The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-01-18

the taste Tor gold and diamonds, would
appear 20 be instructive and universal
Is displayed by the savage in Africa or
Australia, as well as the fine lady In
far!s, and Is gra..fci a, an expense
winch we commend TO the attention of
the next economist who discourscs on
co,tiiAcss Of phi.aRthropic work Of
scientific inquiry. We thought we
knew something Of the statistics of
luxury, but COIfcss - sensation Of
surprise a. finding that besides certain
quantities exported from the Argentine
Republic and some other places, .hc
export Of ostrich feathers from Egypt,
the Cape, B4rbary, Magador and Sen
cgal reaches the astonishing sum Of
GGDJ, 900 lS3,Olj, OOOJ: Egypt c2jO,-
600, the Cape E230, 900, Barbary, 100
900, Magador 1000, Senegal 5000.
total gGD3, 900. These amounts. which
arc quoted from figures recorded by
English officials in 1873, do not, OF
course, represent the sums paid by the
ultimate buyers, which are enormously
increased by processes for selecung,
cleaning, classify wing and, we are sorrI
10 add, dyeing the feathers. till We
may assert, without exaggeration, that
the civilized world spends q, 200, 900
d year GA feathers.
We wot Of one or two young gentle
men and many more young ladies con
!essed!y Stage struck. Each imagines
that without lifelong training, which
successful actors undergo, they can
a. once win fame and money. The
HDrld Is induced by the recent Brook
Ign Eorrnr to advert 10 the general
poverty OF the theatrical probe. sion.
w lille few stars may draw enOr-
nous tees, the stock actors are allowed
DULY plttance. This arises from the
ovcrcrowdGd condition Of this profes-
sion, and from the general depression
which has SD reduced the public pat
ronngc. Talented stock actors are
glad to find engagements at $40 and
even $50 per week, out of which must
come the expense of theatrical cos
tune. Many Of this class are married,
and how they COntrivc to meet the eX-
pcnses OF life IS certainly surprising.
Some Of the less important performers
draw but Sl5 per week, and others are
pad even less. Chorus singers can be
hired at fifty cents night, that is for
easy parts which require no day attend
ancc for rehearsal. 'Supes' are abund
ant at 50 per week. Ballet dancers
can be had in great numbers at s. 10
SO per week. Upon the whole,
the profession is marked by severe
poverty, which is In striking contrast
with the glare and glitter of the theat-
rical display. Another feature brought
out by the same catastrophe is the
fact that nearly all the leading per
formers are known by fictitious names.
Almost every man and woman who
goes on t. the stage assumes Il theat-
rlcal title. Kate Claxton and Harry
Murdock are simply dramatic fictions.
When Dan Bryant died it was found
that the great master Of nc gro melO-
dies was really somebody else, and
even Barney Williams was found to
he only 'FIAherty' when death closed
his career. The only explanation of
this fashion is found In the desire of
many young histrionists to avoid the
pursuit of families and friends. In the
case OF actresses, any one of the latter,
by assuming fictitious name, escapes
the nccess ty of changing 1t in case OF
marriage. In this way the custom has
become permanent, and the theatre Il
anonyma are only exposed by misfo.-
tune or death"