The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-28

Madame had just gone ~on stage" was given position near her dressing room and told to wait hind" Different indeed it from college theatri cals-no crowds of apprehensiye relatives, rough house in pantomme I looking at the pine scant- ling side of canvas room kept upright by thin screwed into tue floor. Artificial palms and papier mache statuary stood in the windows. The room was the second floor, according to the audience the illusion being given by allowing them to the tops of some four-foot trees above the window sill. stepladder worked the moon. Through one window I caught glimpse of wellworn tiger skin that lent reality to the impassoned scene there being enacted.
 Actors fine and superfine, eisurely descended from
 their dressing rooms reaching their entrances neither a moment too late too for their cues, so fecty was the performance timed. Louder and louder grew the voices unti in burst of frenzy the lover tore himself from his mistress. hurling her to the eat an orange. heard the fall, followed by the batter of hands. piano. forte as the curtain rose and fell. Somebody called:
 Stage hands lounging near the door fell upon the canvas walls if to rend and devour them. The set melted away like clouds, like petals, let say; no, like waves!-for there stood Madame like Venus rising from the sea. serene. red-lipped, with of the bruises expected galantly to salve with commsera- tion-
 Have you ever acted?" she purred, leading me to her dressing room.
 Teazle,- holding my new gloves firmly in the same spot Madame listened patiently, respectfully. My call opportune. The man who had been play ing servants had lost his voice He had tried to drown it, gathered Would like to do his 'bits'? The salary would be twenty-five dollars week. with sleeper. I said I'd try. She gave me half dozen sofled and mutilated manuscripts, of two three 'tsides'' each and withdrew to neighborng candy store, where ordered lemonade, and pitched into memorizing the parts for impromptu rehearsal solus, after the matinee
 An hour later was back. Madame was dressing I waited the sidewalk. The property were packing props into capaciOus, battered boxes. Trucks the horses kicking the flies from their bellies waiting to cart the extra scenery to the special train sdetracked in the railroad yard. Presently I was summoned There Madame; pongee suit dvrifI, namenting three-fOOt hat, bundle of American beauties caught in her arm. The rehearsal began.
 Louder !" cried Madame from the empty audit orum. where gray-haired woman gathering up pro grammes and crushed candy-bags stopped to grin- Don't bark End your words. Take time to fic-u-late.'
 Obedently walked stiff legged, until it hurt to bend down. carrying salver and saying to broken backed chair:
 'Hs hghness has the signature of the marchioness, your highness' hisSng the s's for all worth.
 You'll do," declared Madame, coming on the stage.
 She gave the tip of plump, square hand, laden with rings: there lingering breath of violets, the cab door banged. She gone.
 spent the night sweltering in upper berth, listening to the sputters and of the assembled Thespians. pictured myself leading Broad way inundated by tinted and perfumed billet q member of the Lambs and Players, the glass of fashion, suing my wife for divorce and breaking the hearts of my leading ladies on the side Or should be above such things? hoped I sincerely hoped I myself in my ninety horsepower beaming. the sinterested host bevy of such at my farm Then RectOrS the Kncker- booker, the Plaza all would come to know me; the head walters would rush to place me at the most of eyes beneath picture hats would follow and whiS,arS: