LOTTA.

1

NE of the most enchanting actresses of light comedy is Miss Charlotte Crabtree, who uses "Lotta," the abbreviated form of her Christian name, as her stage title.

So-called dramatic critics,-of whom the number is legion, and whose bitterness is suggestive of the "possessed" gentleman of Gadarene in his worst mood-have greatly delighted their little souls in berating and belittling as far as they were able, this versatile little lady. But the critics have very little influence on public opinion, and especially in the case of 'Lotta" they have utterly failed. Lotta is a universal favorite, and she deserves to be, for she gives always an evening of pure, clean, unaffected merriment, to which you may take your young people without a moment's hesitation. An evening with "Lotta" in "Bob," may not be an evening devoted to unintelligible worship of the classic muse, but it is a delightful evening nevertheless, as tens of thousands can bear witness.

But "Lotta" shall speak for herself. In an interview held not long ago, she said:

"When I first went on the stage, in the summer of 1858twenty years ago, by the way, I determined to originate. an entirely new school of acting. You may laugh, but my first idea was tragedy, and I actually had the part of Lady Macbeth committed to memory. The successful lady stars at that time were Lucille Western and Kate Bateman, and I felt that if there was any money to be made, it must On Christmas Day, be in the same line they were in.

1863, I was stopping with a friend in St. Louis, when Lucille Western visited that city and played East Lynne at one of the theaters. I went to see her for the first time. At the

conclusion of the performance, I concluded that tragedy or emotional acting was not my forte, for I was ashamed of puny efforts, as witnessed before the mirror in my dressing-case, after having seen what Lucille Western could do in the same line. I was thoroughly disheartened, and sat down and had a real good cry. The friend at whose house I was stopping," continued Lotta, "was a prominent newspaper man, and had a penchant for entertaining members of the theatrical profession. Go there when you would, you were always certain to find some actor at his table. Well, on this Christmas Day I was telling you of, when I came down to tea, my eyes still red with weeping, I found an elderly, good-natured, good-looking gentleman there. I was not a little flurried on his being introduced to me as John Brougham, the celebrated actor and playwriter, for I was not then so well used to meeting celebrities as I am now. I am sure Mr. Brougham must have thought me a little goose, for I had not spoken to him two minutes before the recollection of my disappointment again welled up in my mind, and the tears came to my eyes. I can never forget how he questioned me as to what was the matter, and how kindly and fatherly he wormed out of me my secret.

"The truth is, dear sis,' said he, after learning the full extent of my affliction, 'you have chosen the wrong branch of the profession. This rage for weeping and wailing will soon run out, and the people will demand a more cheerful performance. Take to the soubrettes, my girl-there is more money in that. What you want, is a hit on something odd and peculiar. Give the people something new. The American people are great for novelty, and will put a fortune into the purse of the one who pleases them.'

"I did not soon forget what he had told me. I am a great girl for action, and when I take anything into my head, instead of dreaming over it, I get energetically to work. But, for the life of me, I couldn't think what school of acting to choose, until one day in Chicago, at a hotel where I was stopping, I came across the counterpart of the mischievous

creature known throughout the length and breadth of the land as Lotta. She was a little miss of ten summers, and as provoking a little imp as was ever born. She was up to all sorts of tricks and comicalities, and yet, in spite of her mischief, one could not help loving her. In a word, she was at once the terror and delight of the house. I saw in an instant where an original character could be found, and began to study the oddities of the little elf. Then I would go to my room and practice what she had done.

"In the farce of Nan, the Good for Nothing, there occurs a splendid opportunity for introducing the vagaries of a spoilt, wayward child. How well I succeeded in that farce, and in other kindred plays written especially with the view to introducing these oddities, my career for the last fifteen years will attest. I had no trouble; I swam at once into public favor, partly by good luck, partly by the oddity of the thing, but chiefly by the wisdom and enterprise of good managers, to whom successful stars owe more than they have often the candor to acknowledge."

In the spring of 1884 "Lotta" tried her fortunes in London. At first there were signs of disfavor, and it seemed as though the American favorite was to be a failure. But the brave little lady held on with a good heart, and soon London was at her feet. In the early part of this year she resumed her work in America, and met a most enthusiastic welcome back to her native land.