The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-14
Young Ladies as Stage Artistes, Painters



The desire for theatrical career is be-
coming widespread among American girls,
who long for professional stage life, and be-
side the dramatic emoluments, fairly pre-
sumo on considerable social homage rs a
natural accompaniment. AT present moth
ing is growing more in public estimation
than the stage, and in many respects tho
dramatic ranks first of all the arts. The So
Cial tendency is TO anything rather than u
depreciation of actors. Unless there is q
positive evidence of some fragrant immoral
ity they are apt to be the lions of tho day.
MORE Is forgiven them than any other class
of people from a mere eCcentricity to fatal
fault. They are liable to drop into sudden
fame; to have their funny things rehearsed
as bon mots and the scenery of their lilo is
the best hotels, the attractive serving, and
Especial car" travelling. They are showered
with cards and compliments. They are
loaded with bouquets They are the recip-
tents of the full tide Of social courtesy. This
is one side of dramatic life. This is the side
the American girl sees and which dazzles
her vision. To nine-tenths of the girls who
long ito go on the stage this side is all that
is seen. 1t is not art she wants, but tho re-
wards of art. 1t is not the flame Of genius
that lights for her way that she must fol-
low; il ia not the creative power that will
not let her rest, but incites her to fan life
into waiting forms even as the sculptor Of
old breathed the breath of life into
the statue he had created; il is the
sound of applause she hears; the flash OF
footlights and the glitter of Diamonds that
satisfy her vision. 1t is fair to question il
the usual Young lady life of home and So
ciety has fitted her to bring to the life OF
the artist the patient devotion of untiring
labor; the study of art for arts sake; the
continuity of intellectual effort, which must
become 50 part Of himselfas to be the UNI
conscious life of conscious experience; the
artistic instinct whose meter is as delicate
and infallble as the springs OF thought. II
is fair to question seriously if she will not
add one more to that school of acting whose
most obvious characteristics are millinery
and upholstery.
Art that is manifest spiritual destiny and
whose influence has wrought through life
from earliest youth is one thing, latent
power, never before suspected may be an
other; yet, as the grandest words ever writ
ten on the artistic life, come back to us
George Eliot's in daniel Deronda, wher,
Gwendolin has summoned Herr kleSmcr u
consult him regarding the probability of he
success on the stage.
You have probably never thought of !
before now says this terrible Herr Klcs
mer; you did not entertain the notion, tn
longing; you did not wish yourself an &c
tress before this troublepn
"Not exactly replies Gwendolin ian,
if | can do nothing better?n
" And then follow these words O
gold from Klesmer; "No, 70,
could do nothing better, noithe
man nor woman could do anything better
if YOU could do what was best and good o
its kind. am not decrying the life of til
true artist am exalting IT,. ! say Il /
out ofthe reach of any but choice organiza
tions-nature's framed to love perfection
and labor for it, ready, like all true lovers
TO endure, to wait to stay | am not ye
worthy, but she--Art, my mistress--i
worthy, and will have to merit her. Al
honorable life. Yes but the honor come
from the inward vocation and the hard-wo
achievement. There Is no honor in dor
ming the life rs livery.
And this Is what too many OF the grl
who aspire for the stage want to do-to do
the LIE ms a. livery-[B Boston Correspond
ent Cincinnati Enquirer.