The Washburn leader., 1913-04-11
SAVING THE Scene
An Emergency For Which Actors
Must Ever Be Prepared.
ACTS NOT on THE PLAYBILLs.
Prsssnes Of Mind by Which Clara
Morris Turned to Advantage Ca.
nine Interruption In "Miss Mutton"
and Feline Intrusion In Camille"

nine Interruption In "Miss MUTTON
and q Feline Intrusion In "camilIs." J"
An experienced actor Is supposed to
be able to cope with any stage emer-
gency. no matter what is lacking OF
what happens. Cool, self possessed. 1t
is expected Of him to turn the ridicu-
lous into a 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
lessness she is thrown into situation
almost without precedent. She must
never fly off at tangent because CT
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 u substitute.
If anything unusual occurred l al
ways tried to incorporate it into the
play If possible. as when In the school
room scene Of Miss Mutton" was as
tonished to see large water spaniel
come trotting on to the stage. waving
his tail at me as II we had been bosom
friends for years.. don't like to recall
all the things thought about that dog
for q moment or two.
Then | rose. and. thanking heaven
and generous muster for the collar he
wore. l grasped it. aud. having stroked
his silky eur with the other hand. l
said to my pupils: ''Children. do not
wish to curtail your pleasures. but
have told you before that cannot per-
NIT you to have your pets in this room
during lesson hours. Now. don't force
me to remind you of that again"
And the little girl who played Paul
quickly and clcverly responded to my
wink. "Oh. excuse us this time. Miss
Mutton. and we won't do 1t again '
And. taking the dog from me. she led
him of into the retirement Of private
life, willie in the morning one newspa-
per remarked that among the prettiest
Of the lighter touches Of the perform
ance was the scene at the Christmas
tree in the tirst act and the dog scene
in the third act"
Another time, In Baltimore. when
was playing Camille" had similar
experience In the ffth act had stag
gesed 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
eyed the piteous. weak movements OF
the dying woman. Just then l heard
the quick indrawing Of the breath that
stnrtled womanhood always indulges
tn before either scream or laugh.
My heart gave a plunge. "What IL
it7 Oh. what is wrong7" And ! glanc-
ed down at myself anxiously. for really
wore very little in that scene. "What
h it?"
Then came a litter. and evidently 1t
was growing. In agony I turned quick
" about and found myself facing
monstrous cat Starlike, he held the
very center Of the stage. his two great
topaz eyes fixed unflinchingly upon my
face. His tail stood straight and ag-
gressively In the air. twitching with
short twitches ut the very top.
Alas, no wonder they giggled! But
how to save the approaching death
scene was what went through my
mind. t'f'.'
Clingins to the bureau. l slipped to
my knees, and with an earnest prayer
that he would not resist my appeal In
faint voice called him to me.
Thomas looked suspiciously at me. hes
itated. then approached. gingerly and
anifred at my fingers. Then he rubbed
his dingy body against my knee. and
In an instant my arms were about him.
my cheek on his wicked old head.
What sigh Of relief went like wave
over that audience! l had won!
then called Nanine to relieve me.
and the applause that swept the house
was as balm to my great distress. l
said to Nanine. "Take him downstairs:
he grows too heavy for me to pet"
And Sir Thomas was carried OF re-
luctantly. imagining perhaps that !
was envious of the hit he had made.
Ny manager. who was somewhat Of
Z wag, Of course made the most Of the
saved situation. A gentleman met him
On the street the next morning and was
anxious for him to settle an argument
between himself and wife.
my wife, who has seen the play sew
efal 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 I have asked this morning.
Won't you kindly set Us right?"
.Willingly," replied my manager.
sYour wife is In the right my dear SIR
That cat scene is always done. 1t ia a
great favorite with Miss Morris. and
abe hauls that cat, all over the country
With her"
May heaven forgive him!-Clara Nor
NJ In New York Press.
- -.---- ------ 80 80. 81
lnquisitivs.
what Is your nameT' asked one i've
! ysar-old miss Of another.
'.My eoodness!' exclaimed the other.
.fYou are az bad as grownups folks.
They are always asking my name and