The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-13
WITH THE SIOMANS.
Mildred Irving Has a Charming Chat
in Their Dressing Room.
An Incident During Their Early Experiences
on Vaudeville Stage.

The not uncommon impression that
abnormal genealogical development
follows success among actors certainly
is disproved in the case OF Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Sidman, whose charming
stage picture of rural New England
life is delighting hundreds OF theatre
goers in Providence this week.
1t was all By. mistake that / hap-
pened TO meet them, for l was shown
To their dressing room when really 1
had inquired for another gentleman;
but. the error once discovered, 1 didn't
admit il, and "A delightful subsequent
chat with the Sidmans made me regard
il as a blessing in disguise.
mo one more than / appreciates thA
value OF the newspapers TO those in our
profession" said Mr.. Sidman, after
had introduced myself; and we are al
ways delighted To see their representa-
tives. DO you know, however mer.to-
rious a play or an act may be, what
ever may be the ability of an actor,
am frank TO confess that he owes much
TO the newspapers for their ever gen
erous and quick recognition of merit,
and no actor is so great that he can
afford altogether TO ignore legitimate
advertising in ways that do not COM
This was all very well, and l quite
agreed with Mr.. Sidman's highly SEN
sible ideas; but when i broached any
thing that was of personal nature,
/ found both him and his wife so re-
served as to suggest the reflections
with which i began this article.
was not an affected reserve, either, but
the reserve of real modesty, which did
not conceal "a frank avowal OF con-
scentious effort of ambition and or
qualification in success, but which was
absolutely foreign TO even a suspicion
OF egotism or To a feeling that, what
ever artistic heights may have been at
tanned, there are not others yet beyond
toward which honest ambition may
lead.
Mrs. Sdman should be seen off the
stage by all who enjoy her artless and
piquant work on the stage, for, dainty
and attractive and pert as she appears
in the old home at Red Hook, she is
even more charming, more pretty and
more 10 be admired in every way when
met in private; and her smile must be
the one Of whom the song writer said
that IL haunted him still, for one can
not easily forget its charm.
II shall never forget my first expert
ence on the Keith circuit said Mr..
Sidman after l had succeeded i'm break
ing somewhat the ice of his reserve.
please. knowing the value OF a good
reputation made in those houses; and
We were correspondingly nervous. We
were not fortunate enough 10 have a
very large audience at our first appear
ance on Monday afternoon, and so
couldn't tell much about the impression
We made;-but we went back to our
dressing room somewhat relieved at
least. Judge OF our CONSERVATION, how
ever. when We were informed that we
would not be needed again that day.
That was all we were told; and you
may perhaps imagine how our hearts
came up i'm our mouths while the tears
stood in our eyes as we looked mutely
at each other with an expression on
our faces that said 'frost-cancelled'
more effectively than spoken words
could have done.
"Wel, we braced up, dressed and
went TO our hotel. too proud to make
any further Inquiries. The next morn
ing / put on a bold face and went
around To the stage door-just to get
my mail, OF course. and with an air
that did not betray my inward agita-
tion. AS | looked over the letters l
gave a sly glance at the time-sheet for
the day. and there were our names, but
down for a much better place on the
bill than on Monday. l said nothing,
returned to our hotel told my wife. and
we went TO the theater as gay as larks.
AS we were go ng to our dressing room,
the stage manager stopped us and said:
Mr.. Sidman. / had TO cut you out yes
terday because our bill was running
too long and ] could not rearrange il
To suit me any other way so well as
to cut out your act. I'm not going to
throw away an act az good as that
however for the rest OF the week by
having IL on at any such times as you
were down for yesterday; and so you
see I've put you way down on the bill.
where our people can see and enjoy one
of the neatest acts we have had here
Mrs. Sidman snd l often have a
hearty laugh even now as we look back
upon that little experience and think
how broken up we We're. but | doubt II
we would get so scared now. for you
see we are a L,tle older in the business
and not so unsophisticated.
"You ike our few restful moments.