The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-12-30
$40 PER YEAR.
PREPARING FOR The STAGE

s1I..; o.iIcES4 Drori.-s
SIGN fill her soul with awe and reverence
In singing class Cynthia discovers fo,-
the first time the exact situation of Ter
diaphragm and its Importance in ga
matte scenes, and is duly Impressed with
the fact that a single exclamation. made
in the heat of. feisnea passion, requires
more breath than would be used u,, in
half q block OF hard running In dancing
class, If she has become accus toned 70
considering herself a graceful picture on
the ballroom floor, she is aStoundetl at
the stubborn unruliress of her toes and
the ungainly movements OF her head ami
arms. Why. VIII tho muscles that seemru
so obcdient to her slightest fancy in waltz
and tWo-step not fall into their proper
position and move in some sort Of ha1--
mony? How could she have ever fancied
herself graceful or fascinating?
K In fencing class Cynthia meets with
very similar experiences. She seems to be,
all knuckles and elbows, and only the be-
comingness OF her fencing costume CON
Soles her for the apparent hopelessness Of
her grace-gtving task She sees beside hel
e long Tine of girls, jauntily clad In black
accorddan-plaited skirts and white sweat
ers, grasping the fOils in their gloved
time at little red heart sewed onto the
war-llke costume Of the French fencing
master, who, conscious of the inaccuracy
OF feminine aim, Is armed, protected, and
padded to the teeth. Cynthia grasps her
weapon gingerly at first, takes position"
with an awkward self-consciousness. and
lunges wildly at the red cotton heart,
only to give the fencing master stag
gering thrust between the knees. Then
she Is set to thrust and parry with a slim
little thing who Is the expert Of the class,
and the result Is the utter humiliation OF
Cynthia and another awful blow to her
self-satisfaction.
class Of all to the new student is the
makeup class. A long, narrow room.
plentitully supplied with electric lights,
which serve to show the pupil exactly
what sort of an appearance he will make
under the glare Of the footlghts. is pro-
vtded for this class. Here the Instructor
stands at blackboard, and with the aid
Of chalk and pointer imparts the secrets
OF the hare's-foot, grease paint, dry
rouge, pearl powder, blue, brown, black
and red pencils. wrinkles, frowns, smiles
and false noses. Pupils seated at make
up tables, containing all the mysterious
appurtenances necessary to the art of
identifying and Disgusting, and surmount-
ed by long, narrow mirrors, are busy
with hare's-foot and pencils. Transforming
themselves into wonderful likenesses Of
Oriental beauties, Irish women, old wom-
en-, t0pers, peroxide soubrettes and Cy-
rano de Bergeracs One glance at herself
under the searching glare Of the electrics
serves to make Cynthia cast aside forever
her solemn resolutions that she will
never use the rouge-pot," and from that
day the temptations of her makeup box
assume sway over her soul At first her
unaccustomed fingers to make awkward,
-unbecoming daubs Of red and streaks~ of Z,
black, but q second trial and she energies
n1s- "a !,
foot full-fedged stage beauty, with
peachy cheeks. carmine lips, pink chin.
and red dotted eyes.
day arrives when Cynthia, having
worn or her first coating OF greenness,
is cast for part in one of the public
performances, of which she read with
such thrtllingg enthusiasm in the pros
pectus. All the critics and many of the
managers are expected to be present, and
the new student feels that it is to be-
the crucial test. Now, if she would only
remember that there will be hundred
such crucial tests in the long career that
stretches out before her, and that though
ninety-nine of them may spell failure"
there is still chance that the hundredth
may spell success she could still sthe.
loud beating of her heart and crush out
the black fear that seems Juggling there
At last the eventful night is at hand
All is silent in the big, cold, barry space.
place look SO huge and dark and awful
All is hustle and f1utter and hurry in the
dressing rooms. Half Of the pupils are
fustered and have forgotten something
while the other half look exasperatingly
cool and are ready to go on almost an
hour before the call boy passes down the
corridor with his rousing cry OF "orches-
ira" The cool, calm presence Of the
manager, as he quietly moves from room
to room, making suggestions and speak.
ing a few words of encouragement to
each faint-hearted pupil, is like oil poured
upon troubled waters.
Cynthia dons her first costume, and
with trembling fingers applies the rules
for makeup In good earnest to her pale
cheeks and shining eyes. She is charmed
with her dazzling appearance in all her
stage finery, and descends from her dress
ing room with beating heart. Before she
has time to realize it. her cue is called
and she finds herself in the center OF the
stage, looking dizzily out at glare Of
light and black pit beyond, where only
bonnet or two Is distinguishable. My!
was that little voice, away off there in
the corner. hers? Just at first. she is
sttn and frightened and mechanical, but
as the play goes on she gains in strength
and zest and acquits herself very credit
ably, much to the relief of all concerned
Contrary to her dreams at home in her
little white bedroom, the managers do
not make thousand inquiries about
"the wonderfully brilliant girl with the
red hair who played Juliet so magnifi-
Gently nor offer to engage her on the
spot, out good critic puts her name in
me paper, next day. with long list Of
others, whom he designates as worthy
OF mention, and she goes back to her
classes and her muscular, vocal and in
teilectual labors with sigh Of relief and
completely altered opinion Of herself.