Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-06-26
Olive Gogan's Opinion Of the Theat
ricaI Profession.

10 the Editor OF The New York Timcs.
In your issue Of to-day YOU are
pleased to accuse me Of ''slandering'
the dramatic profession by certain
remarks which / made at Steinway
Hall on "Wednesday evening. This
Is strange charge to bring against
Il woman who has suffered as much
rs | have for insisting that there are
virtue and honor among the mem
bers of tnat profession. On one not
able occasion | stood up before an
audience of 3 200 of the most puri-
tahlcal people to be found in New
England, and tried to interest them
Iii the career OF Il virtuous young ac-
tress. signally failed, and l can
only express my profound regret
that | ever was SO foolhardy AS to
draw upon myself the condemnation
OF intelligent people by advocatin.
the cause OF II profession which Is
now disgraced by its recognition OF
these indecent women.
The cases you cite of successful
players who still retain decency in
the dramatic profession, are those OF
Janauschel, Ristori, Mrs. Lander
and Miss Bateman. Janauschell
has always played to empty benches
at the Academy OF Music. Ris tori,
az "a natural result OF skiIlful mani
pulatlng by an a.tate manager, drew
almost as well as Il circus for few
weeks, but when the -arore died out,
she played for the pleasure of play
ing, apparently, for she had to pay
for the privilege. Mrs. Lander, Il
true artist and a lady, is, it is we'll
known, as Improbable n "starn as
the country affords, even when
backed by three or four strong sub
sIdary players, whom she takes with
her. Miss Bateman's success was
before the advent of the yellow
haired nudities.
Besides, even if ii were quite diff
ferent, the persons you name are
players who have toiled Cor many
years in this profession, and who
have acquired Worldwide celebrity.
/ referred the other night to decent
young women who are not celebri-
ties-merely honest, modest girls,
whose parents have left them the
not very desirable heritage OF the
stage, and who lind it difficult to OBJ
tain any other employment, being
uneducated for any other. When
these girls go into - theater to apply
for 4 situation now, they find that
the requirements Of manager. are
expressed in the following questions:
/. Is your hair dyed yellow?
>. Are your legs, arms and bosom
symmetrically formed, and arc you
willing to expose them?
3. Can you sing brassy songs, and
dance the can can, and wink at mon,
and give utterauce TO disgust tin .
half-words which mean whole ac-
tiOns?
t. Are you acquainted with any
rich mon who will throw you flowers,
and send you presents, and keep
ailOat dubious rumOrs concerning
your chastity?
). Are you willing, To appear to-
night, and every night, amid the
glare of gaslight and before the gaze
of thousands Of men, III this pair ot
satin breecheS ten inches long, with
out vestige of drapery on your per
son?
"If YOU can answer these questions
ailirmatively we will give you a situ-
alton. If not, there's the door"
For myself, [ left the stage four
years ago to pursue literature. With
writing and iecturing | am able to
earn decent and dignitied liveli-
hood. | am very thankful [ can do
so, but my OWE private affairs are
not my sole concern, and "what | see
| say | am, sir, very truly yours,
OLIVE LOGAN.