Tricks of Stage Costume.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 295, 17 March 1881, Page 2

Tricks of Stage Costume.

A great many tricks of stage costume spring from personal defects. In tyhatever cut of waist Modjeska appears, there is always a bunch of flowers or a bow placed at the left side of her open corsage. When this device is not.. resorted to, a little strap will be trailed across diagonally, or a little fan of lace ' will suddenly spring from the left corner, in order to hide a scar on the ’ breast that looks as if it might be the result of a wound from a poignard, a “ souvenir of a romance.” Poor Lucille Western was afflicted by a birthmark. She was a regular female Esau About her waist there was a growth of silky brown hair, which ran to a point in front. When it came to the tops of her dresses it was carefully shaved, but r - the skin always remained blue, i So,I Lucelle wore a huge cross dangling just ; . over that portion, df her anatomy. . Parepa Rosa had a deep vaccination. i scar far down her robust arm, and when her sleeves were very short, a knot of .:■ ribbon or a trail of flowers used to cover it. Before she grew so extremely ' ~ stout she wore a golden band -above:the elbow to hide it, but when her armlet had to be as big as a waistband she abandoned the oddity. One night, speaking of this scar to an American’- ;>j ■- girl, who sat in her dressing-room, the Yankee offered an immediate and effectual concealment of the offending; spot. She took one of the candles .off . , the toilet table, and, holding it above / the arm, let one drop of the melted wax , ; fall upon the place, and there was no further need of concealing devices. A’ : dash of flesh-tinted powder completed - the cure, and Parepa’s make-up box for ever after contained a bit of wax candle.