The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-09-02

tlnctlOn at the Broadway Theatre,
New York, last year by jumping into
the part Of "Venus" in the "Silyer
Slipper" with about ten minutes mo-
tice and giving a most excellent per-
Torrance, is one Of the many hand
some women Manager Fred G. Nixon
Nirdlinger has secured for this years
production Of "Miss Bob White -.
Miss Blair is cast for the part Of Miss
Autumn" leader of the "Col0nial
Danes" and it goes without saying
that her JunoesqHe stature and i'm
perial presence fit her extremely well
for the part
Miss Blair is "A woman, who in pri-
vnte life is noted for her frankness
and outspokcnncss. When asked the
other day to tell her reason for going
on the stage aud to give her impression
Of life behind the footlights, the act
ress penned the following description;
81 was born in New York in 1879
Ny mother vino was much displeased
because was not boy, like Southern
women put me in care of II cOlored
nanny who had charge of me from
that time until was nearly n year old.
Being the only child and grandchild
had every Injury and care. was not
sent to public school or even sem
mary, but always had goyerness I'M
til | was old enough to 20 to boarding
school. My Father then arranged for
me to have rooms at Layfette College,
or rather Layfette boarding school
whore ! might prepare for college.
All my tastes ran to out door sports,
tennis and basket bail | eXcelled III
rather than French aud German. BY
the time ! was ready for college my
Father specuIated with heavy losses
and within few months failed. Just
about then serious domestic trouble
arose, and my Father and Mother sep
arated. 1t had always been my Moth
er g plan to marry me to II man with
position and money. When the fl
nancial crash came, among other prom
lnent men who were paying me alton
tiou perhaps the most desirable was n
wealthy federal court Judge. did
not love him, and | felt sure he knew
it, but with Mothers natural interest
for me to do well she urged me to be
come engaged which finally did. 1t
was most important that | should mar
ny at once; funds were low. 1t was
difficult 10 keep up appearances even
i'll n simple way. declared that
something must be done; early Aut-
umn was approaching, and our LIKE
Shore home would soon he too cold an
abode. Anything seemed better than
| marrying MN did not love. | de
cided to try to obtain position upon
the stage, having had some success IN
amateur work. New York was the
mecca. p" | had friends there know
TINT | could visit | obtained trans.
pertation mud bravcly started. How
to so about it | hardly knew Some
one advised me TO 90 to an agency,
which did
Within few days | obtained posi-
tion in May Twins Company. was
delighted. She gave me small pnrt,
and the best of beautiful gowns.
One strange thing always remem-
Der, whenever the stage manager was
arranging group of any kind | would
always attempt to stand Just rs fur bnck
on the stage as possible. | had horror
Of being identified with the footlights,
and dreaded being looked upon by my
friends. May Irwin noticed it and
laughed, saying that most girls fought
for the footlights. With May irwin
remained nil one season, playing parts
IN all her well-known plays. While
most charming in some ways, May
Irwin is n mighty hard woman to talk
to on the stage. If she thinks you do
not speak quite loud enough, she will
calmly remark in the middle of Your
speech BE careful, the people in
'front.' may near you, or on are be
coming very conlidentirl, completely
throwing all ideas out of your head.
The following season | started out
with Miss Irwin, but later joined
Amelia Bingham Company to play
part i'll Lady Margaret" From
there | was engaged to play II leading
part in Life which unfortunately
ran but short time. After the failure
of Life John G. Fisher engaged
me for the "Silyer Slipper" Although
| had but ii small part | had the I'M
dersiudy for the Queen of Venus,
then being sung by Madame DeNil-
hers. was called upon most uneX-
peetedly having only about ten minu-
ties to dress and dash on the stnge.
As had but two rchearsals, | was un-
prepared, and the experience | shall
never forget, but went on, and the
management told me that had made
n hit,
The man behind the gun and the
man behind the pillow are not the only
onps who nrp ohehin1 =" sUrharo oro