Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-14

again. Reflection came and with It the bill
Il made up my mind hastily that there
was little use in being an actor if one could
not be one when an emergency arose as
well as a curtain. l took my valise in
hand smiled my loftiest at the waiter, told
him that l would place it in the diligence
so that I could get a good place and would
then return to settle my account
He never questioned me with a sus-
picious glance so / took the bag out and
begged them to keep 1t as hostage until
should pay my fare, and in the meantime,
the bill for my dinner? Again did my
hstronic ability prevail and they did as
I requested without question.
Il did not, however" concluded Novelli,
modestly, "allow my overwhelming success
as an actor to overweight my knowledge
OF my obligations as an honest man, and l
repaid in time every cent that l had Dor
rowed. But, oh. that dinner! and oh, the
surprising satisfaction of playing the
game with such critical audience to mark
the time Of my ability"
Novelli is a master of makeups. His six
feet odd of height, when he says is no
unusual stature for an Italian Of northern
Italy-the men of Verona and its vicinity
being especially of lofty stature, fact
which makes him think that Romeo was
tall and slight-he can make short at will,
and he can add weight until he is a YER
table Falstaft in appearance; or he can
create an agile figure for a young lover.
His long nose, which, when he first began
TO play, was hailed as the ndubitable
mark Of the born comedian, is broad, short,
acquiline or Roman as he wills, and when
he Is depicting the comedian It gives his
face droI expression which seems 10
make excuse for those early times when
his audiences would not let him essay trag-
edy His fifty odd years he treats as a
bagatelle, like his weight and height, when
they stand in the way Of his chosen char
acter.
Like BaIzac, who roamed the streets to
find appropriate names for his characters
so he roams about looking for second hand
shops where he can find just the outfit
necessary to accentuate the peculiarities of
some fantastic role. He has chests full Of
overcoats OF every age and mode, gro
tesque hats and an array of properties of
one kind or another. He has a collection
Of wigs which he began 10 make, literally
with his own hands, when he was hard up,
and today will not wear one that he has
not rehtted to his need, with an experience
gained in the time when he fitted wigs for
other actors.
Referring, at the last, to the American
methods OF advertising, Novelli held up his
hands while a look Of horror, succeeded by
one of tragico-comic mirth, and lastly by
one Of stupefied wonder, took possession
Of that wonderful face.
"Signorina, l have never seen anything
like It. l cant help wondering why you
don't close all your windows and advertise
on them; It really seems a great pity to lose
all that space now, doesn't II?
Il have only had the good fortune 70 hear
two OF your American artists, Sothern and
MarlOwe. and l was perfectly astOunded
when l arrived 10 see their faces lining the
entrance halls OF the anterooms. II I
should do that in my beloved Italy, they
would
"Signorina, would you like 10 know what
they would do with me? They would kill
me dead right there in front Of the pictures
where stood, Gnd-they would be justified
I think"