The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-12-11


Lottie was sent along to take care
of and understudy me when at seven
and eight we had to leave our mother
and Jack for a tour on the road.
l shudder when look back on our
experience. lonely, timid and fright
ened children. There were the clang
and noise of the new cities we were
hustled into and the Indifference of
the companies, who did not care to
bother about a couple of scary-eyed
theatrical children. On those long
nights, In cheap, dingy rooms OF
strange hotels. Lottie and l would
huddle in bed to keep warm and then
we would write our letters home.
Mother showed me one the other day,
taking it out of her treasure box. 1t
read:
Darling Mammal: We are very
lonesome for you and Jack, but every
body is good to us. We have a nice,
warm room. We have nice things to
eat Lottie and I are not scared bit
We never cry. We laugh lot. We
pray, too We only cry when we read
your letters. Thank you, mamma, dear
est, for the coats l say that mine is
the prettiest. Lottie says that hers
is So, you see, we are both satisfied
and happy. Good-by mamma, darling,
and Jack.
MARY and Lottie."
And so our mother never knew how
much we children suffered. That has
always been the spirit of our family
to shoulder our own crosses Dear
mother, if she had known her heart
would have broken!
An impatient Understudy.
Lottie at seven was mischievous,
fun-loving youngster whom the terrors
of travel did not always subdue. After
helping me to dress for each perform
ance, she stood in the wings and went
through my part, always eager for the
opportunity to take my place.
Its no fun to be an understudy to
any one as healthy as you. Lottle
would say to me tearfully. Mary,
aren't you ever going to get sick?''
or course l sympathized with her.
but in spite of draughts, not enough
to eat at times, long hours, sleepless
nights and the change of climate
persisted in keeping well and strong.
Lottie grew more and more discour-
,ged. The first thing she would ask
me as she hoped out Of bed in the
morning was, do you think you Will
be we'll enough to work this after
noon. Mary?"
1 took a long breath into my lungs.
looked at myself in the mirror, rub
bed my hands across my stomach and
always replied, as sympathetically as
could. Il can't seem to find thing
the matter with me, Lottie, dear
Its no use," as she sat down on
the edge of the trunk detected. mo
one will ever believe I'm an actress.
They'll think all l know how to do is
to button dresses and keep your shoes
polished l want to go home to my
mother"
A Scheme That Worked.
It was really a very sad state OF af-
fairs and I decided to speak to the
manager about it in Lottie's favor.
But before l had a chance Lottie took
matters into her own hands. That at
ternoon she was dressing me in a
rush, for the bell had rung for the
curtain and there was danger OF my
being late for my cues. One OF my
stockings was missing and nowhere to
be found l heard. them calling me
from the wings, and l was terrified.
"Here it isl" squealed Lottie, diving
under the couch. ! grabbed it out of
her hands, my teeth chattering with
nervousness as slipped my toes into
it. At the bottom of the stocking my
foot touched something that wiggled
and squirrel and clutched hold of my
toes. l screamed at the top Of my
lungs and hurled the stocking across
the room.
What is it? What is it," several
cried as they rushed into the dressing
room. The stage manager came in
and, livid with rage. he dragged me
out. "They have been waiting for you
five minutes, young lady" And his
voice was anything but pleasant.
l was whirled into the scene, and
in my bare feet ! went through my