Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-08
SAVING THE Scene
An Emergency For Which Actors
Must Ever &c Prepared.
ACTS NOT ON THE PLAYBiLLs.
Presence Of Mind BY Which Clara
Morris Turned to Advantage a Ca
nine interruption In Miss Mutton"
and a Feline Intrusion In Camille"

ana fcltrc Intrusion IN SantHts'
An experienced actor Is supposed 10
be able to cope with amy stage emer.
genry, no matter what is hacking Of
what happens. Cool self possessed, Il
Is expected of him TO turn the ridicu
lous into source OF applause rather
than Of disapproval or laughter.
And among the necessary acquire
neuts for the actress Is nm nnshakable
sell control. no matter " by some care
iesSuess she IL thrown into a situation
almos: without precedent She must
never fly of ut n tangent because OF
some unrehearScd Incident She mus;
not scream when the perennial gallery
idiot yells "Fireg' II something IS for
gotten She must try hard to hide It's ab
sence or invent substitute.
II anything unusual occurred al.
ways tried 10 Incorporate II Into the
play Il possible. as when IN the school
room scene Of Miss Mutton" ! was rs
tonishcd 70 see a large water spanic
come trotting on 10 the stage. waving
his tail nj NE ~ II we had been bosom
friends FOR years. don't like 20 recall
all the things ! thought about that do.
for moment or two
Then | rose. and. thanking heaven
and generous master for the collar tie
wore. | grasped II. and. having sirolSed
his silky ear with the other hand.
said to my pupils: children. do not
wish to curiail your pleasures. but !
hive told you before that cannot per
nit you 70 have your pets In this room
during lesson hours Now. don't force
me to remind you of that again
Aud the little girl who played Pau.
quickly aud cleverly responded 10 my
wink. "Oh. excuse Us this time. Miss
Mutton. aud We won't do II again.
And. taking the dog from me, she led
him OF into the retirement of private
life. while In the morning one newspa-
per remarked that "among the prettiest
of the lighter touches of the perform.
ance was the scene ~ the Christmas
tree IN the first act aud the dog scene
III the third act
Another time. In Baltimore. when !
was playing Camille" had similar
experience. In the tfth net ] had stag
gercd from the window 10 the bureau.
nearing that ,lrend 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 piieous. weak movements Of
the dying woman. just then | heard
the quick indrawing OF the breath that
startled womanhood always INDUCES
IN before either scream or laugh.
My heart gave plunge. What Is
II: oh. what ia wrong:" And glanc'
ed down NJ myself auxlously. for really
| wore very little in that scene What
Is III"
Then came litter. and evidently 1t
was growing. Ia agony turned quick.
~ about and found myself facing
monstrous cat Siarlilse. he held the
very center of the stage. his two great
topaz eyes fixed unlllnchlngly upon my
face His tail stood straight and AZ
gressivcly in the air. twitchins with
Abs. no wonder they giggled. But
how to save the approaching death
scene was what went through my
mind
ClInging 10 the bnrcau. ! slipped to
my knees. aud With an earnest prayer
that he would mol resist my appeal In
faint voice | called him TO me
Thomas looked suSpiciously nj me. hes
iinted. then approached gingcrly ana
shifted nj my fingers Then he rubbed
his dingy body against my knee. aud
III an instant my arms We're about him.
my cheek on his wicked old head
What sigh Of relief went like wave
over that audience. had won.
then callel Nanlne to relieve me.
and the applause that swept the house
was ms balm 10 my great distress.
said 10 Nanine. "Take him downstairs,
he grows too heavy for me TO pet
And sir Thomas was carried Of re
lnctantly. imagining perhaps that |
was envious OF the hlt he had made.
My manager. who was somewhat OF
wag. Of course mnae the most OF the
saved situation gentleman met him
on the street the next morning aud was
anxions for him 10 settle an argument
between himself aud wife
My wife. who has seen the play sew
erai times In New York. insists that
the beautiful little scene with the cat
belongs 10 the play. while ! don't recall
II. nor do any OF our acquaintance
whom have asked this morning
Won; you kindly set us rlgh,;"
"Willlugly." replied my manager
"your wife IS IN the right my dear sir
That cnt scene Is always done II Il
great favorl;e with Miss Morris. and
she hnus that cat all over the country
with her"
May heaven forgive him. Clara Nor
Ms IN New York I'ress
inquisitIve.
"Whai Is youi namef" asked one five
year-old miss of anoihcr