors mingle with a chronic, all-per-
vading smell Of beer-beer, which the
strangers sensitive nose detects di-
rectly, in spite of the choking clouds of
dust which arise from the boards at
the smallest movement of any part of
the painted scenery. The Brilliant
had gone through much ill-fortune-
its proprietors never realized any
financial profit till they secured Violet
We're. With her came prosperity. Her
liter absence of all reserye-the frank
ness with which she threw modesty to
the winds,-the vigor with which she
danced a regular ':break- down, "-roar-
ing a comic song of the lowest type, by
way of accompaniment,-th energetic
manner in which, metaphorically
speaking, she kicked at the public with
her shapely legs,-all this overflow of
genius on her part drew crowds to the
Brilliant nightly, and the grateful and
happy managers paid her handsome
salary, humored all her caprices, and
stinted and snubbed for her sake, all
the rest of the company, She was I'M
mensely popular-the golden youth"
of London rayed about her dyed hair,
painted eyes, and carmined lipS-eyen
her voice, as coarse as that of dust
man, was applauded to the echo, and
Ter dancing excited the widest enthu-
siasm. Dukes sent her presents of
diamond ornaments-gifts of value
fused their to their own wives and
daughters, Royal Highnesses thought
IL 40 Shame W ve seen lounSlnS near
her stage dressing room door, in
short, she Yves in the zenith Of her ca
reer, and, being thoroughly unprin-
cinlod aUdarious'v insolent, and Who'll
ly without conscience,-she enjoyed
herself immensely.
At the very time when Lady Wins
ieigh'S carriage was nearing the
Strand, the grand morning rehearsal
of a new burlesque was on" at the
Brilliant-and Violets harsh tones,
raised to sort of rough masculine
roar, were heard all over the theatre,
H. dc. ar -
plants according to her changeful
humors. She sat in an elevated posi-
ton above the stage on Juttlng beam
of wood painted to resemble the
snarled branch af a tree, swinging
her legs to and fro and clicking the
heels OF her shoes together in time to
the mild scraping of a violin, the play
er whereof was trying over the hrst
few bars of the new Jig in when
she was ere long to distinguish herself
She was handsome woman, with a
fire, fair skin, and large, full, dark
eyes-she had wide mouth, which,
nearly always on the grin, displayed
to the full her strong white teeth
her figure was inclined to excessive
embonpoint, but this rather endeared
her to her admirers than otherwise
many OF thse gentlemen being prone TO
describe her feshly charms by the
epithet "Prime!" as though she were
.1a..ting pig or other animal getting
..xudy for killing.
Tommy! Tommy" she screened
presently. Are you going to sleep!
Do you expect me to dance to dirge
you lazy devil"
Tommy, the player OF the vloilh'
paused in. his efforts, and looked up
drearily. He was an old man, with a
lean. long body and pinched features
mis- lips had curious way, too, OF
trembling when he spoke, as II he were
ready to cry.
81 can't help it," he said slowly u
don't know it yet. | must practice i
q bit at home. My sights not so good
a 1t used to be-
Such a pair of optics, love, you've
never, never seen
One my mother BACKED last night, the
tother it is green!'
sang Violet, to the infinite delight OF
all the nwashed-looking supernum-
eraries and ballet girls who were scat
tered about the stage, talking and
laughing.
Shut up, Tommy" she continued
You're always talking about your
eyesight. l warn you. II you say too
much about it you'll lose your place
We don't want blind fitdlers in the
Brilliant. Put down Rur catgut
screamer, and fetch me a&int. Ask
for veres own tipple-they'll twig"
Tommy obeyed, and shuffled off on
bis errand. AS he departed,-a little
nan with very red face, wearing a
stove-pipe hat very much on one side
bounced on the stage as II some one
had thrown him there like ball.
Now. ladies, ladies'" he shouted
xarningly. Attention! Once again
please! The last figure once again.
The struggling groups ambled hast
;ly into something like order. and the
little man continued-"0ne.t two. three
- -1.raa+ l1sftI r-iOhtf Vary.