Year: 1874

necessary to suit the requirements OF
their respective roles.


There were three of US in the up
stairs room | sought, selected and
grouped together because we were
slim and amiable; at any rate, can.
not account for the imposition upon
any other grounds.


lhe dressing-room was like q ships
stateroom it might have been seven
feet square it was ceiled with rough
boards and lit with gas jet that
famed furiously right over our heads
q narrow shelf of a convenient height
spanned three sides of the room, while
against the fourth side, and next the
door, was our solitary stool. We sat
on that stool in turn, and anathema-
tized the proprietors Of the establish
ment for thus presuming upon the
helplessness of three martyrs 10 cir
cumstance.


There was no supertluous ornamenta-
ton about our dressing room on the
bare counter stood small wash bowl !;
above it hung cheap mirror scarcely
bigger than ones face each Of us had
his box of colors, cake Of india ink
and a toothbrush with which to apply
it ; a hare s-foot or a bit of old flannel
for the rouge, and puff for the mag
nesia.


Our gaudy costumes, such parts of
them as We had not on at the moment,
were heaped in champagne baskets un-
der foot and when we broke the busy
silence OF the last half hour before ad-
journing TO the greenroom, where the
players Of the evening are supposed TO
be in waiting, it was to ask after a
missing slipper, or to beg the loan of
rosette us substitute for the one
that had been missing for some days.


There came a rap at the door; the
juvenile (who does the young lovers
and the dutful sons) wanted to bor-
row our eyeglasses; there came an
other rap a moment later the sou E.
brette begged Mr.. Blank for few pins,
she having been unable to find any out
Of use among the ladies.


II was excessively hot up in our
small box; there was no window
through which the night air might visit
and revive US. In fact, an actor has
little time to devote to hygienics dur.
ing the run Of play. He cannot af-
ford TO be civil, always; his mind is
bent upon his lines, and anv unneces-
inf a
breach Of professional etiquette worthy
OF a severe reprimand.


Coming down from the dressing.
room, heard low hum on the other
side OF the green curtain that was alt
that sepss.ated me from public life


l glanced through the peephoIe in
the middle of the curtain, and saw
well-iilIed house; row upon row of
faces were piled from the orchestra
rail TO the very roof of the building; a
hundred shelves full of wingless
cherubs might have made similar ap-
pearance if they could have managed
10 look equally unspiritual. Every
body was like everybody else no ore
was distinguished in his or her ap-
pearance. II would temper the vanity
Of any man if he could see how insig-
niticant he appears in the midst of a
large audience.


The effect was at first lulcrous and
then confusing the audience seemed
to resolve itself into one enormous
face that winked at me with thous-
and critical eyes.


l Withdrew to the greenroom 70 COM
pose myself; We We're all there. few
sitting upon chairs or sofas, few
walking neryously up and down the
hoor. one or two busy at pier-y asses,
studying causes and effects.


was an object Of some concern to
the occupants of the greenroom the
Old woman, which is by no means IL
disrespectful title when applied TO an
actress in her professional sphere,
wanted TO know how | felt; the light
comedian triaed with my feelings in
cruel but artistic manner the leading
lady gave me piece of advice, much
in the style Of a governess administer
ing a reproof; and the singing
chambermald, who evidently had a
heart, though in the play she was cele-
brated for her want oft, said nothing,
but looked at me with melting eyes
that made me feel particularly good
every time they rested upon me. There
was commotion on the stage; the
warning bell was sounded and we
fastened into the wings, those scenic
excrescences that shoot out from the
sides of the stage like unfinished par
titions.


A whole scene was to pass before l
made my entrance in company with
several others; We stood in a group
at the entrance in the fat, or back
ground Of the stage-picture our room
was limited; there could not have
been more than three feet Of space be-
tween the scene and the rear wall of
the theatre; everything was dusty,
and We found some trouble in keeping
ourselves respectable; so we stood in
readiness to make our entrance the
moment our cue should be heard the
ladies meanwhile were arranging the
folds in their dresses and paying as
little attention to me as possible 1t
was their delicate way of smoothing
over the situation. l observed, how
ever, that the stage carpenter was
watching me with some interest, and
the scene-shifter, who was ever my
friend and who was out of employ
ment for five minutes, drank my health
silently in a mug Of foaming lager.
TO be Continued.)
Our JENNY.-She is the most discon-
tented, unhappy little monkey that ever
lived. She finds something to cry about
~ tixnas n das. Yastardasx u,