Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-06

was four years ago, and | have tried
in vain to find employment ever
since, but every door has been
closed against me. / went to Mr..
Wall, the dramatic agent, and
asked for something to do. You
can't act he replied. EThere's no
use in your coming here. You
can't act, and he flourished some
letters at me, saying; FThese are
all applications for young iuyenvile
women, and if thought you could
act | would give you apoSition;' but
| begged him, with tears in my eyes,
to give me one chance anywhere to
show what l could do,
81 went from one theater to an
other begging for work, but meet
ing with the cruelest rebuffs. l
was treated with a GOODNESS and
contempt SO undeserved, and yet so
bitter, that often on leaving one
manager was compelled to turn
aside into an unfrequented street
to weep before could nerve myself
to face another manager. l went
to see Mr.. Fiske and found him
surrounded by his subordinates. |
wanted to tell him how | had suf-
fered, and | asked him if could
see him five minutes alone. mo-
he answeredroughly, you can't stay
here asked him for something
to do. He refused, saying, i
offered you part to go to Chicago
some time ago, and you would not
accept it, This was the part of
'Silyie in Pique, under Mr.. DAILY,
and | could only answer him by
asking him how he would like to
hold the inkstaud to his call-boy.
Finally he said, I'll put your name
down and try to remember you if l
should find anything for you to do
But Mr.. Fiske has quite forgotten
me, for he never found anything
for me to do"
"You played Camille at the Ly-
ceumY'
eyes, about a year ago. l had
the greatest difficulty to get people
to play with me, and could not un-
derstand why the profession should
be leagued together to crush poor
little me. The house was closed
against me for lack of money to
pay the rent in advance. / went to
Mr.. Wallack and tried to get $50
to enable me to get the house
opened. What do you want to do
this for p he asked. Il must do
something / answered. Il am so
poor / don't know what to do; but
| can't lie down and die like poor
Amy Fawsitt. l only want to show
that | am capable of acting, to en-
able me to get something to do to
support myself honestly mo, he
said, Pm opposed to your playing
it, 0, the heaviness of heart with
which l went out Of the presence
of that great man to take up again
the weary burden of a life that was
crushing me to the earth-to bear
a load from which death was the
only escape. From Mr.. Wallack |
went to Mr.. Josh Hart, the only
manager who has treated me with
courtesy, and shown me the posses
sion of a heart. Taking my hands,
he said, kindly: They are crush
ing you, poor girl, but l won't
crush you. You shall have 500,
and have the house opened He
was as good as his word, and SO the
house WAS opened, and | played
Camille. Under all the cireum-
stances could not have a good
study Of the part, nor play it
with that happiness Of spirit so
necessary to a first representation
of great role. There was insnb-
ordination behind the footlights,
and conspiracy in front. So bitter
was the malignity of professionals
against me, that they had people
planted in different parts Of the
houSe to guy and hiss me. An
Anonymous letter was sent to my
dressing.room, Ia WbichI read just
before ! went on for the Grst act:
Your enemies are not in the house,
but their emisSaFies are, and they
will kill you in the vital points Of
the play 1t was a bitter oRleal
through which | was compelled to-
pass, but not SO cruel Rs the cold
contempt which knew nay worth
and my abilities, and yet left me to
starve.
"To make matters still worse,
financial embarrassment overlook
the kind woman who had supported
and cheered me in all nay trials.
She Lost the few boarders she had,
the gas was cut of, the coal was