Behind The Scenes For The First Time.

BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE FIRST TIME .

I HAVE always had a great desire to go behind the scenes . My earliest recollection of the theatre was seeing Macready perform as Macbeth , and I can now keenly remember the zest with which I beheld that great tragedian partake of some slight refreshment at the wings before coming on in a terribly exhausting scene . This view was from the stage-box of the Haymarket Theatre , about thirty years before the great Bancroft transformation scene was . presented to the public at this old-established house . I considered

it one of the greatest privileges of the evening ' s amusement to have been thus unexpectedly allowed to gaze for even a moment upon the private life of a great actor . Many years since then have passed by , and although I have been a regular attendant at the most conspicuous ancl successful plays of the last quarter of a century , I have only lately been initiated into the mysteries of " going behind the scenes . "

It happened in this way . A friend , who Avas acquainted with the manager of a theatre , which we will call for the present the Transpontine , took me there during an afternoon performance of the pantomime . The 'manager received us most courteously , and hoped he should have the pleasure of showing us round in the evening . His multifarious duties prevented his personally conducting us behind the scenes ; but , armed Avith his introductionwe passed boldly through the little door on the ( audience ' s ) riht of the

, g stage , braving the . fireman who guarded it , ancl by certain sharp turns at acute angles found ourselves , before we knew it , in the green room . Here let us give a word of advice to those young gentlemen who are so ably described in Albert Smith ' s essay on the " Ballet Girl , " those who look so longingly at the doors through which the musicians disappear when their duties are over . Never go behind the scenes or into a green room without an

introduction , and when there remember to conduct yourself with a great deal more reserve and tact than is usual in general society . If you arrive there without the actor who introduced you , you should look quicldy round the room and remain quiet , unless you are spoken to by one of the company . Actors are a very jealous race , and very tenacious of their ri ghts ; but there is no class of people who will receive you more kindly or more cordiall y if

you are only properly introduced . On this occasion no one was there we knew ; but almost at once one of the principal actors came up , introduced himself , and then introduced us to the ladies of the troupe . At pantomime times it is expected that strangers should " stand" champagne iu the green room . But if there are four or six present this does not amount to much ; and it is indeed money well expended when Ave consider the exhausting life an actor or an actress leads , ancl how much they contribute to the enjoyment of the public .

As a rule it is better not to speak to a performer ( especially of the other sex ) unless formall y introduced . But , as at a " good " house one sometimes speaks to those who are next one without an introduction , so at a good theatre one can speak occasionally without an introduction to one ' s neighbour . But this must be done with the greatest care , or very disagreeable results may ensue . You must remember that most of the female performers are married , engaged , or otherwise connected with some man at the theatre , who will regard your attentions with anything but satisfaction . These people meet everyday , having the common bond of hard work to unite them , and it is onl y human nature that they should become much