, 1875-12-19
a Protective Tariff for Poor
Actors.
The Week at McVicker's---An-
nopncements for the Holi-
days.
First Representation of, " Pfque
The New Buckingham.
Eddy's Organ Recitals---The 0ratorio
Concert--.English Opera.


THE DRAMA
IN CHICAGO.
PROTECT THE POOR ACroRsI
A department OF native industry that es-
pccially needs tho fostering care Of Government
is the dramatic profession. Heaven knows
American actcrs are generally. in double
SENSE Door enough. No wonder they arc so.
Driven from pillar to post bS rnsympathizing
managers, re1ted With abuse by q seusaless
public, compelled to assist in antic perform
ancea aB capricious popular taste demands
them, it is not strange that so many actors lose
pride in their profession and in Themselves. We
fancy some very fine people, VINO deal IN PHI
lanthropy during the warm summer-daJs and
write books about it in mld-wlnter, have no
idea how specially the stage is cursed By poT-
erty. It would be an unpleasant, but, perhaps,
also profitable, task to collect statistics re-
lating to the average fortunes Of steck-actors
and nctresees at the time OF their death.
Tho result would be startling if only
the number Of those who died in
want, or depending upon charity for mete
subsistence, could bo arrived at Another sad
and useful inquiry would be as 10 the reasons
why 80 many ssage-pcople die poor. Tho search
need nol b. long. Mere exuberance Of spirits,
leading to improyidence, has ruined many Love
OF drink attacks the men; love OF dress the
women. The profession is proyerbla11y careloes
OF money, aad profuse in its expenditures. It's
life il passed IN an artificial atmosphere which
makes tho blood run rlotously through the veins,
the heart beat quickly, md the BRAN work to
little purpose. Tho scenes Of mock splendor in
which it moves stimulate tho imagination and
giyo to real life an air OF vanity &ad morality.
These reasons suffice to show Why 80 many Amer
lean actors are poor in money; and 1t 1s m easy
step hence to Al explanations OF Their poEefty Of
spirits. Want ct money itself is the main CAUSE;
a cortaia social aufe1io1ity which the silly and
powerful people OF fashion have in some meas-
ure succeeded 10 imposing upon players is an
other; tho very preca-lousneas Of their aubs1st-
enco, uhich is oftea entirely subject to tho Ca
price Of Il msnsger' 10 thlrd anu dozen more
Of less importance might be cited if time and pa
tionce could be spared for the catalogue. Bus
lot us tako the facts AZ being established. There
Gnu then be little cavl at the proposition bro1diy
stated that the Government ought to protect the
Dramatic Profession Of America. Our Govern.
ment sioce the War, has taken eo9nizance of
only one kind Of Protect1on-tho Protection At
forled by tariK. Lot us, then, petition for q
tariff on foreign actoEs. specific duty OF
$1,000. and an ad ratoren duty OF 90 Fer cent. on
each aud every actor aud actress from En-
gland, Ireland, Scotland, or France, would
eae,,f 49, asscr;n .ion ,c,;nst French
sclressts. for thoy are especially damaging to
American home industry. Opera-boulfe singers
should be taxed doubleathe aboTe rates. They
add to tho advantages Of cheap foreign educa-
tious, axalnet which native talent cannot COM
pete. peculiar fascinatious OF style and manner
which Auer1cans can never learn. Besides tie
general ta1 on completed actors, special tariff
might be arranged to exclude oortaln qualities
OF peraon and mind. 4 tax on blonde hair would
be o good thing. So would one on Lord Dun
dreary whiakerB On false calves, false noses,
rubber stomache, liquid eyes,, peariy teeth,
painted hands and cheeks. A round poll-ta1
should be put On the bowi.ching Adelaide Noi!-
son and 4 rpander ono on Aimee. Rignold
Montagu. Sothern, Toole, and in gen
eral tho English type OF manly beauty,
should be taxed out Of the country. Perhaps
tho collection Of tax thus imposed would be