THE STAR TURN.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 44, 10 July 1915, Page 23

THE STAR TURN.

Willie Wunlung, the World's Wildest Wag, danced his final breakdown, and dashed into the wings en route for his dressingroom as the house broke into the rapturous applause which he was always able to command. Despite his haste, however, he found time to clap has successor on the back and wish her a cheery "Good luck, kid," ere he passed on. An artiste with more experience than the young girl possessed would not have been found in the wings in such a pitiable state of nerves; but she was very, new to the game. Success in a competition in this suburban! hall had brought as its prize a week's engagement, and she was hoping that it would prove the first of many, as she anxiously waited her turn to face the audience that would not indulge her any more indulgently because she had to follow the performance of the World's Wildest Wag. This was the thought that occurred to Willy. "Rough on the kid having to follow me," he was thinking and, odd as it may sound, there was no conceit in the thought. He simply knew the facts. For the purposes of advertisement he was prepared l to announce himself as theworld's wildest wag without any mock modesty, but in his private thoughts he had no dlelusions. .He credited' himself merely with the knack of amusing a crowd (and he could do that to perfection') in the way that was then popular, and he thanked the gods for a knack that happened) to be highly paid. He was sorry for the kid. She looked' such a child, and he had himself known the thankless task of following a star turn on the bill, barely to be listened to. He was still thinking of her when fcound after round of applause from the auditorium reached 1 him in his dressingroom. "Jove!" he exclaimed, "she's hitting 'em," and, as tlie applause showed no signs of abating, he even troubled himself to go down towards the wings. A stunt that could move them like this after him was worth seeing. He found her still where he bad passedl her, but now she was radiant. All her nervousness had given placeto an excitement that made her look prettier than ever. And still the applause" "went on. "Finished your first song " he said. "Good. You've hit' em all right." "It's not me," she replied.- "Better than that. It's the screen." For a moment he did not understand, and she explained. "The sheet for the pictures. They've just thrown the news on it. Two German submarines sunk. Isn't it glorious. • And in the crowded house the applause went on and on.