The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-31

tt.dt tue iudH ana woman were DrOtnUl
end sister the scene was transferred to
the interior Of one of the slum tene.
ments in the East side of London. Here
the scene painter and carpenter had
done their utmost to produce an exact
copy OF famous court and alley we'll
known to the poor creatures who make
up q part VI the outcast London hu.
manity. The rags, the crowding. the
vileness. the broken furniture, the hor.
rible animal existence forced upon
creatures made in Gods image. were so
skillfully shown in this scene that more
than one elegant woman in the theater,
seated. like Rose Sterling. in q sump-
tuous box. surrounded with silk hang
ings and velvet covered railing. caught
herself shrinking back little. as il
contamination were possible from the
nearness Of this piece Of painted canvas
II was almost too realistic. and yet it
had q horrible fascination for Felicia
as she sat there alone. buried back in
cushioned seat absorbed in thoughts that
went far beyond the dialogue on the
stage
From the tenement scene the play
shifted to the interior Of a nobleman's
palace, and almost sigh of relief went
up all over the house at the sight of the
accustomed luxury Of the upper classes.
The contrast was startling It was
brought about by clever piece of stag.
ing that allowed only a few minutes to
elapse between the slum and the palace
scenes The dialogue continued, the
actors came and went in their various
roles. but upon Felicia the play made
but one distinct Impression. In reality
the scenes on the bridge and in the
slum were only incidents in the story
of the play. but Felicia found herself
living those scenes over and over She
had never philosophical about the
causes Of human misery She was not
old enough. She had not the tempera-
ment that philosophers But she felt
intensely. and this was not the first
time she had felt the contrast thrust
into her feeling between the upper and
the lower conditions of human life. 1t
had been growing upon her until it had
made her what Rose called ''queer" and
the other people in her circle Of wealthy
acquaintance called every unusual
1t was simply the human problem in
its extremes OF riches and poverty. its
refinement and its vileness. which was
in spite Of her unconscious attempts to
struggle against the facts. burning into
her life the impression that would in
the end transform her into either
woman Of rare love and self sacrifice
for the world or a miserable enigma to
herself and all who knew her
Come. Felicia Aren't you going
homer" said Rose. The play was over
the curtain down. and people were 60
ing noisily out. laughing and gossiping,
as II 1.-The Shadows of London" was
simply good diversion. as it was put on
the stage 90 effectively
Felicia rose and went out with the
rest quietly and with the absorbed feel.
ing that had actually left her in her
seat oblivious Of the plays ending. She
was never absentminded. but often
thought herself into q condition that
left her alone in the midst of crowd.
well. what did you think Of itY
asked Rose when the sisters had reached
home and were in the drawing room
Rose really had considerable respect for
Felicias Judgment of a play
II thought it was pretty picture of
real life.
"l mean the acting. said Rose. an
noyed
"The bridge scene was we'll acted.
especially the woman's part. ! thought
the man overdid the sentiment little
Ibid your | enjoyed that Ard
WASH I the scene between the two cous.
ins funny when they first learned that
they were relatedf But the slum scene
was horrible ] think they ought not to
show such things in a play They are
too painful
''They must be painful in real life,
too. replied Felicia.
"YeA but we don't have to look at
the real thing It's bad enough ut the
theater, where we pay for it. -
Rose went into the drawing room
and began to eat from a plate of fruit
and cakes OH the sideboard.
care you going up to see mother?'
asked Felicia after awhile. She had re-
mained in front Of the drawing room
fire.
NO" replied Rose from the other
room; 81 won't trouble her tonight. If
you go in, tell her l am too tired to be
agreeable.
So Felicia turned into her mother g
room. As she went up the great stair
case and down the upper hall the light
was burning there, and the servant who
always waited on Mrs Sterling was
beckoning Felicia to come in
''Tell Clara to go out. exclaimed
Mrs. Sterling IA Felicia came up to the
bed and kneeled by it,
Felicia was surprised. but she did as
her mother badc her and then imputed
h.Nt, Il,