The Ravalli Republican., 1898-02-16
VANITY OF ACTORS.
The Self Esteem of the People Connected
With the Stage.

VANITY OF ACTORS.
The Self Esteem of the People Connected
With the Stage.
The self esteem Of people connect
ed with the stage is immense
There lis no profession where this
feeling is more developed. Actors,
chorus girls, dancers-every one
having to do with the theater seems
to be vain to thewerge of burlesque.
This self esteemdsnot only quality
ro1 mediocre artists. The greatest
ARE not less vain. Celebrity ought to
;put them above jealousy, hut it does
nothing of the kind.
Frederic Lemaitre, notwithstand
ing his talent, could not endure the
success of one Of his comrades. In
a melodralna he came on the stage
holding in his arms his son, who
had just been drowned. The actor
who took the part Of the dead boy
was horribly lifeless. His realism
was striking The public applauded
loudly. This did not pleasethe great
Frederic. Piqued by jealousy, ,he
pinched the drownednan, who, CON
trolling himself, made no sign. Then
Frederic tickled him, and this time
The could not hold out. He began to
laugh, and the applause was soon
changed to hisses. In a provincial
city d blood and thunder drama was
represented in which crime fol-
lowed crime, assassination succeed
led to poisonings, and, at the end, as
in every good play, the traitor, ar
rested, was condemned to be behead-
ed His head, covered with blood,
was placed on the table. Thanks to
a shole in the top, the actor, hidden
beneath, could display it as if it were
actually detached from the body,
and the illusion was complete. A
comrade, jealous of his success,
placed pinch Of snuff under the
nose, and soon the detached head
began to sneeze violently, which
changed the horror Of the spectators
to shouts of laughter.
But it is not actors alone who are
vain; simple chorus singers and
ballet girls have also their self es-
teen In an opera where the scene
'openson the seashore, a storm takes
;place; boys hired for the purpose
zshakeethe green cloth that gives the
illusion of waves. The device had
succeeded we'll, and the public were
manifesting their satisfaction by
applause. They are applauding
my wave, said one boy. "Not at
all, said another, ''it's minel'
mot on your life, it's minel'' A
dispute ensued, loud words passed
and struggle took place in the
depths Of the savage ocean. All
this time the actor was singing:
Sailors now the wind subsidies
Calm relgns Ser the waves.
But the waves had never been SO
much agitated. The director had to
go and re-establish peace by means
.of vigorous kicks in the bosom of
the ocean.
Soldiers, too, who sometimes take
part in theatrical representations,
do not always obey the actors. In
an eastern city a tragedy WAS being
enacted, having for its subject Joan
of Arc In the third act Joan, in a
combat, seizes the sword OF an Eng.
lish soldier The Englishman was q
soldier who was appearing tor the
first time. The actress tTlod to gel
the sword, but he refused to give il
to her You shan't have my
sswordl' he shouted in u rage y
won't have it taken aWayl Tho
actress insisted; the soldier defend
ed himself; a struggle took place
between Joan Of Arc and the soldier
while the theater shook with laugh
ter.
One actor whose self love was
wounded revenged himself in az
original fashion. A hairtlresser hltl
declared in the presence OF numer
Gus custo mers that the actor had III
talent; the latter went to him to bt
shaved. What do you do with al
the hair you cut Oft he asked tht
hairdresse1. II sweep it up anc
throw it away" was the answer
What fool you are!' exclailne1
the actor You can easily sell H.
They make great use Of it in .ALler
ica, and myself make a business q
exporting it.. is that sot' sa1t
the barber ''Of course Save vi
your hair. | will drop in six month.
from now and take it, y
The bargain was struck ST,
months after the actor reuppeared
II have been waiting for you will
impatience, said the hairdresser
1.-THE hair Is everywhere Even tht
back shop and my bedroom are full
Of it. "Show it to me- . The hair
dresser opened a chest that was over
flowing with it. ''StupidI' criet
the actor What on earth hav
you done2 Why, you have mixet
it all together 1t is good for moth
ing nOwi' And he hastily with