The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-08-20
SAVING THE SCENE
An Emergency For Which Actors
Must Ever Be Prepared.
ACTS NOT ON THE PlAYBlllS.
Presence Of Mind by Which Clara
Morris Turned to Advantage Ca
nine interruption In "Miss Mutton"
and a Feline Intrusion In "Csmille."

nine interruption IN "M,sS MUTTON"
and a Feline Intrusion In "CamiIIe."
An experienced actor Is supposed to
be able 10 cope with any stage emer-
gency. no matter what is lacking or
what happens. Cool, self possessed. 1t
is expected of him to turn the ridIcu-
lous into source of applause rather
than of disapproval or laughter.
And Among the necessary acquire
ments for the actress is an unShakable
self control. no matter If by some care
essness size is thrown into II situation
almost without precedent She must
never fly Off ut Il tangent because OF
some unrehearsed incident She must
not scream when the perennial gallery
idiot yells Fire.. II something is for
gotten she must try hard TO hide its alb
sence or invent Il substitute.
II anything unusual occurred | al
ways tried to incorporate 1t into the
play If possible. as when in the school
room scene of Miss Mutton" | was as
tonishrd TO see II large water spaniel
come trotting on to the stage. waving
his tail ut me as If we had been bosom
friends for years. | don't like to recall
all the things ! thought about that dog
for moment or two.
Then | rose. and. thanking heaven
and n geDerOus muster for the collar he
wore. gFaspeG it, and. having Stroked
his silky ear with the OTHER hand, |
!, said to MY pupils: "Childrcn. do not
wish to curlail your pleasures. but |
have told you before that cannot per.
nit YOU 10 have your pets in this room
during lesson hours Now. don't force
me to remind you of that again"
And die little cir! wh0 played Paul
quickly and cleverly responded to my
wink. oh. excuse us this time. Miss
Mutton ana we won't do il again.
And. taking the dog from me. she led
him Oft into the retirement of private
life. while in the morning one newSpa-
per remarked that among the prrttieSt
of the lighter touches Of the perform
ance was the scene ut the Christmas
tree in the first act and the dog scene
in the third act"
Another time. in Baltimore. when
was playing Camille" had similar
experience In the fifth act | had stag
-ered from the window to the bureau.
nearing that dread moment when | was
To see the reflection of my wrecked and
ruined self in the looking glass. The
house WAS all attention, watching dim
nI
! The diving woman. Just then heard
/ the quick indrawng of the breath that
startled womanhood always INDUCES
| in before either II scream or laugh,
! My heart gave II plunge What Is
| il: oh. what is wrong" And glanc-
ed down at myself anxiously. for really
! | wore very little in that scene What
! is IT,"
| Then came litter. and evidently IL
was growing. In agony | turned quick
! ~ about and found myself facing II
monStrOts eat. Starlike. he held the
! very ceuter OF the stage. his two great
/ topaz eyes fixed untiinchingly upon my
face His tail stood straight and az
excessively in the air twitching with
short witches at the very top.
, Alas. no wonder they giggled. But
| how to save the approaching death
| scene was what went through m,
mind. -" ----s,sus-,s~6,oEsS'-~~-'-
! ClingIng to the bureau. | slipped tC
my knees. and with an earnest prayer
that he would not resist my appeal in
n faint voice | called him 10 me
Thomas looked suspiciolisly AT me. hes
itated. then approached giugerly ana
shifted at my fingers. Then he rubbed
his dingy body against my knee. aad
In an instant my arms were about him.
my cheek on his wicked old head
Whit sigh of relief went like II wave
over that audience. had won.
then called Nanine to relieve me.
and the applause that swept the house
was rs balm to my great distress. !
said Ia Nanine. Take him downstairs:
he grows too heavy for me 10 pet.
And Sir Thomas was carried or re-
luctantly. imagining perhaps that !
was enyious of the hit he had made
My manager. who was somewhat OF
Mas. ol course IuNut tue IluSl VI lif
saved situation. \ gentleman inst him
on the street the next morning nad MAS
anxious for him to settle an argument
between himself and wife
MY wife. who has seen the play sew
eral times In New York. insists that
the beautiful little scene with the cat
belongs TO the play. while | don't recall
IL. nor do any of our acquaintance
whom have asked this morning
Won't You kindly set us rlght;'
willingly" replied my manager
"your wife Is In the right. my dear sir
That cat scene l. always done II l. II
great favorite with Miss Morris. amt
she hauls that cat all over the r0unrr,
with her"
May heaven forgive him.-Clara Nor
ris In New York Press.
Inquisitive.
"What is your name" asked one five