The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-22
ONE EXPERIENCE.
Russell Tells Of a Drubblng He and
His Brother Received.
Were Mistaken For SERVANTS BY Two Dis
charged Hotel Employees.

plimentary all the actors are 10 a lady
when they think she has a newspaper
column at her Observation-Disclosures
two Irish chambermaids? And for
that matter you have got hold of the
wrong fellow this time, you know. for
James does about all the talking on the
stage and he ought TO do IL all off the
stage when il comes TO talking shop. ="
Nobody would ever dream 10 see these
two clever young men in street garb
that they could possibly be the same in
dividuals who. In the costume of Irish
girls. are exciting so much laughter
at Keith's. They are about as spruce
and dapper a pair. and at the same
time about as quiet and unassuming, as
one may often meet anywhere, and It's
hard to think Of them in skirts and
aprons. keeping up an incessant flow OF
witty talk and frisking about the stage
like kittens.
Its only actresses who like TO be in
terviewed,". said James. he OF the stage
auburn hair and uubridled feet. They
can smell an interviewer three miles
off, and invariably run down the game
in quick order. Bless you, there's no
escaping them, but men performers, as
a rule. are quite satisfied 10 attend to
business. draw their salaries and then
keep quiet. The glare OF the footlights
is quite enough, the glare OF publicity
is too much.
But I'll tell you a good story, though
so that you'll carry away at least a
pleasant memory Of US. though or
course there's nothing i'm il for your
use. You see, we were to take part in
a swell entertainment for the delecta-
ton OF the 400 at the Waldorf Astoria
i'm New York last week. and we agreed
10 do precisely the same Irish cham
bermainds' sketch we are doing here
bermaids sketch we are doing here this
week.
'"rhey gave us a room way up in the
top story i'm some back part OF the
house i'm which TO dress. and, after dim
ner. we went up there and made up all
ready for the show The hall from
which our room opened was not very
brightly lighted, the chief illumination
at our end of IL coming from "a red
light. which you know in New York
Is required in hotels to indicate the d.
rection of the stairways.
well. being all ready, we started out
for the elevator, in full war paint, so
To speak. Just after we got into the
hall another door, nearly opposite that
OF our dressing room, opened ana out
came two servant girls. apparently en-
ployed in the house. AS soon as one or
them saw us, she gave little eNcIa-
nation, i'm which l heard the devil,
then there was just momentary Wills
per and both rushed after US.
1--WE turned around just in time to
get the biggest combination licking l
ever want to experience. | say COM
bination licking because. while they
fell upon us like highwaymen, using n
dustpan and a broom with powerful ef-
feet on our anatonomies in general, at the
same time they gave us such tongue
lashing as ] never heard before. on,
but we got a lot OF good lines for our
act out of it, and don't you forget II.
"Of course, / never would admit that
anybody less than Fitzsimmons could
thrash us, least of all a couple of wo-
men: but you can hardly imagine how
suddenly they fell upon us, what sur
prise IL all was and how completely
daZed we were for few minutes. Well,
while we remembered that they were
women and tried 10 be as gentle as
could be, yet. when we got our second
wind. so 20 speak we didn't do a thing
TO them-at least only enough so that
by the time two Of the clerks and a lot
OF the guests OF the house got on the
scene, which was very quickly, we
stood in triumph with the bent dustpan
and demoraliZed broom in our hands.
>
ing to be more trouble. but almost as
quickly as virtue is rewarded and vice
punished, the plot unraveled and the
william dragged off TO dungeon on the
stage, IL came out that our female ban
dts were employees of the house who
had just been discharged. and that,
taking us for two new girls engaged TO
take their places, they had proceeded
effectively 10 take their revenge out Of
us We soon repaired all damage. ex-
cept my aching head. where i got an
awful clip with the broom handle. and
did our act, and the impromptu gags
we worked I'm our experience helped us
to make the real hit of the bill"
II was in the way of quite sharp
contrast to leave the jolly Russell
brothers and sit down for a cosy lit
tie chat with May Cook, the dainty lit.
tie California girl whose simple man
ners. tasteful dressing, pretty face and
great iHstfeHs- ses-eeabiHed- with -uti
doubted ability and true artistic taste
as n musician. have so captivated those
who have heard her i'm vocal and cornet
solos Her ingenuousness, frankness
and entire lack of conceit are most re-
freshing. and. added TO her possession
OF record OF only nineteen summers
and her girlish mannerisms soft. sweet
voice and easy grace, render her quite
unlike the majority of her professional
sisters.
In her California home and through
out West, she is widely known both as
a singer and as cornet player of great
promise, and she has for four years
been prominent as soloist with some
OF the most famous military bands Of
that section. Here. she comes almost
as stranger. and is winning her way
by merit alone. with no advance herald
ing and only her honest womanhood
and innate brightness TO assist her ma
tural talents and artistic training to
carve out n brilliant career.
II don't like to talk about myself"
she said. because it's so much better
to let the public find you out ~ you
really have any merit. Don't you think
so?"
I suggested that, while the principle
was virtuous one IL was hardly pro
feSsionsl," to say the least, as the pro
fessicn' goes nowadays.
Well" she replied, I'm sure | ap-
preciate all the kndess / receive. but
| am no hand To- push myself. I am
deeply indebted TO Mr.. Keith for the
beautiful scenic effects he devised and
provided for the patriotic finish Of my
act. and the courtesy and kindness
shown to me by everybody i'm Mr.