Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-28
HOW SOME ACTORS LIVE,
Peeps Behind tIc Scenes and In some
Happy Theatrical Homes.

These were in the times when there were
fewer stars and more stock companies and
actors Lad their own residences or apart
ments. Under the ex.stlg sT3tem OF thea
trcal management of stars, combinations and
syndicates, the actor is a nonad, and his
resiu.nce is in railroad Car or in hotel.
For nine month. u FAC year he does not
know what it is to sleep behcdth hi- own
roof twice. Very often he has To travel by
| night, and the physical wear and tear upon
his system is something that Crnsus, who
goes TO see him act and insists that the "play
actor must have II jolly time travelling all
over the county," would shrink from.
Then again, h. The actors life sewers the
domestic tie. Take for instance The case OF
Mr. and Mrs, Chunfrau. There is not a more
devoted couple in the entire profession, and
yet for years bq,inesg has kept them sepa-
raid during the busy eeastu, lGd each
playing ii diffcicnt line OF character and each
| starring separately sometimes they might
run across each other ut "a railway station in
| some t-of-the-vay place, but only inst
long enough to shake hands and exchange a
few tender words, when the trains would
cone to whisk them Of in different direc.
tions, For the f'ctions mast be sID1rdi-
mated to the inevitable will Of the public,
vino consider it an objectionable crime for
the actor to ever miss an engagement.
Maggie Mitchell, another public favoritc, is
more fortunate, for her husband, Hank
Paddock, always travels with her, as her
business manager. But during the long nine
months Of the season she is deprived of the
sigh of ..er Eh,, !rcn and every mother
knows what such depri saticn IS. Little
wonder that both these couples take nunite
comfort and delight III their cosy Long
Branch cottage. How many others, too of
the more fortunate members of the profession
who rejoice in the possession of homes of
the.r own look forward with joyful anticipa-
tons TO the hairy GUNNER months, when,
and those who are meas anu deaf 10 them,
they can cast aside the fictitious life of the
stage aud live ihe life Of nature, for which
their souls SO crave. But it is not OF the
private lie OF the prominent members of the
profession that the public is so ignorant.
Their doings ind " hCr 4-uYg's are chronced
IN the public press, so That I'LL vino run may
read. But how is it with the rank and HE !?
They have no homes or home comforts other
than a cheap clearinghouse or hotel or,
during the season the hard seat OF railway
carriage. And what are their trials? Here
is VIA. happened at Nitlo's Garden some
years ago.
"Thr White fawlr ~A5 IN course of
preparation and rehcalsals were being Aeld
| every day and Sunday nights. The actress
she is dead nOW-who was to perform the
leading character, was a beautiful girl, and
the s9ie support Of nm aged and Invalid
father Ut wG3 ilie last Sunday night re-
hearsal, and the old MAJ vas feeling very
low. But she could not remain with MIN.
1t WAS imperative that she should be at the
rehearsal. Arranging the little room with
~ r
loving daughter, she finally drew a small
table by the beds...e Of the invalid and placed
his medicine within easy reach Then i'm
parting farewell kiss upon his lips ald
promising to return as early as possible, she
FASTENED to the theatre The rehearsal was
l1D,- and tedious, and it was three O'Clock in
the.morning before it was concluded. She
hastcned home on thu wings Of love to her
old la,her; she entered the rn3m the candle
had sputtered itself out, and the cold gray
light of the early morning crept like pail
into the room. Everything was very quiet.
There was no sound from the bed upon which
the old man lay. Slowly she approached,
fearing she knew not what, and LAID her
hand upon her fathers heart. 1t did not
beat. He was dead. He had died while she,
in The tawdry tinsel of the stage, had beer
repeating the mimic lines Of burlesque!
This is only fact cut from a PAGE of many,
10 show how the life of an actor is entirely
subordinated TO business, and how slight a
Thing the home tic is.
Aud yet the actors contrive to have many
merry time among themselves. Sunday is
the great visiting night among them, and
every actor who is the fortunate possessor of
home, Or nat or a suit Of apartments,
always keeps open house on that night. just
ms the same night is being set apart for
symposla among the literal, And these
actors Sunday nights are genuine Noctes
Ambrosiane