The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-19

ing rooms were known by names, rather
than by numbers. That is. the supernu-
meries dressed In a large super room,
the utility man-the man used for vari-
Gus kinds of small speaking parts-drcss-
ed in the utility room; the second low
comedian dressed in the second low com
edy ROOM and so on up the ladder. III
never forget my first speaking part. 1
was the captain of the army and had two
orders 10 shout-two lines. l ha1 been in
structed to say them out very loud. When
my first cue came. / gave my hrst order
excellently, but when I tried 10 give the
second order could only whisper. I had
lost my voice from stage freight. But j
was pardoned and stayed there two
years, getting some very valuable In
struction. Then went over to the Boston
theatre where i stayed for few months,
leaving to join Hoyts Rag Baby" COM
pany. which was where first met dear
Helen Reimer.' All this time. from the
time l first went to Boston, I hal been
STUDYING vocal music. and even today
singing is one OF my favorite pastimes.'
WAS II then that you learned 20 play
the violin?" asked.
mo. That / learned when was lad
at home And 1t wasn't violin he
added whimsically. 1T was fiddle
What's the difference. you ask? A street
play the violin. I fiddled"
This was a very modest way Of putting
IL. but / happen TO know that the ver-
satile leading man plays the violin. In the
strict sense of his own Interpretation or
the word. often at the Albee company
rehearsals, when waiting for his cue. he
has picked up the violin OF the violnist OF
the Keith orchestra and softly played upon
II, so sweetly that the members OF the
Albee company have forgotten what they
were saying or doing in listening to the
soft strains.
And after The Rag Baby?' / went on
with my interrogations.
After that I went with the Barry and
Redmond company in Shakespearean rep
ertoire. It was a very bad season-busi-
ness bad and salaries reduced in the mid
die OF the season. lost heart, felt that,
as my mother had said. II wasn't much
OF a profession, and for five years stayed
off the stage"
credulous emphasis upon the pronoun.
Your fellow players tell me you're the
personif1cation Of optimism"
Some theatrical seasons will shake
even the hardest OF optimism" he said
sententiously. II never did have some OF
the qualities that are supposed to be nee
essary to actors. Actors and all people
who lead the artistic life. so-called. must
be more or less Bohemians. That Is, they
used to. although this quality f. growing
less every day. I'm, not a Bohemian in
any sense OF the word Home and a quiet
freside with a book or a friend constitutes
nv idea OF contentment. That's why
left the stage for those five years
But you went back to it" I reminded
him.
Yes, went back. Not because / ac-
uuired that quality, but because i had
such a good offer that couldn't resist II.
And I'm glad | did. for my own sake
for ever since I've taken strides ahead
and for the sake OF one person who al
WAYS believed in me very heartily. That
was f. Y. Backus. the old actor. one OF
the best in America. He scolded me
roundly when I left the Stage and was
thoroughly disgusted with me. saying
would get there II only had pluck
enough to stick IL out And when j re-
turned TO the stage. 10 play leading roles
and get very large salary, there was no
one any more pleased than the dear old
fellow"
1--WE Providence people are glad you
went back" ventured.
with n smile that said Thank you." he
said. Are you? Then please. please fix
Il with your weather man 10 make II
little cooler" And so saying. he made
n Rrimace as he lit another hateful cig-
arctic preparatory TO making his en-
trance on the stage as the cultured, fas-
C.natlns gentleman burglar.
POLLY PRIM.