Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-18
AN INTERRUPTED MATINEE.

1t was 2 O'Clock IN the afternoon
On board were several professionals
besides "ouf tenor" and they were
preparing to give Us fee matinee,
which turned out to be unique in more
particulars than this one.
The space Immediately In front OF
the pilot house was used for the stage,
and we were ranged along the deck,
the most of us seated, few from ne
cessity standing. and some lolling
against the outer railing, where the
wind had fair. clean sweep at them.
And how cold and strong 1t blew that
August afternoon, and how the ship
rocked The graceful lollers shifted
their positions every now and then 10
save themselves from going overheard.
We buttoned our coats tight and turn
ed the collars up as high as possible to
keep from freezing. and to my certain
knowledge three Of the party had TO
leave between acts for something TO
warm them up-just as they do on
land.
The curtain rose TO the jolllest music
I surely was ever picked from IAN
o.u banjo" and a little dancer stepped
forth and made graceful bow. And
so we had found out at last-she was
an actress, and she had broken cliffs
heart! 1t happened this way: At the
table opposite ours she sat three times
daily. and Cliff, with his eyes upon
her, had seasoned highly each morsel
we took and each subject we discuss
ed with comments ON her beauty aud
her clothes. She wore such fetching
little blouse, with such pretty red cuffs
and big sailor collar and abbreviated
skirts, that she was just the most IRE.
sistible little bit of bright springtgme
maidenhood that a man could tind ON
land or sea when we first saw her.
But one afternoon she came down
wearing the regulation shirt waist and
a skirt so long that it laid full down
on the floor all around. That day we
ate our dinner in peace, for Cliff, after
one deep. reproachful glance, made an
exchange at table and sat for the bal.
ance of the trip with his eyes turned
to the unchanging seal
And now she was just little DANG
Ing girl, nothing more, and we soon
forgot that she had ever been ANYTHING
else. Rarely had stage such a dancer
or dancer such a stage. She began
with slow, graceful movement thar
|. grew faster and faster as she went ON
ana ON I'LL 1t seemed as If she was run.
hing race with the rocking, dlppIng
stage and the mad and merry music
and they each in turn with the sway.
ing, dancing girl; then all three togeth.
er, faster and still faster, till suddenly
the music came to an end, the stage
Tor an instant stood still, and the Girl
with bow and Il smile that shoxvsa
all her pretty teeth, stepped Off and
was instantly reeonverted into one OF
those small, bright particles that 90 10
make up the sunshine of the masenllno
world.
FROM comedy to tragedy, stern and
real, we passed with only breatbin,
space between. The first solemn notes
Were drawn from the mellow strings
OF an old violin, and the first words
breathed by voice so deep and rich
tnat all things, save the sea, was hnsh.
ca TO listen, Rocked In the Cradle OF
the Deep"
On no other stage can this song
sound, can it be quite the same I
leaned far over the railing and looked
Gown with wondering, questioning
gaze upon the murmuring waves. what
We're they saying? The answer eame
In that rich, mellow voice:
And calm and peaceful is my sleep.
h0erd in the cradle Of the deep"
Inc unspeakable magnetism embod.
ieo In those waves has surely haan foI,