Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-27
HE STAGE.

worship. -
TEE STAGE.
---tOf On
ssr,a of those who Tread Gus
Es0a: :ds--AutssosS and FER
Formers. {
The Hermit" of New York city,
still continues his interesting letters IN
the Troy Times The last one Is as FOL
lows
Among the changing scenes in the
world there are none more transltory
than the lives of dramatic authors and
performers. Shakespeare says that call
the worlds a stage" and it is converse
truth that all the stage is world as
evanescent as anything mundane can
be. Sometimes the inquiry may be
made. where do the actors and actresses
come from? One does not find them IN
small country towns and villages, and 1t
Is evident that theaters are part OF city
life. and that hence players are OF city
origin. In reply to such an inquiry, II
NAV be stated that many if not most OF
our PLAYERS inherit their professions. 1t
Is true that in the ordinary pursuits in
life. children often vary from the calling
of their father and suit their tastes ID
cboosinr a business. Theatrical per
formers. on the other hand, are shut up
fran the society of other men. They
do not mingIe with farmers, lawyers,
clerqymen or merchants, and their chill
dren have little intimacy with those OF
other people. They are forced by the
peculiar odium attaching to theatrical
life to form society among themselves
There is. and we believe always has
been 4 social distinction which attaches
low caste to all public performers, except
such as reach the rare emi1ence OF stars.
People generally shrink from assoclatlng
with such class. and hence their chill
dren are shut off from other professions
by an implied necessity. This explains
the reason why so many families are
identified with the stage. For Instance,
the late distinguished tragedian, Charles
Kean. inherited his profession from his
father. the distinguished Edmund kean,
whose mother was likewise an dttdche of
the London stage. By the same rule
the Kembles have for three generations
maintained a distinction in the histrionic
art and these English illustrations have
an American parallel in the Booth iami-
ly and others. We presume indeed that
| this is the reason why Miss~Fanny Price
is now on the stage. We remember her
as fascinating schoolgirl, who be-
witched the boys into ecstacies OF cali
love. We then little dreamed OF her
haeoming an actress, but her most inttu-
.afial relative, Mr.. Hanchett, was a per.
former. and through this connection Miss
Price was led to the stage. As Tor the
rest of our dramatic performers, they
are gathered in from variety of sources
There is in this. and in all other cities,
class Of young men who have turn fol
elocution and who are fond OF dramatic
literature. and these fellows form histri
onie societies in which they test thei
skill. and after while they offer them
selves to some of the managers, and per
hans are allowed TO try their gifts IL
E some minor parts. If their debat Is
, hit tbey have a chance for promotion
, If not they are at once dismissed. Th
E same statement applies to females, an
q there is Just now great multitude c
, voung women anxious TO tread tn
|, boards. If manager meets some lin
I looking and gifted girl he will propose
/ nut her under training, the expense {
which is very high, and this brings
our notice the fact that there are hlstr
onic schools in operation here in whic
= Young people are drilled for their part
4 Several old and worn out players al
= now giving lessons and drilling beglI
. pers in voice, gesture, and general bea
inc. and we presume that very good II
1 struetion can be had at the rate of tv
= dollars per hour. There are many r
+, cruits for the stage picked up amor
i Young people who get stage-struck
!, AZ every fine theatrical show there a
- numbers Of youths who become fascl
~ ated by the tinsel and glitter of t
. drama. and who imagine that its gla
. and music insure everlasting bliss. III
- fact explains the reason why boys so oft
run away in order to follow the troup
- which stroll from one country town
=. another. We knew one youth who ear
= to this city to obtain a clerkship,
- which he was successful, but going
- - the theater one night he became sta
=; struck" He Immediately abandoned
=, - plaee and offered himself to the ma
ager. As he was pretty fellow WI
- some gifts. he was accepted. His fail
~ hearing of his unsteadiness, came do
n, to reclaim the lad, and on going t.
nd popular theater beheld his son pertor
av inc Justify in some juvenile part.
y took the boy Eome, and he is now v
no respectable country merchant, instead
lv- being vagabond actor.
81 The rate paid to minor players, 81
,ch as are commonly called stock '.'oE !
the Is very small, ranging from 20 10
nty per week-a rate which, Shefl we G
,he sider the exhausting natpfe OF their
ade nlovment and the expense OF costume
isn ~, smalI. Yet even at this low
o,r The supply is greater than the dema
nan plav acting is very hard work. 1t
1ld hausts the nervous system by its coust
,rly excitement, and hence actors wear
,air rapidly. This is one reason why !
low are, as a cl ASS, Incorporate Nat
net sinks under the reaction of excFem
red and has to be aroused by stimulus
her have seen young man play an inn
ion tant part in drama which was
her formed afternoon and evening in
hin nuns Museum. As matter of col
oted he could not get on without drink
ouis and yet for this suicidal performane
rom only received $50 per week. Lea
The players receive salaries varying from
she TO $500 per week, but to commana
her price one must be almost star:
ysis. Stock actors, as class are mlsel