New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-08
Payment OF Actresses aud Actors i'm New
York.

The following extracts from an article by
Bayard' in WikeS Spirit Of TIE Tines. deserve par
tculer consideration from the theatrical community.
They demonstrate most effectively the gross unfarncss
and want OF honorable consideration with which Amor
can managers treat all actresses employed by them:
"Whic have room in these pages by reason Of the
Stacking up OF business perhaps cannot better employ
the space than by setting down words Of truth In
reference to certain points Of management and misman
agement Of the stage. The theme is important the
occasion ripe and the field broad But at this moment
shall not spread over any vast extent Of ground nor
indulge In any lofty specultions Of abstract char
acter first desire 10 express few ideas 10 me old
and hacknoyed) about the relation between compeDsl-
| ton and expense particularly with reference TO tho
| female side OF the profession.
And first the requirements. The manager must have
five six women of considerable talent from leading
lady leader Of ballet lie must have equal number
Of men-from leading man 10 any point you choose TO
imagine. Good. Now he goes out 10 engage he pays
men, say from SO to SIS per week; he pays women
from go down 10 5 But this Is not the only discrimi-
nations the manager insists upon great difference IN
treatment-the difference which is the chcfdscOurage
ment Of all women q mean honest women who en-
deayOr TO their bread in this thlnke-s and pre-
caTOus way. This difference Is matter OF dress, and
very important matter IS too. Let the reader note
that a man gets 10 TO 20 per cent pay than a
woman of like grade that has all or nearly al
his wardrobe furnished by The teaier; but that ne
woman must dress herself iolloM sn rhe Willis o w
=
and I'm the evening upon the stage respenden
As the rising sun You delighted, dear public and
yon Mr. Manager, rosy with b!ushcs OF recognition
at what you have achieved your heart warns toward
the woman FOR whom y0n have heretofore had only su-
perclious sneers and ten to one you have the agda
ciOus erontery 60 upon the stage and congratulate
hor non her magnificent ensemble. (AI managers
| speak French-sOmetimes.) But do you know (or do
| Won cnre) that this worthy hard working woman has
:yncnJed Irs, ,oeeks of Your very liberal salary 10
achieve that dress DO you know that in order TO
make this credtable appearance she has used mp me
solaYy of month beside working late and early with
her own fingers OF course, you know 1t well enough
but YOU care nothing abont it, Is Is no concern Of yours
how or who're she gets the meas 80 longas she dresses
well and makes show 10 please your many headed
master the hubble The gorgeous actress dofis her
glorious robes carefully packs them away and walks
docfuy TO her humble home 10 sup on red herring and
cold tea because her dress he's cost much that she IS
all in debt and must rob her stomach 70 pay he credit.
ors Of whom you are the chief having advanced most
of the money buy the dress yon have been 50 much
lis not necessary to 90 into minute details to prove
this picture true. II is well known that the Wardrobcs
Of The men in a heaier are great extent sometimes
entirely furnished by tho manager while every woman
above the ballet is compelled 10 furnish every item ol
her attire from Stockings tdliamonds II also well
known that their dresses however economically got up
cost far than those OF the other side that they
wear two three -four rich robes IN hye act piece,
when the leading man is amply furnished by single
black suit In order TO meet anything Ike the require
monts Of her position leading actress must keep at
least good drcssmakcr for the entire season beside
servant TO fetch and carry Der bundles In the very
best Of Times. as salaries have been IN New orS;
actresses making any pretensiOn to ability have iOnn
their weekly pey Insufficient meet ordinary expenses,
and / am sure that not in twenty ever saved u
dOar out Of al tho earnings Of unless by the
assistance Of that species Of charitable contribution
frOm her friends called a Benefit II is well enough
Known that some OF best and most worthy artists
have held their places only because they or their has
bands or families wiling 70 furnish the means for
| dressing which the theaiers did not.
Engagements for tie Winter season are in order and
managers must be prepared 10 pay much larger salaries
than herctoore-at least 30 per cent 10 men aDd
| 100 per cent 10 women. Why, Mt present prices.
"Opiclia" would have 10 pay weeks salary for the
simple Ehte dress In which She goes mad; while any
thing f for hgh-comedy parl0r scene would Use up
what three years ago would have paid salaries Tor
month.