The Irish standard., 1915-08-07

7
Patsy. who was we'll known, obtained
an engagement to lead the chorus in
new production at one of the Broad
way theaters and after putting Nora
through her PAGES. which the novice
found to be much harder work than
she had had any idea of, procured for
her place in the same chorus. This
was something Patsy had hoped, but
hardly expected, to be able to do. De-
cidedly things were coming her way.
In the enchantment Of the city. in
the promptings Of the world of make
believe in which she played part the
reason for being of which is the pur-
veying Of delight, is it to be marveled
Mt that young girl such as Nora,
weakling, suddenly transplanted from
the cloistral monotony Of home far
removed from even the unexciting
whirl of a country town, should be
dazzled, hypnotized into a gradual dis.
regard of warning and advice?
She did not of herself seek Crawford,
but when he secretly sought her she
saw no harm in continuing on good
terms with him Notwithstanding Pat
sy's preaching. Patsy was old maidish
In her views anyhow, she told herself.
She liked Crawford. and he had proved
his friendship for her by enabling her
to win not little money on the races.
Whatever may be the effect else
where of such orders as "Silence" and
Positively No Smoking printed in bold
type and conspicuously displayed. they
remain dead letters and objects Of Jest
In the dressing rooms Of the chorus
ladies Of that well known temple Of
mirth and music. the Long Acre thea
ter. on New York's Great White Way.
where Patsy and Nora were playing.
The particular dressing room they
shared in common with seven of their
fellow singers and dancers was good
sized one under the roof. Around three
sides Of 1t, against the whitewashed
walls and between the windows, were
long dressing tables. In rear of which
were mirrors. On the remaining wall.
which was pierced by the door. were
rows Of hooks for hanging hats and
clothes. In the center was marble
washstand with six bowls in it.
Chairs formed the only other articles
Of furniture. Stuck above the mirrors
and hanging on the brackets of the
electric lamps beside them we're tro-
phies Of the footlights-cards and notes
from "Johnnies." some from gilded
youths whose names were familiar in
the society columns of the newspapers.
The roommates Of the O'Brien girls.
seven comely blends and brunettes.
were Minnie Sultzer. 1nez Blair. Eve
Ign La Rue. Rita Nichols. Lou Archer.
Mai Delaney and Sylvia Simpson.
''show girl"
Seated at her table one evening, Nora
paid little attention to the other girls,
who were changing from their street
costumes into those in which they were
soon to appear on the stage. She was
thoughtful and wore worried look as
she poured over sporting daily. Pat
sy had not yet arrived.
lnez Blair was entertaining her COM
panions with an account Of an adven-
ture with stage door johnnie"
| whose advances she had resented by
threatening to call her brother and a
policeman. when Mrs. George Adams
Coote, who presided over the ward
robe. entered the room.
"Say. George. did you mend that
waist" asked Evelyn La Rue from
her toilet table, interrupting the story
of the "Johnnle's" discontinue in or
der to ascertain.
Il certainly did. Miss La Rue" the
| woman assured her.
"Well. hope 1t stays up. You must
"a used n redhot needle and burned
thread last time, for it fell right of my
shoulder" Evelyn declared.
"Most Of your clothes seems to get
that habit. Miss La Rue" snapped
Coote "You oughtcr leave somethin'
to the Imagination. Rita. seen Miss
Simpson tonight?"
mo" replied Rita. "She amt here
She won't come before the second act
She's bein bridesmaid to Maizie Jones"
; Miss Jones had been chorus girl
for several seasons Mt the Long Acre.
The announcement of her marriage was
news to Mrs. CoOte.
For goodness sake, that man amt
married Maizie" she exclaimed.
Looks that way" chimed in Mai De
laney.
"Ain't them saucer eyed blends Won
ders, thought" commented the ward
robe woman.
"No; It's mommer that's the wonder"
corrected Lou Archer.
Milly was curious to know whether
Maizle's husband was wealthy.
Hes from Pittsburg," said Lou la
conically, amid general laughter.
mo use cryin' over split milk, but I
visit we'd "a played Pittsburg when
I was with 'Evangeline,' sighed Mrs.
Coote. II ulster make a real cute boy"
"You'd make dozen now" was
Evelyn's disparaglng criticism.
"You chorus girls is too fresh." she
retorted wrathfully. I'D hand you a
slam in the map If wasn't lady"
"Please DON'T" expostulated Milly
plaintively. "Everybody's fghtin', Pat
sy an Simpson scrap at every perform
ance, an now you two's beglnnin'. My
nerves Is just gone all to the devil"
| That there was no love lost between