The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-26

all lined up and frantically waving at me.
II felt decidedly nervous Monday. for
so many nice things had been said In the
newspapers about me before I came that
/ felt as II great things were expected OF
me. and ] never wanted to please an
audience so much In my life as did then.
or course / knew that they would well
come me. for i am too familiar with the
loyalty OF Providence people, ever TO
doubt II for an instant. but really was
unprepared for such an ovation. ] tried
10 speak. but when looked out and saw
so many faces knew and so many people
applauding, / felt something stick In my
throat and / had to gulp II down before
the words would come. But after I had
started, and I round the audience laugh
ing and applauding. ! gained encourage
ment-cordiality Is great encourager-
ana 1 felt that ] was enjoying IL thor
oughly. Before the end of the week I'm
going to make arrangements to carry my
providence audiences with me through
out the country where l appear"
how did you happen 10 go into vaude-
ville?" ! asked.
Just the same way that other people
have happened 10 go into this field. I
had several good offers for the season.
one or them a good stock company ofrer,
put needed the rest and the big vaude-
Vile salaries tempt many people. so ac-
cepted an offer 70 go into this field. al.
though / had twice before refused the
same oner One time IL was considered
dreadful for a legitimate actress 10 go
into vaudeville. and IL was impossible for
her 10 redeem herself In the eyes OF
legitimate managers or patrons but todav
tne thing Is entirely different as you
know had no idea there was so much
eleVerness In vaudeville. and find IL very
interesting and entertaining. I suppose
the vaudeville people rather resent our
invading their field, for / overheard a
couple OF vaudeville artists In the train
say. while reading a program OF tbe
Philadelphia Keith theatre last week
where i played Helen Reiner. noted
legitimate actress. Humph, Why don't
.hey stay IN their own field and not butt
In 10 vaudeville?"
L laughed heartily, as Miss Re,rAr
initiated the man whose conversation
she was repeating, and as made a note
sne said. hastily. "Oh, please don't re.
peat that. II wouldn't sound AZ ALI nira
In print. and IL some vaudeville peonle
saw that they'd never forgive me
Iheyre not all resentful: on the con-
uary, some OF them are exceedingly
nice. One has 10 work very hard 10 main,
tain position in vaudeville. I never
before realized how much the success
OF stock company performance de-
pends upon every member of thA
company instead OF Just one per
son, Tor in vaudeville everything de-
pends upon oneself It's no Joke when
the blackface comedian talks about the
auolence daring vaudeville actor to
make them laugh. They do seem 10 take
that attitude. They have no interest In
the performer; IL is just what you do and
wnat you offer. It's like no other
branch OF the theatrical profession.
Yes. conceived the idea of my little act
myself. At first I refused to consider
vaudeville at all. and when vaudeville
agents persisted in asking 'Why?' ! re-
Piled because l could not walk on my
ear or sing illustrated songs II was
Mr.. Lovenberg who persuaded me TO
work out the idea had in mind ana
he gave me the confidence 20 try IL. But
i m still working at IL. making changes
for the better, / hope almost every per-
Torrance
Sometimes in the middle Of the night.
i wake up and think OF a joke I think
may prove iaughable. and I get up and
put 1t down on paper so that it won't
have escaped by the morning. But the
work is nothing compared with the other
branches OF this profession. Really. FOR
the first time in several seasons I've
had time 10 get caught up in my cor
respondence and have a few spare mo-
ments TO myself. I would heartily recon-
mend vaudeville as an tonic 10 everyone.
for IL is not only interesting and the
money is alluring. but in every way it's
delightful I'm glad TO see Eddie Nj
cander is going into vaudeville soon. He's
a dear boy. and a mighty clever one, and
he's sure 10 make a hit
Il suppose. now that you have tasted
OF the delights OF vaudeville, and sin
cerely like H. you will remain in this
feld7' ] asked as / rose TO go.
For the present" she answered, II am
booked for quite long ways ahead.
and"
But. surely. you're coming back TO the
Albee company next summer" 1 inter-
rupted. The mere possibility of losing
Miss Reimer giving me cold chill.
''Oh dear. the summer is a long way
off--too long 10 plan so soon. Aren't
Providence people tired of me after four
summers"
II should say not emphatically."
said warmly. IF the rousing receptions
being given you this week are OF any sig
nificance."
And then. pondering over the incress-
ing popularity with each season with
the Alebe company OF this clever favor
ite and sincere wishes for its contin-
uance, the Matinee Girl went on her way.
THE MATINEE GIRL.