The Washington times., 1906-03-04

nave honored me and Hghtened
dreary en- tour days by their too
brief presence in my dressing room.
Here is the laughing face of Nine.
Jane Hading; here the stern dig
nifty of Nine. Janauschek; here a
Senator-there a future President
and alas, martyr! All, a general,
handsome, laughing like a boy; the
sun-browned. keen-eyed De Lesseps;
MOdjeska, grande dame to her fin
ger tips; Walter Paris, England's
magician in water cOlors.
I smile as a farmer might, gaz-
ing at Over-filled barn and crib
with golden grain cleaning at
every crevice. As the leaves fut-
ter faster, Bernhardt, the mighty;
Nelson, the most beautiful; Car
lotta Patti, splendidly worthy Of
her name-fiash up and disappear.
Sothern, whose hair turned gray
under the strain of his interna-
tional practical jokes; Mrs. Madge
Kendall, the British Matron-with
two capitals. Glimpses of bright
eyes, laughing lips; of feathers,
furs, velvets, evening dress, car
riage dress, travelling dress-why,
what was that? A wearer of the
Roman collar? That must be a
mistake. I turn back the picture
and look steadily at the kindly face,
the smiling eyes, and suddenly I
place him and his companion, who
seems but an accompanying shadow.
TO my shame be it said, as I recall
their visit to my dressing room at
Marysville, Cal.
We had been playing Miss MouI-
ton" that evening and had not ad-
Vanced far in the play before We
were aware Of the presence of an
enthusiast in the stage box. That
he was modest was made evident
by his lowering of the light and
the placing of chairs as nearly as
possible within the shadow OF the
box curtains. We could see two
gentlemen seated there, who gave
the almost strained attention to
every word that a foreigner is apt
to show in following a play in a
strange tongue. but while one was
content with that wrapt attention,
the other, who might. from his
movements, have had quicksilver in
l., - 81 II
lutte necessity for expression. When
he laughed at the children's dance
all the audience turned amused
eyes upon the box, from whence
such gusts of merriment blew and
where two hands could be seen
gleefuliy shifting a pair of knees.
We soon noted the lightning quick
ness Of the perception Of delicate
points, often missed by the gen
eral public, and some of my peO-
pie thought we had an actor in
our box. AS he grew more and
more interested, he leaned forward
and into the light, and tears liter
ally streamed over his cheeks as
the helpless, disgusted mother sat
there tortured by those innocent
little inquisitoTs, her own children.
Once, when forgetting the servant
in the mother. without speaking I
put forth my hand to stroke my
little ones hair, but swiftly checked
the movement and dropped my
hand heavily-instant applause came
from the box. independently in
different to other judgment, he ap-
proved whenever he saw fit, and
presently he had a really cold
house as warmly generous as him
self. I was the first to recognize
the priestly garb and to pass the
surprising discovery on. There was
nothing so very unusual in the
presence of a wearer of the cloth
In a theater Of repute. 1t was the
keen discernment, the enthusiasm
for things dramatic that touched US.
When the play was over l hurried
to my room, and was just lifting my
hands TO unpin my heavy wig of
gray when l heard the voice of my
manager sayingc Mime. Clara, If
you are not too tired, here are
couple Of gentlemen who would be
glad of a word or two with you"
Even through the closed door l
noted a new tone of respectful re-
straint in the usually boisterOus
voice. With a petulant gesture
opened the door to-a stalwart
father and a slender young semi
marian, and recognized our enthusi-
asst of the box. Giving my guests
respectful greeting and hearty well
come. was startled by the exclama-
ton:
'Ah. what play and what a
player Such a beautiful bit Of
business you have introduced in
the death scene since saw you
last"
Good gracious!'' I cried, you are
quite outrageously technical, Father
Y: you are speaking Ike an actor