Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-12-26
HIS IDEAL AND THE REALITY.
Hsw a wouId-Be star Actor Got .
Few Professional Points the
First Time On.

They were discussing what ne was
pleased to term the art of acting, re-
lates the New York Tribune.
81 hold" he asserted, that acting
Is the combination of a high ideal with
genuine technical expression"
s@That sounds like a book" said his
friend, 'tbut / guess you know. But
will it work in practice?"
"Certainly. 1t has been my rule ever
since I began to act. True, thus far
[ have only appeared as an amateur.
But the notices / have received for my
work in The Marble Heart The Lady
of LYONS Richard ILL., and the other
classics that our society has presented
for the art lovers of Brooklyn indi-
cate that / am on the right track. Now
that I have a professional engage
ment, / will proceed in the same way.
As a result you viii see me forge ahead
of those who, with more experience,
,et lack a proper ideal"
The man with the ideals reported to
the theater an hour later, where he
had been informed some n was need
ed in a hurry.
sob, you are the young man who is
going to help us out said the stage
manager. ssTwo of my actors struck
on me, and I had to have some one at
once. Are you a quick study?"
The youth murmured something
about having memorized the part of
Othello in three hours
"Um, I guess you'll do. Now I'll tell
YOU what I want. In the first act yol
come on as an Indian. There's your
5ress. Just pile on the yellow grease
and plenty of rouge. That feather
headdress will make it all right. AL
you've got to do is to u on with the
other braves. At the first gun shot
YOU are killed. Just drop to the stage
There's a. dark change, SO you'll be
able to get off at nee. Rush to your
dressing-room and get into Il Mex
lean suit. You are or for the picture at
the end of the act.
"As soon as the curtain IS down
black up for the coon servant. You'll
have to hustle, for you are discovered
at the rise of the curtain. The set
will show a potato patch on the o. T.
side. Take that rake and be at work
When the overseer comes on anc
points off, you say: Yes, sah-Ahm
goin' do hit raht away, sah.' That gets
a laugh, because your lazinesshas beer
spoken of all through the first act
But you don't move until he yells at
you three times. Then you walk of
as slowly as possible.
"You bring in a letter later-the
property man will tell you the right
moment, and as soona as you make your
exit, go to your dressing-room and
make up for a bear. That's the fur
suit over there, the leading lady vii
be standing in the prompt entrance
and she'll tell you when to run on after
her. Her shrieks won't leave you in
n doubt. Just as you reach h mid
die of the stage the hero will mee1
you. You embrace him bear fashion
and struggle. Finally, he gets his knife
out and jabs you. You fall with
thud and don't move. There's a little
love scene between him and his sweet
heart, whom he has rescued from your
claws that finishes the act.
"For the next act, put on this red wig
and that brass-buttoned coat. All yol
have to do is to stand attention unit
the guests for the big ball have filet
on the stage. The comedy old man viii
come over to you and whisper lout
enough for the audience to hear tina
he wants a drink. Then you go off to
gether. For the end of the act yo'
come on in your dress suit as one o
the guests and stand up stage with
girl who will be here when 1 tell yol
to make the entrance.
"AIl I need you for in the last act !
to stand here with me to help max
shouts when the victory of u arm,
Is announced. I guess you understand
and will get through all right. There'
always be some one near you to pus.
you about"
And, somehow or other, the youn
man forgot to say n word Dol hi
theories of art and the ideals.