The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-19
A BALLET GIRLS NOTES.
The Queer Things she Has Observes Be
hind the Scenes



hang character dresses on. One week a
court lady, the next sailor in Pima
fore,' gypsies, peasants, part of q crowd,
invited guests at balls and so on. It's
hard work getting out of these lower
ranks. Where one succeeds hundreds
remain always on this dead level. There
are ambitious girls, too, in these walks
who could at short notice eli higher
parts. 1 can't say how creditably, be-
cause they never had the chance to try
in public. They are intelligent, lady
like girls, too-well read, lsdy-like in
demeanor, correct in habits. Some at
tend school in the day time and their
small earnings area help to many a
cramped income. Some are regularly
met at the door by their mothers or
some member of the family and go di.
rectly home, and others go to late sup.
per with gentleman" ~ ne -a.7gd
"Whst is your opinion of present.
tage moralityf ., ,-..t
Said the young woman: " IT'S the
fashion now among the literally inclined
to commend the stage. That is well.
But from certain experiences of mine at
times for the past few years behind the
scenes, wouldn't advise any mother to
trust her daughter too readily to the
stage until she was certain the daughter
could look out well for herself. A
young lady," continued the young
woman, fortified by friends and social
position may experience little annoyance
or risk until she lays herself open to it.
But the poor girls, the supernumera.
ries, must often endure the adj
vsnces of any leading gentleman
who chooses to force himself upon them.
To speak plainly, gentlemen will assume
forwardness of demesnor with strange
girl in such position which they would
not dare to do elsewhere. Would Mr..
- ask a society young lady to q late
supper within two hours after having
first set eyes upon her, as he did me at
the - theater? You may think it
easy to avoid these things, but it is not.
AS to propriety, girls in the humber
dramatic walks are very much mixed.
Some are good, some are bad. Managers
do not hire morals. II q girl shows
well and acts with outward propriety,
that is all that is required of her. This
mixture gives a bad man many oppor-
tunities, since he may assume that
they are all on the same plane of char
scter, and act accordingly. He has the
vantage ground of position. Then to
bristle up and do the indignant grand
is to make an enemy and injure your
own chances of getting forward. The
gauge of conduct under such circum-
stances is not that of other society.
speak here as one without friends or
outside influence to push one ahead. It's
the custom Of the place. It's behind
the>scene custo n handed down for gen.
erstions from the English stage, where
every woman in the profession was os-
trscised by society and where the whis.
pered verdict at all events was that it
was hardly possible to be an actress and
a virtuous woman. Stage managers
sometimes prove great trials to the
humber girls. Some are coarse in de-
meanor and rough in language. When
out of humor they will use big DIS and
little DIS very plentifully. They lose
respect for women. They see too much
o. them. A manager arrives at LAST to
that condition of mind and habit as to
regard his stage as many married men
regard their homes-a place granting
full liberty 70 fume, fret and bully.
They have some cause. A crowd of
chattering, empty headed girls is a try
ing charge for any man."
You have seen the stage stripped of
its illusion, then?' There are other
things besides scene painting which are
illusions The lovely cJuple OF sisters
in front may not have spoken to each
other for weeks behind the scenes. /
have heard lady who played the sweet
heart TO q famous comedian considerably
past his prime bemoan herself before 60
ing on that she sheuld ever be obliged to
play with that old painted bag of bones.
have seen young actress, whose head
was turned by success and sdulation to
that extent that she deemed herself
beyond any of the common restraints OF
the yreen-room, roundly seolded by her
mother for her hoydenish ways. have
heard brilliant star, after the play,
bluntly reproved by the gentleman who
supported her for hurting out before a
street car full of people some Of the in
cidents of the play, seemingly with the
design that every one should be msde to
know who she was. Sometimes gentle-
men are more sensitive than ladies in
this respect. Certainly it was so in this
respect, for Mr.. -, at tie first oppor-
tunity, fatty told Miss not to talk
stage-business with him in horse car
again. Then SO many of the ladies be-
come infected with certain stage slang
and stsge familiarity with each other.
It's ON a sHoIloa Jsckp and 'Holloa Jiml
basis. They have certain oyer-fsmilisr