Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-04-03
.THEREHEARSALss :
BY RICHARD O'aosROY.

@ g g g g g q q g q 8 @ y
well, what luckg' 1 as.ed Nine.
Bourrimel. my Concierge" as l came
in the other evening. Her daughter
Leona, you must know, had presented
herself for examination at the Conserv-
atoire that day, and always make q
point of appearing interested in my
"concierge's' family affairs. find it
pays to do so.
"Ah, NJ. Richard, you come at just
the right moment. l was longing for
somebody to talk TO about it. Sit down
there in my armchair by the latch
string, and l will tell you the whole
story.
Well. as you know, Lcona had
learned the role of Blanche in lie Roi
s'Amuse'
My husband-you know his political
opinlons-chose the piece. He thought
it would lie a good tltiGg to sAo.v the
people the goiacS on Of the kings in the
old days before w had this blessed re-
public. Resides. 1t Is Is Victor Hugo,
you know, and il seems to lie fairly
well written. Lpona's teaeher-that
fat little NJ. Guillemot with the red
checks, you know. and very nice man
he is, too, | must say. and always very
polite to Newell. Tie teacher made no
objection. and 80 L"oua studied up the
part of Blanche
SHE seems to lave been created
expressly for the role NJ. Guillemot
often said TO me. Size is Blanche her
self
"She selected for the examination the
scene in the second act in which
Blanche confesses TO Dame Berarde
her love for the king. We went through
it several times at home after supper.
THE prince, ever Kind and attentive.
held the book, and l took Tie part of
Dame Berarde. which WAS quite suited
to my years There's ring mt the bell.
NJ. Richard. Please pull the cord.
Thanks. Where was l? Oh, yes; 1 re
member.
"Leona knew her lines so we'll that
she could have spoken them backward.
THE prince had ordered her costume
and had even been good enough to go
with her whcn she went to try it on.
"'You need not leave your post,
Nine. Bourrimel,' he saidA Il will at
tend to everything
] ALL bul llsil COSlutllG WIS SultID.
Imagine foulard with hOneysucIiles
and humming birds on white ground,
the skirt trimmed with three bands of
purple velvet, square cut bodice, point
lace sleeves-but | forget. You are a
man.~and you can't imagine 1t.
! But when l saw that dress my ma
ternal heart leaped for joy. and threw
my arms around the princes neck and
exclaimed. With such n dress as that
Leona cannot help making a success,
and it will be all owing to your gener-
osity.'
Indeed, NJ. Richard. was deeply
moved. l assure you. and the prince
himself was much affected. even
thought saw tear; behind his eye
glasses. Well. the great day came at
last, and we all set OFT for the Conserv-
atoire, accompanied by our neighbor,
| Nine. Frimard. and her daughter. who
has tried the examination in comedy
for the last six years and failed every
time.
But. NJ Richard, the bell has rung
three times. Please open"
81 beg pardon. Nine. Bourrimel. am
green concierge remember"
Where was I? Oh. to he sure, at the
Conservatofre. LeOna went to the stage
door with Mile E'rimard. who was to
take the Hart OF Dnme Berarie, and
Mime. Frimard and l got seats together
in the little red theater. They call it
'EtruscaD.' | believe, but it Is quite
pretty for all that.
"Of course the prince. being connect
ed with the Russian embassy, could
1 not be will us. He sat in proscenium
box, right behind the presidents wife.
All. there's Il lady who knows how to
dress! couldn't keep my eyes off the
bright yellow capote perched on top of
her shiny black hair
'Of course Nine. Frimard. whose
daughter had been going through the
mill so long. knew all the critics ana
the members Of tie jury. ana she point
ed them ont to me while we were wait
ing for Ieona to appear.
THAT fat man. sound asleep. was
J Maurice Tourcey. He always slept at
these exhibitions.
''The dark shabby man was Victor
Fessard. who had left politics for lit
Prature at the age of 80 and now slash
ed right and left 10 make people thinl;
he knew all about it, just as people
hiss bullfshts to pretend they are
Spaniards.
The gentleman with the long hair
and the big mustache was La PlIlser-
aye. who was kindness itself. and the
man who looked like n general was
Auguste Dcstu. an honest man and n
scholar.
Then. in the jury box, there was
Dumas. the smiling Jules Claretie. the
: nmialIe Halevy. Tie siiriveled looking
; person was Camille Doucet-
''The Oh nan in tlie mi.llle. With a