t then as Ruth looked up to Mr. Dauntrey, and
murmured, "Ah, that was so nice of you to say."

"Are you all here?" inquired Mr. Ludlow. "Let me take a little account
of you." Mentally he ran over the small list of people. "All ready
then. All sit down and make yourselves comfortable. I will only
detain you a few minutes now. We are going to have a very important
recital in the new National Theatre to-morrow night. I have a little
typewritten letter for each of you. I will give these to Mr. Dauntrey
and he will hand them to you." Turning to Mr. Dauntrey he handed him
a number of white envelopes, saying: "There now, don't neglect to give
each one the proper envelope."

Turning once more to the rest of them, he continued, "If by any
chance you don't happen to like the instructions contained in those
envelopes, report at once to Mr. Dauntrey and he will take up the
matter with me, or refer you to me."

Mr. Ludlow had had many dealings with performers before, and he knew
from experience that it was better to give instructions this way. It
avoided open contentions which were likely when one artist thought he
or she was slighted, and enabled each one to know exactly what they
had to do, for there was no mistaking written orders.

"The new National Theatre," continued Mr. Ludlow, "is on Pennsylvania
avenue near Thirteenth street, and is of great capacity and comfort.
I hope you will all do your best for I have written to the President,
and have asked him to accept, as a token of our respect, a box for
that night. I hope he honors us with his presence, and it may afford
you all an opportunity to meet him personally. I expect this concert
to be a big thing for us. This city is favorably disposed toward
classical concerts, and Mr. Dauntrey has worked hard sending out
special announcements for us.

"I expect each of you to do your very best and look your very best.
Always look your best. Looks go a great way. If people see you enter
the stage confidently and look nice--nice and neat, not gaudy, not
cheap or overdressed, just good simple dresses, and not made in
outlandish styles--their first impression is very apt to be a lasting
one. There, I think that is enough of a lecture. I plan to go from
here to Pittsburgh, and, with several stops, on to Chicago. From
Chicago on to St. Louis, and from there with a half dozen stops, if we
are successful, to San Francisco. Just what we will do then I can't
tell now. But I think that is