Marion Marlowe in St. Paul, or, The Company's Mascot in a Double Deal — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* MY QUEEN. windows of the stage. “We've just struck the town, and we are to be here a week. It would give us great pleasure to bestow a compli- mentary upon your enterprising joblots. We are the great and only Temple Theatrical Company, and our star is the world’s most famous actress!” Fle held out a bit of pasteboard as he spoke and the boy eyed it wistfully, but, for reasons of his own, he did not offer to take it. “Is she purtier’n Lilynn Russ’l?” he asked, with his eyes opening wider. “Heaps! Russell ain’t nowhere!” was the comedian’s answer. “Can she beat Sary Burnhard >?’ next eager question. “Beat her, hands down! Bernhardt can’t touch her!” was the reply, while the audience inside the stage began to roar with laughter. “Got enny dimons?” was the next question from the now highly excited gamin. “Trunks full! There they are over there answered Bert, pointing to a dray load of big trunks bearing theatrical placards. “Oh, there’s nothing lacking, I can assure you, my friend! She’s the only one of her kind, and there’ll never be another! You'll miss half your life if you don’t come to the theatre !” As Bert finished he nearly lost his balance, for the driver had suddenly mounted to his seat and started the vehicle. “Betcher life I'll come! Gimme de paste- board! I'll be in at de deat’, an’ don’t yer fergit it! Hully gee!” The boy uttered his words all in one breath as he grabbed for the complimentary, and then gave a war whoop that would have done credit to a Comanche Indian. was the ed “Ain’t he funny!’’ cried Miss Ellis, the m-, génue of the company, as she nearly tumbled over Bert in order to get another look at the lad. “He’s the littlest newsboy | ever saw any- chimed in Mrs. Burnside, another member of the company. “Why, he isn't much larger than my little Ruby, but | have no doubt that he is a good deal older.” “Me is six!” chirped Little Ruby, the beau- where,” tiful child actress. “Thank eoodness you don’t have to sell pa- pers!” cried Miss Ellis, leaning over to pinch her cheeks. “Why, if we were in New York, how quick the Gerry society would stop your acting; and yet there are dozens of little news- boys selling papers on the street and running into all sorts of danger and no one stops them! I think that law against child actresses is just abominable! Why, there isn’t a little girl in the world that has better care than Ruby.” “IT don’t mean there shall be!” said Mrs. Burnside, proudly. ‘But I believe they allow those children in New York to sell papers because their parents are too poor to support them. If they get anything to eat, they have to earn it.” “And they call this a Christian country!” burst out the beautiful star of the company, indignantly. “Tiny mites of children are al- lowed to work in the streets of New York where they are surrounded by the tempta- tions of vice and crime, as well as dangers of every description, and all because a lot of geood-for-nothing men and women are too lazy, too wicked or too miserable to support them! It makes my blood boil to think of such things! Why don’t the Gerry society or some other society, or the government, force men and women to support their chil- dren, or else build protectories for all the poor innocents, where they can be properly brought up and educated? The idea of infants like that boy we just saw being forced to earn their living! Why, he can’t help but grow up wicked! There is no other alternative! Po r little fellow! my heart just aches for him.” The tears had crept to her large gray eyes, and the beautiful face ‘was flushed with in- dignation. ; “We certainly would go mad,” spoke up Alma Allyn, Magion’s dearest friend, “if we worried about it too much. We are not re- sponsible for it, that is one good thing, and is—well, I’m sure I pity them. There must be some terrible punishment to whoever follow such wickedness.” “T have an idea!” cried Marion, suddenly. “We have had such dreadful experiences in every city that we have played in. T wonder- if a ‘mascot’ would change our luck any?” The words were said laughingly, but every one applauded the suggestion. “A great idea, Marion! I'll catch one for EComircbooksicom