The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-24

chez la femmei
1 suffered most when had to play some
lady of quality. for what I'm heavens
name had to dress a lady in Five dol
lars a week to live on. 70 dress myself on
and to provide the stage wardrobe! Many
a bitter tear she'd And then there was
the surprise of the stars, when after
playing an important part one night, they
suddenly recognized me the next, stand
ing in the crowd of peasants or seated
at Macbeth's disheartening banquet.
Their comments used to be very caus;ic
sometimes, and they almost without ex-
ception advised me TO rebel-to go and
demand freedom from the ballet, or at
least salary enough to dress the parts
given me 10 play. But those long years
Of childish thraldom had left their mark
could not assert myself, and overwhelm-
ing shame came upon me. even at the
thought of asking to be advanced. so l
went On playing boys and second old wo-
men. singing songs when forced to IT,
going on for poor leading parts even, for
the leading lady. being the managers
wife, declined TO play parts with women
stars-as she would have to do in any
other theater-and then between times.
dropping back into the ballet, and stand
ing about in crowds or taking part in
village scene
Mr.. Bowers Secret.
1t was a queer position, and no mistake.
Many stars had grown to know me. and
often on Monday morning, he or she
would come over to our group and shake
hands kindly, to my great pleasure. one
morning. while we were rehearsing Lady
Audley's Secret, Mrs. Bowers, whom l
greatly admired, came over to me and
remarked: you hard-hearted little
wretch, I've been watching you-you are
49, ~. eel ryOrt
know Murdoch is q gentlemanF
l was surprised and rather quickly an
swered: wei, have 1 treated him as if
he were not a gentleman"
She was called just then, but when the
act was over, she came to me again and
taking my hand in her right, she began
heating it up and down on her left: "You
are not vexed are your she asked.
Don't bel only wonder how. you can
do it! and you so young! Why" she sigh
ed from her very soul. it seemed to me.
why, ever since / was fourteen years
old have been loving some man who
has not loved mel" Tears rose quickly
into her eyes. Il am always laying my
heart down for some man to trample
on" She glanced towards Mr.. McCollom,
Che who was six feet tall and handsome),
a little smile trembled on her lips. l
caught her fingers on a swift impulse
ana squeezed tneul-Sne squeezed Dack
answeringly-we understood each other
she was casting her heart down again
unasked. Her eyes came back again to
ne: Yours is the best way-but I'm too
old to learn howl shall have to go on
seeking-always seekingp
And finding, surely finding" l answer
ed honestly, for 1 could not imagine any
one resisting her.
do you think SOP" she said, eagerly;
then rather sadly, she added, still it
would be nice 20 be sought once-instead
of always seeking
Poor woman-charming actress as she
she did not exaggerate that she was al
ways casting her heart before some one
She married Mr. McCollom, and lived
with him in adoring affection till death
took him.
The last time saw her, she was my
guest here at the Pines, and as 1 fast
ened great HIBISCUS flower above her
ear, in Spanish fashion, she remarked:
How little you have changed In all
these years; I'll wager your heart is
without a scar, while il you could only
see mine,' she laughed; "it's-it,s like an
old bit of tinware-so battered and bent
and denied" ~
l had at that time a friend-a rare pos
session, that. THE ideal of friendship"
says Madame Switchine, lis to feel as
one while remaining two" which is the
precise description OF mind and feeling
OF Mrs Mollie Ogden aud myself She
did not act, but her husband did and I
saw her every night, nearly every morn
ing, and when work permit ted we visited
one another in the afternoons
Ihen suddenly, she began to expect an
other visitor-a wee visitor whom we
hoped would remain permanently-and
gooness mercy! nearly lost my reputa-
ton through the chambermaid finding in
my work basket some half-embroidery
tiny, tiny packets-whereupon she an
nounced to the servants in full assembly
that / had too soft a tongue and was
deeper than the sea'-but she had her
eyes open, and judged from what she
found In my work basket, was either
going to buy monkey for a pet or 4 had
thrown away my character completely
Mrs. Ogden was with me when the
landlady, stony-eyed, and rafting with
starch and rectitude, came to inquire into
the contents OF my work basket. Her call
was brief but satisfactory, and shortly
after exit we heard her-at the TON of
her lungs-giving me a clean bill of health
morally speaking, and denouncine the
pry1ng curiosity of the maids But we
had had scare, and Mollie implored me
either not to help her anymore, or to lock
up my work basket. "Oh, no." said l.
IN rest my head upon the chamber
maids breast, and eonfide all my inten-
tons to her, then surely my character
will be safe"
Mollie used to say the only really foolish
thing she ever caught me in was Protest
antism." II was a great grief to us all
that l could not be god-mother but
though baby had a Protestant father, the
church fatty refused to wink at a god
mother of that forsaken race.
When, in Gods good time, a tiny sister
came to baby, she was called Clara. bu.
my friend had made a solemn VOW be-
fore the altar at the rina 600 ~ so,.