Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-01
Chr 3ree Dress.
OUW NEW YORK LETTER.
The scamy Side OF Theatrical Lif'

l-tt lut lISt ltlei you " thc ihipuu'''N
remarks contained in my preceding letter,
concerning the clark side of theatrical
life before begin the truthful story of
4 Brokcn-iaenried woman.
This is taken from no book, from no work
OF fiction, but from life, from the sad and
constant reality of life She was an only
daughter, and her father having large means,
she was thoroughly educated and especial
attention was given to the cultivation of
superior natural musical taste and abilities.
Exceedingly attractive and highly cultivated,
she was social favorite as child and a
Young lady. The father died, and she was
left to the care of brothers who, ii is alleged,
detraudCd her of her share of her fathers
estate. Ill feelings and arrangements were en-
gcndered and, to escape unpleasant domestic
relations, she married, when little more than
child, man much older than herself, who
had been attracted by her face and her
accomplishments. He provedto he brute,
who drank TO excess and abused her shame
fully, although he supplied her literally with
money and lived handsomely. Her pride
prevented her from appealing to her friends
or disclosing her situation. Finally he died
in drunken spree, and left her nothing
save her wardrobe and jewels with which to
.,..,,,.,,,, i.,,.,,,, o,1 ,,,,o o,;,a.o, cLo h,a
support "''Scii 'uo WV ''iii.''en' Oh. '''
never been taught To work anu 'ld know
how to do anything but sing She took a
house and kept boardcrs and did it well,
win Tue tastes anu fcllhehcn'S Oh Il iauV'
but was unsuccessful, simply because she
had never been TAUGHT lonsrkeppinr or
economy. She tried 10 turn her musical
education to account by singing in concerts.
Ibis was prccarious and uncertain. She
had an oiltI to 70 to New Orleans upon what
seemed a desirable engagement She went.
to find that the contracting party had gone,
no one knew whittier. Wo,sl of ali. her
baggage was stolen, with all her and her
childrcu's clothing. except what they had on
their backs One of the children was taken
i'll and died among strangers, and to get
money for the burial she pawnud a part of
her iewclry. She came back to New York,
and took cold on the way for want of suilic
lent clothing; she was Obliged TO 90 into
a hospital where she Law for six weeks. her
child being cared for by n charitable lady
who had known the mother in her prosper
Gus DAYS and learned by accident of her
position She came ont oi the hu.pitnl nlonr
in the world and with "A child tu supporl MS
well as herself She got n t,mporiry en-.
vnrement TO sing nj n theatre. For Two
months She earned enough barely TO nav
living expenses. Then thccngaycmcnt closed
and no other opened.
1t was at this time that the "Man about
Town" WAS introduced bya iii utricnl me-.
complaisap, ladies' behind the ,irnu curtain
Her beauty and ACCOMPLISHMENTS attracted
him. and he offered to "lrlticnL" hrr She
declined the offer She yrs suffering for
anIual fool Ian, she had rr III. ,,rd ,uoInl,v
and self resprct and womb s,,rvr rather Than
sacritic, Them She found ,nnnr,rni,v IN
ioin n company which was rn bring on, a
new nice, i'm three weeks md daily dnr,uu
the three weeks. she wen, +, rrLrarsnls in
The l,IDc of the pi,tance that WAS offered for
the time the piece miph, he PLAYED /, il
not the custom To pay anythinr lnr Inc prri.
ed VI r,hcarsal. cxccp Ia a,ti,,s of cstab.
Hshed reuown Lack of food and exposure
fIalI kinds of weather. rulul, Al with stand
iur for fonr and five hours a d,y sen, her
again % a sick bed She ran in debt to her
laruAdy and both her child and herself were
without food But for the child She would
have committed suicidc-pruyi,lcd she could
have bought the ln,ltanum Without letting
her know the source from which ln Ia came.
the Man about Town sent her "A musician
and money To buy food and medicine. She
used 1t because her love for her child would
not let her die
When she got better, lie. still unknown to
her, got her "A chance to iou the ballet in the
opera the manager sending fer her and
Offering her the place. 1t wa, almost worse
,lap death "a lar "a, ar..ti il amt "a, l;a,,1,,,
herself in such fashion on the boards But
that gave food for her little girl aud what
will not mother do for hrr child! Her
illness had weakened her voice So she could
not sing and she could find nothing else to
do So she, a woman Of unreasonable pride,
became ballet -dancer-a did it with a
lcathing and horror beyond words. 1t
was there that | had seen lcr at the
academy.
Since then the operate season had closed
and with it the $40 week stopped. She
found opportunity to iuin Company that
was going ION the roati' in a month, with a
new play. For the preparatory again she
", went 10 rehearsals Withhold cont OF pay;
not prove successful and dsbanded, without
a dollar being paid, either for services. board
or means 10 get back. The child had been
left in New York. and of coursc. line mother
got back to it s0g.elo,o ms mothers always
do. But want, anxiety and bodily ills had
stricken her down again. and no long time
could now clapse 6eforc the weary and
faithful heart would be II, rest. after such
strupples. foundations and hitter humilin-
lions ms few women can Withstand for one
half of the time this moor woman has
done
Vet she was ,onlv 4, bnl,,t. dnuccr" Wo,I
thank q "A heavens cn,rs win n,,rn ,n;cL ar