The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04

Delng u COCknty, we WSie i~ie
led at first by his own admis-
sion:
yes, ma'am, Philip Bites he
smiled.
We leaped upon the opportunity
we Americans. You don't look as
though you would, Philip" obvious
stun, one might say.
And at this he smiled again. not
that he understood us but that the
theatre and its component parts
scenery. properties, even payers
stood for unceasing mirth. The run
might be as intangible as American
humor, or as plainly delicious as the
slapsticks of the clown, but at any
rate when one went to see plye one
went to laugh. 1t never occurred 10
Philip that he was part II the run.
at least 1t didn't for a while-but this
artistic development is my story.
on the day OF our first rehearsal he
was conducted through the insignifi-
cant door to the gloomy pretentious-
ness Of the London theatre by
bearded man. whose profession it was
to seek out children playing along the
street and introduce them to the
great game of the stage. Many were
passed hut few were chosen in his
amblings through the city; only those
whose stunted growth and impover-
ished appearance bore evidence Of
their eligibility for the dramatic pro-
fession. In England the child actor
must be over 10, no matter what his
role, and there must be dire necessity
in the household before the courts
allow him to upset social conditions by
supporting his family.
The bearded gentleman admitted to
me that his heart jumped up into is
throat when e set eyes on Philip.
Though ragged he was rosy. though
fully Of age he was very short. and.
browning gift to all comedians, nature
had atoned for his lack Of height by
a width Of smile.
Further investigation proved that
Father Bates was a stone mason-not
steady work-none O. that now-a-d'yes
Jobs ere and there-enough to keep
the color in Philips cheeks for a little
while longer yet not enough to make
a pound a week and the child's board
anything but a tempting proposition.
There was some talk from the bearded
man OF a governess, lady who would
myke a gentleman Of i'm before the
year was out, but that was put down
as pure CUFF.
So papers were signed at the po-
lice court and questions put to
Philip. who didn't have to go unless
he wished. But the little boy couldn't
say fast enough that he wanted to
20. And what child who has ever
seen the. Christmas pantom.me. which
had once been Philips portion, would
lose the chance to see pantomime
again! Again" did weakly say?
1t would be more than that-the
bearded one had spoken--it would
be a week Of pantomime. a hundred
thousand nights OF pantomime. and
ne. Philip. was to receive money. food.
washing and-what else was it?-Oh.
yes. a whole governess just for at
tending these performances. Would
he go!
The police officer waxed senti-
mental. You'll have to leave your
mother, Philip" he reminded.
Plenty more at ONE was the
cheerful answer.
In that frame Of mind he came to
us and entered our sedate comedy,
still smiling, although he found no
fairies. and still under the impress
sion that he was spectator. / do
not know by what gradual process Of
reasoning he accommodated himself
to the fact that he was now In close
relationship with the clowns and har-
leQuins and columbines or how he felt
about our wearing different day and
night time faces. l suppose the stu
alton soaked in unconsciously as a
child learns a language. 1t seemed
no bow TO him that the scenery
wasn't real, although he found it
puzzlng.
once | caught him on the stage be-
fore the curtain rose cycling the gay
front to my cottage stealthily. 1t was
as though he would rather the cot
tage didn't know that he was look
ing. After a minute Of this he sud-
denly darted behind 1t, hoping he
could arrive before the interior had
Cunningly turned itself into mere cam
vas and backing. But dash back and
forth as he would he could never see
the front and the rear at the same
time.
With the adaptability of his con-
freres even this mock display grew
natural to him. The chair behind
the canvas door represented the in
terror Of home good enough for any
body and, being slightly compensated.
1t became his custom to run nightly
to my dressing room with the COM
fOrting information that my house
was built" when the stage hands had
finished setting the scene.
This house OF mine served q double
purpose during the salad days OF
Philips professional career. could
peep out through the window and
watch him when he was appearing
quite unconsciously, in the perform
ance cseeing the plye." he called ~
and, when his scene was over. l enter
tanned him "out Of his role" within
my canvas walls.
A backing. which Is twdfold
screen, was placed behind the window,
thoroughly representing to the audi
ence a wall with paper on it. and
affording Philip a sort of seclusion.
Most little boys do not court seclusion.
nor did he save for space OF time.
But there came a week when, in those
narrow confines. Philip found his
Gethsemane Found IT, endured II