The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
<<XV/HY. what charming
 w ga-url- say.urln .a,.,sssa sa.s-s-srl,, .enl.

<<XV/HY. what charming
 A/ ga-url- gay-url- ga-a-y-erl'
 w Oh, rats!" exclaimed Annie Keenan, as she flung the manuscript pet ulantly on the bed and looked helplessly over at her mother.
 What's the matter, Ann?" asked Mrs. Keenan from 'her comfortable chair near the little wood stove.
 q just can't say it--I mean, l can't say it like Miss Ardavani does. She's our leading lady. She's got it down like them English; makes 1t sound like O hgh-sal- ared lil5e
 What you tryin' to say?"
 why, goIl; just goil. Here's the lines' she said, picking up the manuscript: '"Why, what charming goil you are, to be sure. and then she hustles across the stage and lifts her skoits. Say, maw, you ought to see tn embroidery on that under skoit; it's simply great. She dresses to beat the band
 "WeH," said Mrs. Kennan, who, having been born on the old sod, had contrived to preserve pronunciation free from the in fecuous imperfections of the Eastside, why can't she say gur-r-l an be done with itX An there's nothin' to this play actin nohow, wit your photographs, an your embroidered skirts, an your comin' home late at night, an your face all red IS u nGrTln Wll LII pdlul t u USltcl Scl a job in tn stores an be dacent sales lady, an stay at home at night wit your mother" Whereupon Mrs. Keenan, with whom her daughters choice of a profes- son was constant though not altogether unpleasant grievance-for it afforded her unlimited opportunities for objection and argument-withdrew to attend to the washing
 Annie's apartment was about six feet xyida lOnR and diSDOSeQ in what was conceived to be manner suit able to one in the profession" It was four flights up-four very dark, carpet less, ill-smelling flights. The right half of the ground floor was used by MT. Ter renee Sullivan, truckman, for the stabling of his horses and dray in the night season, and on the left half of the ground floor Mrs. Keenan and the other housekeep- ing ladies of the tenement had established sort of communistic washroom. But. however depressing the effect of the ap- proach to Ann1e's room may have been, the interior afforded striking and cheer full contract. There was carpet, and the windows, opening on the street. were bright and comfortable with lace cur tains. On the right as you entered the room was Annies road trunk" hugs cubic box, of the kind to be obtained at B bargain in the department stores, with her name stenclled in large black let ters on either end. and New York" un- derneath Annie, it is true, had not yet been on the road, but she had purchased the trunk with her very first earnings in order to be prepared. All first-class art lsts, she had been informed, were thus equipped
 Between the two windows was the bureau, the first and last essential of any lady's boudor. This was a small, un- ambitious piece of furniture, with mir ro,- f1,at pof1 1A1 y,,tc +, l acft fH Annies somewhat irregular but altogether piquant style of beauty. It was rendered formidably decorative, however, by being made the receptacle for a bewildering multitude of photographs, many of them pictures of her own pretty face, signed across the front with her "stage name' in an unsteady, angular hand obviously aiming at the usual eccentric, theatrical effect: Faithfully yours, Dorothy Dar- rell.''
 It is not surprising that to girl of An nie's exuberant fancy the stage should have made a strong appeal. A number of her acquaintances had already joined the vast and constantly growing ranks of the chorus, and their wonderful tales of the fascinating life behind the footlights had early settled in Annie's mind what her life work should be. She would join a show" she would work hard and she would wear gowns" and have her pho tographs in the magazines.
 Itl happened. therefore, that one day shortly after arriving at the mature age of 17 she had, through the mediation of a former school girl friend who had been a whole year in the business been pre- sented to the favorable notice of the manager of musical comedy company one of those productions that appeal to the eye and in less degree to the ear. but are not much concerned with the understanding. The manager had looked her over critically. Her face, with its -- half comical, partly turned-up nose. with its Irish gray-blue eyes and fair complex ion, was very attractive, there could be no doubt of that. Her figure, though girlish was well proportioned and en- tirely fit and proper for the exigencies of musical comedy costuming; she could hum a tune and was very fond of danc- ing. These particulars eminently satis- fled all the most exacting requirements, and in short order, to her unutterable de- ' light, she had found herself engaged for the chorus of the Land of Nonsense" company at the muniticent salary of SIP