Year: 1874

ciose. every one nau duties that fully


occupied his or her attention; ever
the singing chambermaid lost interes,
In me. and the scene shifter seemed
inclined 10 let me 90 my way since hi
had watched me through the trying
ordeal of the first entrance and the
exit that followed it.


These exits were something harrow
ing; it seemed as though nothing bu,
miracle could carry me safely over
the three PAGES that lay between me
and the wings. beyond which | was as
bold AS lion. Neither is it any won-
der that it is as it is ; as we'll think OF
concluding poem with weak line OF
two, as Of sinking Off from the stage
without making a point of it.


1t is one proof of an artist that his
entrances and exits are in themselves
artistic, forming fitting opening and
close to the business Of the scene.
Ones feet seem glued TO the stage
Just at the moment when q light and
graceful step is necessary, and some-
how you are never SO conscious OF
your complete untitness for any part
as at the moment when you are about
to conclude a scene IN it. This is of
course the result of nervousness, and
may be overcome in time.


At last, after three hours and half
Of the utmost animation, the green cur
tain was about TO fall on my first
night. l do not remember any walk
in life to which l have been introduced
where the nervous energies Of q man
are SO taxed ; We had not one moment
that we could call our own, from the
hour Of dressing to the last tap of the
prompter's bell at the end OF the clos
ing scene.


Then everything seemed to fray out.
The audience deserted us. We were
of no further interest 10 them. They
returned into the world and forgot US.
We hurried to our dressing-rooms, put
Off our stage-characters with our
donned citizens apparel, and
went into the street.


The lights burned low in the empty
house the curtain was rung up as
soon as the audience had dispersed,
and when l passed out on 10 the stage
again, the great auditorium yawncd
like a cavern full of shadows and ST.
lence.


The stage carpenter said good
night civiily, in voice that echoed
through the deserted galleries one or
two Of the minor members Of the COM
pany seemed inclined TO make friendly
advances. but | discovered that we
had all sunk into the commonplace
world again, and We could not hope
for complete resurrection until the
place was again magnetized hv the
probably assemble on the following
evening.


At the door, five or six youngsters
we're lounging, and as passed them,
they gossiped together in an audible
nndertone which could not avoid in
Well. little fellows,
thought l, you do not care much for
me now, but if I should make one pal
pable hit, you would follow me block
or so in the fullness of your admira.
lion.


was tired and hungry; ! sought
my hospitable chop-housc and awoke
the motherly waitress from nap in
the corner. Over oysters and coffee
my soul revived wanted TO tell the
good soul all about it; l felt that l
must talk to somebody or die, and as
| talked stage TO her. But, bless her
soul she never went TO the play
house, and though she sympathized
with me TO a considerable extent, it
was only because she was so brimful
of sympathy that you might tap her
on any side and she would respond
with admirable but incomprehensible



SO went TO my room, and as the
night was clear and the rim of the
moon hung low in the horizon, l
leaned over the window TO see that
strip of yellow gold go down beyond
the hill.


1t was time to send pleasant men
tai kilograms to the dear ones who
were perhaps dreaming Of the prodl-
gal out in the world again.


A great multitude of frogs sang joy
ously; l think there was no other
sound on my side Of the world. l
blessed God with the gratefulest heart
that ever yearned and was satisfied,
and concluded by writing a letter
home while the spirit was on me, hope
full, healthful, hearty.


When l was dropping off into sleep
the town clock struck three, and con-
cluded the programme ofthe debut with
this high-fown period: Alas for the
joyous amateur who sports with fair
women and brave men Of his acquaint-
ance in the drawing-rooms of his
neighbor who plays at playing in
dainty drama after his own heart, and
thinks he is solving the mystery of the
profession, but the truths of which he
is in no wise aware Of; for the end Of
that amateur shall be egotism and
vainglory!


Perhaps was too philosophical on
short notice: l know that was very
sleepy, and what can you expect from
fellow with one foot in the profess
sion?





A. an instance of the effect Of heat and
cold in expanding and contracting the