Year: 1874

articles shed during the action of th,
play; the property would thus be re
stored TO the owners thereof, and the
artistic effect Of the drama would in
no wise be disturbed.


was cautioned against haste in m,
speech, eagerness to begin nv lines
before the curtain had fairly reached
the dome Of the proscenium, and above
all, was urged to avoid betrayina
any consciousness OF the audience
which is. to say the least, thoroughly y
unprofessional.


These precepts we're scarcely com.
mitted when the warning bell summon.
ed us to appear for the second act.
The extreme novelty Of my position
was rapidly wearing Off; ran nv eve
over my play book to freshen my
memory, though observed the ma
jority OF the actors preferred trusting
entirely TO their memory, they finding
the book an embarrassment rather
than q benefit.


My chief scene in act second was a
brief but animated interview with the
leading lady; in the play she was
about TO drown herself or do some.
thing equally unladylike, and it was
my lot 10 dissuade her from her fell
purpose. l rushed on at the right mo-
ment with a confused idea of what |
was 10 do and say; somehow my lines
had become hopelessiy mixed, she
saw the nature Of the disorder, aud her
attention was henceforth divided be-
tween her own premeditated end and
the most suitable way Of getting me
safely back into my dressing room.


fancy much of my discontinue was
occasioned by the unexpected recogni-
ton Of a friends face, that seemed to
shine out like an apparition from the
chaotic confusion Of faces filling the
auditorium.


If that man had been dispatched as
an ambassador from the people to con-
front me in the moment Of nv triumph
and wrest from me the very motive
power OF my being. he could not have
thrown me into more complete state
Of stupefaction.


The leading lady, who by this time
had given up all thought Of her own
misfortune, and was in the deepest dis
tress at my miserable condition,
clutched me by the arm with such Wig
or that l was upon the point Of scream
ing out; she saved me by sheer force
OF will. felt that it wss impossible
not to obey her, though she said moth
ing that was not set down 10 her she
spoke her lines and wrung from me
my replies with her nervous grip upon
my arm and her compelling eyes trans
fixing me like !d.aggfIS ,v.har .oi' die
the words l was unconsciously utter
ing, and, having brought our aston
ishing scene TO a conclusion without
alarming the audience, she walked me
OF from the stage and deposited me
upon the nearest piece Of furniture
available, where sank back trembling
in every muscle, and folded in sheet
of cold sweet.


Probably l was but one remove from
a stage fright; possibly there is moth
ing more agonizing in the whole round
Of human experiences than this sudden
and unaccountable nervous prostra-
tion tnat has sometimes visited an ac-
tor after many years Of varied sue
cess. l sincerely hope it comes not
the second time TO any given victim,
for there is cruelty enough in it to last
a man his lifetime.


Before our five acts were over, l
had outgrown the old conditions and
seemed to have become new man en-
tirely. fancied the world looked
different to me l believed had cut
loose from society and set myself face
TO face with the great public.


Between the fourth and last acts /
stood at the edge Of the drop-curtain
and had an oblique glimpse of the
house there was triangular slice of
the parouette, the tip end of the dress.
ing circle, and one of the crescent
horns Of the gallery visible; the pros
cenium box was right before me, and
l exchanged ominOus glances with its
occupants. Looking curiously upon
the handfuls Of people that were seat
ed within range Of my limited vision,
saw those whom l had known in
private life, and somehow they SEEM
ed TO be set apart from me there was
yawning gulf full Of musicians, and
flaming sword OF foot-lights that
separated us, perhaps forever. Ifelt
that, probably those friends would not
regard me in the same light as had
been their wont they might try, and
fail, for our lives went apart from the
day Of my debut, and We met no more
on the common ground of social equal
ity. had become the property of
the public, subject to It's critical or
curious whims in a word, l was an
actor, though a poor one; but my
shortcomings did not exempt me
from all the petty annoyances the
actor is subjected 10.


Stripped of every remnant OF priva-
cy, naked to the inspection Of impru-
dent and prying eyes. henceforth l
cOuiO uOt IalI W 0WAAeu 6Otue llttIo
interest in the bosom OF my neighbor,
from the mere fact that l was an ac-
tor, though. Heaven knows, in our
several callings can see nothing but
q distinction without difference.


Looking out at the eige Of the cur.
tain I nodded to q young fellow
knew, and he nodded back, to the I'd.
miration Of several young fellows in
his immediate vicinity they seemed to
be filled with unnecessary emotion,
and perhaps felt themselves remotely
associated with the profession in con.
sequence Of that casual recognition.


began to grow philosophical, and
thought little of my kind, that SO
small thing should have its visible
effect in q half dozen breasts that
ought to have been less susceptible.


But l had charity for them had
done the same thing myself, more
than once, and had felt my hair rise
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