The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-07
The Evening Story
Miss juno French, Actress.
(By Michael J. POTTERY

N11G8 june EIS11CAA, ASkC10s
(By Michael J. POTTERY
Isn't she cute:'
Isn't she SMART"
isn't she cunnipg!"
Why she could go right on the stage
and play part!'
:.'She will be another Maude Adams
before she's 90"
Begin that way with q girl Of Is and
by the time she il 18-what?
Miss June French was a fair-look-
ing village girl. She was naturally
smart and intelligent, but her educa-
ton did not go beyond the village
schools. She sang in a church choir.
She was the belle OF the candy-pulls
and the picnics.
was told her at least twice a day: and
just as often somebody said to her
father or mother:
1T will be a sin If you don't let
that girl become an actress
And at the age Of Is Miss June was
vain and conceited. and spent much
of her time before the glass practicing
smiles and smirks and walks and
shrugs.
The father and mother were steady
going and conservative. Left to them
selves they would have boxed the
girls ears whenever she mentioned the
stage. but what were they to do when
a score Of neighbors were pulling the
other way? Even the good Deacon
Warner. who wouldn't sit on the fence
and see circus come into town,
thought the matter over and said:
II 1 had gal. and she could earn
$500 night by Jest prancing around on
the stage and speaking once in awhile,
l guess I'd let her do it. but she'd have
to promise to read a chapter in the
Bible every night
And it was while Miss June was
waiting with hated breath for some
New York manager to discover her
and telegraph her: Come on at once!''
that the girl fell in love with q young
newcomer in fact as well as In name.
II he hadn't been the pair would have
fallen in love long before. That Miss
June was smitten made no difference
with her theatrical plans, however. She
would become great actress first and
then marry.
| While it was a case of love at first
sight, the young man did not have
| such a severe attack Of brainstOrm as
to be blinded TO all things. He had
| been out in the world a bit and seen
things. When he learned of the girls
infatuation for the stage he unused:
/ Just like hundreds Of others. OBJ
position will only make her the more
determined. A bit of experience may
cure her.
| He had a private talk with the faith
er and mother. They had not quite
ceased their opposition to the step,
and were ready to assist in his
about and favored the Maude Adams
step with quite bit of enthusiasm.
| No theatrical company ever ap-
peared at the village Of High Glen.
There was no hall there. Over at
Red Cliffs six miles away. however.
the transformers always had a date.
They always took in as much as
sixty cents night, and when they
left the town it was always on foot
One afternoon a young man might
have been seen making his way to-
ward the town of High Glen. He
might hav been seen entering it, He
might have been seen at the tavern in
consultation with the manager Of the
| Great New York Uncle Toms Cabin
Company. That theatrical veteran
might have been heard to say:
| Yes, the cast Of Little Eva is va
cant She went to work in the hotel
here this morning. DO you know OF
a girl around here that can get"
What is the salary" asked the
other.
..Nominally 800 per. Practically ]
will give up 81 IL have to-
How much to go over to High Glen
and get young lady and give her
Usual infatuation?"
yes"
Got it bad?"
very bad
And the usual remedies are to be
applied?'
you are to give her a dollar when
she leaves. and see that she doesn't
have to walk over twenty miles"
ager, after considerable thought. my
fee for effecting complete cure will
be $25.''
Il The bargain was closed neet min.
nue., and two hours later the manager
was saying to Miss June French a
her fathers house:
ITS . far better engagement thar
Sarah Bernhard had at the outset Of
her career"
but people here think I ought t.
start with salary Of $500 per week.
was the reply.
.well. We won't differ about that.
said the manager. after setting hi
breath back. II you make a grea
. success, ~ think you are bound to d.
ON this very night. the amount Of sal
: larry won't count with me-"
II Ar written notice posted ON thu
postoffice door Informed the cftizon
Iof High Glen that Miss Viola Norttme
had come on from Boston to make he
house rose to 80 cents. and the mana
tger began to assume = prosperous look
Miss June had little time to stud
: her part. She was aAsured that Nh
didn't need it. II she got or any Oh
4 thing It would make = 90. but when
came to the dying scene she mus
: make her voice break and wobble 1fk
j. .. loose wheel ON . wagon.
oil There WAS applauDe for Viola.
d vas the sort Of applanee inst case q