Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10

In which young girl could begin her pro-
fessional life. The manager. Mr.. John A.
Ellsler, was an excellent character actor,
as well as a FIRST old man. His wife, Mrs.
Effie Ellsler, was his leading woman-his
daughter Effie, though not out Of school
at that time, acted whenever there was
very good part that suited her. The first
singing soubrette was the wife OF the
prompter and the stage manager. The
first old woman was the mother of the walk
ing woman, and so 1t came about that
there was not even the pink flush of a
Irritation over the first season; and, though
another season was shaken and thrilled
through and through by the elopement Of
James Lewis with Miss Frankie Hurlburt, a
young woman from private life in Cleveland.
yet in all the year | served in the old
theater. no real scandal ever smirched It,
BIT of Broad Comedy.
My manager considered me to have a real
gift of comedy and he several times de-
olared that my being girl was distinct
loss to the profession OF fine low come
dian.
1t was in playing broad comedy bit
that my odd experience came to me. Mr..
Dan Setchell was the star. lie was an
extravagantly funny comedian and the
rehearse his most important scenes prop
erly. He would sit on the prompt table
a table placed near the footlghts at re-
hearsal, holding the manuscript, writing
materials, etc, with a chair at either end,
one for the star, the other for the prompter
or stage manager-and with his short legs
dangling, he would doZe a little through
other peoples scenes, rousing himself re-
| luctantly for his own. but instead of ris-
| ing, taking his place on the stage and re-
heaIsing properly, he would kick his legs
back and forth and smiling pleasantly,
would lazily repeat his lines where he
was, adding: "I'll be on your right hand
| when I say that Herbert. Oh, at your
exit. Elrsler. you'll leave in the center. but
when you come back you'll find me down
| left"
| After telling James Lewis several times
at what places he would find him at night
Lewis remarked in despair: "Well. God
knows where you'll find me at nght!'
ooh, never mind, old mani" answered
the ever-smlling steadily kicking Setchell
III you're there, all right" If you're not
there-no matter!" which was not exactly
| lattering.
OF course such rehearsais led to many
errors at night, but Mr. Setchell cleverly
covered them up from the knowledge o.
the laughing audience.
1t is hard to imagine that lazy presence
in the midst OF awful disaster, but he wa'
shipwrecked while making the voyage tC
| Australia. Bat-blind to the future, he a.
that time laughed and comfortably shirket
his work in the daytime and made other:
laugh when he did his work at night.
In one of his plays I did small par
with him. | was. his wife a former ole
maid of grabbed temper. | had asked Mr.
Ellsler to make up my face for me as al
old and ugly woman. l wore cork k-screv
side curls and an awful wrapper. I was
fearful object and when Mr.. Setchell frs
saw me he stood silent for a moment
then after rubbing his stomach hard anC
grimaclng, he took both my hands, exclaim
ing: "Oh, you hideous jewell you posi-
lively gave me cramp at just first sigh
OF you Go in little girl, for all you're
worth and do just what you please-yol
deserve the liberty for that makeup"
Took Him at His Word.
And, goodness knows. I took him at his
word and did anything that came into IN,
giddy head. Even then | possessed thai
curious sixth sense OF the born actress
and, as a doctor with the aid Of his stethe
scope can hear sounds OF grim warning oil
OF kindly promise while there is but silenc,
to the stander-by, so an actress with tha
stethescope sixth sense detects even the