Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-10-21
AMATEUR
NIGHT
(Copyrlght.)
By EDWARD w. GILBERT

bidding little stage door of the London
Thcater, on the BOwery in New York.
Nothing but the memory of her land
lady's last grim words, Tomorrow l
want the room, or the rent" would
have given her courage to enter. But
q long sickness, dull times in the pa
per-bOx trade (making it impossible
for her to get job), and the end of
her mcager savings, had brought her
TO the problem of where to shelter
on the morrow, and how to eat; her
last meal having been the previous
evening.
She had often seen the flaring post
ers of the amateur nights at the Lon
don, setting forth the cash prizes to
the best act, and wild hope had
grown in her mind that she might win,
not, perhaps, the first prize of five
dollars, but perhaps the second, and
that would mean shelter for another
week and enough food to keep her
fluttering soul and frail body together,
and so she stood hesitating on the
threshold of her greatest venture.
She might have lacked courage TO
enter, but the doorkeeper, happening
to look out. saw the wavering little fig
ure and asked, not unkindly:
"What dye want?"
CIarsic murmured something in
which he heard the word amateur"
Got your name down." asked he.
"Ap right, go on in. jim, put this lady
wits the amatOors."
She found herself one Of line Of
people, mostly boys, standing with
their backs to the wall of narrow
passage. In front of her was q typical
East Side boy, in little cap, green-red
sweater, and depressed-lOoking canvas
shoes. Along the line ran buzz of con-
verSation, rough jokes, and Bowery
slang.
"Thls your first time, lady?" asked
the lad ahead Of her.
Eyes" said Clarsie family.
whats your act-Singin'?"
She nOhlcd family.
"Tm buck-dancin," said her new ac-
Quaintancc. "This is my fourth time"
a crash Of music from the front,
and the chorus troOped past, off the
stage, and scattered to the dressing
rooms. Clarsie heard dimly, as from an
immense distance, q voice say:
IN Wi
perform. We have 4 large list tonight,
and I think you will be much enter
tainel."
She opened her eyes and saw, stand
ing ut the entrance to the stage,
gentleman with 4 tired and cynical
expression. Beside him stood n figure
which. to Clarsie'S eyes, was the most
magnificent she had ever seen. The
lady was Of great height and thinneSs.
Good night" said this apparitiOn to
the man in evening dress, and then,
rs her eye fell on the line, "Ah, the
amateurs What, n girl, too?'
"Oh, we have them sometimes" said
her companion.
The white husSar shrugged her
shoulders and walked past them, but
just as she passed, her eyes met those
of Clarsic, and the look of fright, pain
and hclplcsSncSS that she saw there
startled her. She stopped suddenly.
Don't be 50 frightened, little girl"
she said, cor you'll 20 up in the air"
She gave her a rough, friendly slap on
the shoulder, turned and stepped back
to the wings Just as the manager, with
his list, stepped out on the stage. 1--WE
have first" came the voice, Barney
Dooley, buck-dancer."
That's me-" said the youth in the
green-and-rcd sweater, as he ran on TO
the stage.
4 noise, like the roaring Of the sea-
greeted him. Cat-callS, hisSes, hand
clappinS and wild whoops were min
glcd in Il continued roar.
"You here again" "Oh. Barney
why don't you die" Take 1t away,
take il away"
During this internal concert, Bar
ney graycly footed it, and, as a hail
of small coin descended upon the stage,
without losing a beat Of his feet, he
stopped and gathered them into his
cap.
Take it away, take it away take
It away"
"Scusc nc" said man at ClarSic'S