The Price of Performance

Aberdeen, Jan. 9. — Her nerves unstrung through continual gabbling by a couple in the first row and working herself into an hysterical state by putting forth unusually strong dramatic efforts to shame these offenders into an appreciation of high art, Miss Mabel Brownell, who portrays the character of Ruth Jordan in 'The Great Divide,' became hysterical in her dressing room at the Grand theater and following the performance lost consciousness, her condition becoming such that physicians had to be summoned. She was in such a high pitch of excitement at the end of the second act that she had to be taken from the stage to her dressing room, and when the third act opened, was unable to be on the stage as required when the curtain went up. She was barely able to finish out the play, the other members being compelled to change the dialogue about to fit the situation. It was noticeable to the audience at the drop of the final curtain that Miss Brownell was ill, and as the curtain was lowering, she was seen to swoon. Taken from the stage, she became unconscious before the dressing room was reached. Physicians were called, and the actress was removed to her hotel. She had sufficiently recovered this morning to be able to leave with the company.