The Washington times., 1902-02-02

L name was Grace Hodson, and
there was just cne little line to
that effect on the programme While she
had talent and other requisites for sue
cess, so far she had but little else to do
but stand in the front row of the chorus
and look pretty.
The shoulders helped her to very large
extent in this portion of her work. but to
her credit ii must be said that her acting
ability though not visible in the present
production, had won for her the import
ant position of understudy to one of the
principals. So far this principal had fine
chances of going through the season with
out missing performance.
All of this was discouraging, but Miss
Hodson was happy and she continued TO
attract admiring glances to her side of
the stage whenever the chorus was on and
in this instance the attraction being a
musical comedy, this was quite often.
Some of the girls were inclined to be
jealous of Miss Hodson. Her pretty fig
ure and the distinguishing shoulders not
only attracted the attention of the audi
ence but they were playing havoc with
getting their pictures in the magazines
and the Sunday newspapers.
To be sure. the other girls were pretty,
but Miss Hodsons shoulders made such a
striking photograph that the possibilities
CT an engaging picture at once won the
attention of the dramatic writer and it
was her photograph that was invariably
chosen. And so Miss Hodson was max
ing rapid strides into that much-eXplored
realm known as public favor; and she
was doing it with little effort Oh her
part, for it was the stage manager who
had suggested the style of gown that
brought the shoulders into prominence.
Miss Hodson was probably twenty-five;
she herself said she was twenty-five. She
had gone on the stage because she loved
it, and had stepped from a class at
Boston conservatory into the chorus of
the Broadway Comedy Company.
She was always pleasant. quiet, yet
most companionable, always ambitious
and studious and, TO the stage managers
delight, quick, obedienI, and punctual. AS
far as those in the company knew that
was her biography, but to the press agent,
who had to supply reading matter TO go
with her pictures, it was another and an
oft told story.
Her stage costume was simple but very
effective II was a pink silk gown, the
skirt of which was flounced from the hem
to the waist while the bodice was trimmed
with narrow velvet ribbon. The waist was
decollete and had the long shouldered ef-
feet
But it's the shoulders and not the
gown that is striking" the stage man
ager frequently remarked, and he had just
repeated it again as the final curtain fell
and Miss Hodson hurried past him TO her
dressing room.
In little while she came back and 60
ing TO the property man gave him the
bamboo cane with the ribbons she carried
in the Girls at the Football Game" song,
and other props used by members of
the chorus. Again she spoke to the stage
manager.
ARE We to hame sleepers?" she said, as
she touched him on the arm.
One" he replied with a smile.
She shrugged her shoulders as look
of disappointment came into her face.
We'll, that s not for US, is it?'' she said.
NO, little girl" was his reply, the
principals have everything engaged"
Well" she added. there's only one
night, and | guess well have plenty of
time to rest after We get to New York"
Then she returned to her dressing room,
took OF her waist, and began TO rid her
self OF the makeup. This all off, she IN
dressed and dressed again, and bundling
up her costume, carried it down to the
wardrobe mistress, who, mad and snap
pish, stood behind dozen open trunks
declaring as usual, that something was
missing
Then came the hurried lunch the rush
for the depot, and the rush again for
seat, all by ones self-the Saturday night
routine THAI had long ago become bur-
den, not only to Miss Hodson, but to
every member of the company. Then the
rush and roar across the country, over
bridges, through valleys. and up steep in
clines, past slumber- silenced villages, a
stop now and then at some little shed of
a station, and then mist on the window
as the train dashed out OF the tunnel, then
less and less the roar, and then, best of
all-sleep.
Morning dawned with that stin, folded
up feeling that follows a night of sIum-
Der in seat. the rubbing of eyes that
are half inclined to open and half inclin-
ed TO close. then a survey of the car,
with some OF the girls still asleep, others
taking hair out OF curl papers, still 9th
ers making a toilet that was hard to
make because Of the lack of mirrors and
the plentItude Of curves and iolts, and
then the amazed faces OF the new pas
sengers, that have slipped on in the night
and who are whispering TO each other
that these must be show people"
To all OF which the girl with the beau
tiful shoulders was a part, very tired
part, and part loaded down with two
desires-that she were in New York and
that something for the summer might be
assured without a continual trotting
around in the hot to the agencies look
ing for an engagement Then came the
sandwich and the coffee breakfast, then |
the novels, and more mapping. her face |
pressed close to the pane, staring out |
on the hurrying panorama with that ex- !
precision which indicated very plainly |