Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-10

GNN~oo~O>~o~N~No NoNSNvNNNNNNIN
Really l might almost say that
Maudes first appearance might be
called an accident. Neither her father
nor had ever given a moments con-
sideration about her being an actress.
! suppose II any one had suggested TO
me Maude's being an actress ! would
have raised a hundred arguments and
objections against a life on the stage
for the child, for ! knew how hard 1t
was l had had the experience and
could speak as one having authority
How queerly things come about
was member OF the J. X. Emmett
company and We were rehearsing
Fritz" in San Francisco. We were
having a great deal Of trouble with the
chllds part. one child would forget
the lines. Another wouldn't know its
cues and they were all afraid Of the big
mill wheel. There were only three days
before the opening night, and not a
child had been found TO play the part.
Mrs. Gertrude Hart, a member Of the
company. said: Let Maude go on
Mr.. Emmett heard what she said.
Have you a little girl2' he asked.
do let US have her.
I happened to tell my husband that
evening that they wanted a child 10
play Little Fritz, and that It had been
suggested 10 bring our little Maude, He
laughed and said: Nonsense. / don't
want the child TO go down there and
make a fool Of herself
We unconsciously thought our i've
year-old was too much absorbed In her
dinner TO pay any attention 90 what We
We're talking about Suddenly the child
laid down her knife and fork and looked
up at her father
Papa" she said. Il wont make a
fool OF myself
Her father laughed, begged the baby's
pardon and consented.
Maude learned the part Of Little Fritz
In an hour She thought acting was
great fun In fact, II was so much fun
that she quite forgot herself and leaned
out Of 1.-THE mill wheel and Interrupted
Mrs. Hart in one OF the biggest scenes.
Aunt Dirty" she called, Aunt
Dirty Is 1t time for me to tream?'
(scream).
The audience, Of course, did the
screaming.
Fritz was not her only boy part She
was little newsboy in play called
Streets OF New York when she was
81 ,.,,.. al yuaa rVnu1 ~ bar
boys clothes and took a deep interest In
the small trousers. She watched me
make them and offered a suggestion
that gave me a valuable start
Make a rip here Mamma" she said
drawing her little finger along a side
seam, "and let some red flannel poke
out That's the way I've seen ragged
little boys dressedt
4 change had come over her attitude
TO boy and boys clothes the next time
she was called upon 10 play such
part. She was about twelve years ola
then and was cast for one OF the Boy
Blues IN Little Jack sheppard She
made no objection % the part until she
put on the tight blue knickerbockers
We found her crying before the mirror
Mr.. Osborne" she said. II Just
c-can't w-wear those things"
IAN right dear little girl; don't cry"
said George Osborne. soothing her
you shall have a skirt" We supplied
her with a little, short skirt, and she
went on radiant and happy.
After she made that accidental debut
In Fritz" at five years she was never
satisfied unless she was travelling with
me aud playing small parts. knew
that she ought 10 be I'm school and tried
TO make her see u. but I never could.
She would cry So piteously when ] was
leaving her 90 go tour that / often re-
Tented al the last minute and took her
with me Child though she was she
never complained Of the work or hard
ships OF the llfe. She took 20 the HE
as though she was born 90 Il, as indeed
she was
The strange unrealtes OF tho stage
arc curious'y oXemplIfed by this one
experience NJ my daughter and myself.
Ethel Brandon and her daughter Polly
and Maude and were IN the same COM
pany ] believe we We're playing "Har-
Dor Lights" The Cirls were the same
axe. both about eleven, ! think Miss
Brandon and ] were cast for young.
frivolous girls and those two daughters
OF ours played the parts OF Old with
cred cr0nce. The little creatures were
made up 90 look wr.nkled and toothless.
and they bent nearly double with their
assumed 0Cp. They were weird little
figures end never failed 90 win applause
az soon ~ they came upon the stage.
Ny daughter had q dim, childish COM
prehcrs'0u o. the theatrical idea that h
Is always better 90 De known as "Mlss."