The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-10
.O-O-O-O -O-O-O-O-O

consisted Of the desperate effort Of a.
hen-pecked husband to assert himself
ana grasp the reins Of home govern
ment which resolved itself at last into
a scoIdlng match in which each tried
10 tank the other down-with what re-
sun you know well without the tell
The stage was set for a. morning
room, with a table in the center
spread with breakfast for two: a
cndlr at either side, and. as it hap
pened' a Tootstool by mine. His high
SIX hat and some papers. also, were
upon the table. For some unexplain-
able cause, the silk hat has always been
recognized, both by auditor and actor.
as 3, legitimate object of fun-making.
So when albsent-miEdedly dropped
all my toast CruStS into that shining.
receptacle, the audience expressed its
approval IN laughter, and so started
me on my downward Way-fOr that
was my own idea, and not a rehearsed
one. When my husband mournfuIly
asked If there was not one hot biscuit
to be had, 1 deliberately tried each
one with the back of my knucl1les and
remarE1ng, yes, here is Just one
which was the correct line in the play
I took it myself. which was not in the
play And SO we went on till the scold-
ing match was reached.
In my first noisy speech I meant to
stamp my foot. but, by accident, l.
brought it down upon the fOOtstocl.
The people laughed saw a point
1 lifted the other foot and stood upon
the stool. BY the twinkle in Mr..
Setchells eye, as well as by the laugh
ter in front, I knew I was on the
right track He roared-he lifted hin
arms above his head, and in my reply,
as raised my voice, I mounted from
the stool to the seat of the chair. He
seized his hat, and, with toast crustS
falling about his face and ears,
damned it on his head, while in my last
speech 1 lifted my foot and firmly
planted 1t upon the very breakfast
table
1t was enough-the storm broke from
laughter to applause Mr.. SetcheI
had another speech-one of resigned
acceptance Of second plaCe-but as the
applause continued, he knew it would
be an anti-climaX, and he signaled the
prompter to ring down the curtain.
But II knew he ought to speak!
1 was frightened-tears filed my
eyesI
What is it?" I whispered, as 7
started to get down.
Stand still" he sharply answered
then added: It's YOU. you funny lit
tie idiot; you've made a hit, that's
air. and the curtain fell between US
and the laughing crowd in front
The prompter started for me in
stantly from his corner, eXclaiming in
his anger: well, of all cheeky devil
ment / ever heard or saw" but Mr.
SetcheII had him by the arm in a sec
Ond, crying: Hold on. old mani 1 gave
her leave-she had my permission. Oh,
good lOrdi did you see that ascent of
stool, chair and table? Ell? Ha! hal
hal"
1 stood trembling like jelly in
hot day. Mr.. Stchell said; Don't be
frightened, little girl, That applause
was for youl You won't be fined or
scOlded; you've made a hit, that's alll'
and he patted me kindly on the
shoulder and broke again into fat
laughter.
I went down to my roon-I sat down
with my head in my hands. Great
drops of sweat came OUT On my tenn
mouth dry-that applause rang in my
earst A cold terror seized upon me
terror of what-of the pubiicl All,
it was a tender mouth, and it was Bit
ted and bridled at last. The reins We're
in the hands of the public, and 1t would
drive me-where2
The DUblicl The publiel I had never
feared it befOre-because I had never
realized its power If I pleased it'll
well and good If / displeased it
should be driven forth from the dra-
NAUTICAL Eden / loved, in which L hoped
to learn so many things theatrical and
to become very Wise-and I should
wander all my life in the stony places
of poverty and disappointment
clenched my hands and Writhed in az
ony at the thought! I seemed again
to hear that applause which had been
for me-ny very self, and I thrilled at
its wild sweetnessi
All, the public. 1t could make or it
could mar my whole lifei Mighty
monster! without mercy The great.
many-headed creature, all jeweled over
with fierce bright eyeS-its countless
ears aStra1n for error of any kind
That beat the perfumed air with its
myriad hands when it pleased-when
pleased? A strange great stiffness
seemed to close about ne-sOmethfuer
mUrmured: I'm the future-in the dim
future, a woman may cause this many
headed monster you fear to think as
one mind-tO feel as one heart Then
the bit and bride will be changed
that woman viii hold the reins and
viii drive the publici"
At which 1 broke into shriH laughter
in spite of flowing tears. Two women
came in-One said: why, what on
earth's the matter2 Have they blown
you UP for what you did tOnight2 What
need you care, you pleased the audi
encei"
But the other said. quietly: Just
get a glass of water for her-she has
a touch of hysteria-I wonder who
caused it2''
of the dim future-Who was to con-
quer the public-who was she2
Why that round of applause should
have SO shattered my happy con-
hdence I cannot understandable the
fact remains that from that night [
have never faced a new audience. or
a new part without suffer
ing a nervous terror that sometimes
but narrowly escapes total collapse.