The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-20
STAGE REALITIES.
A Picture of the Home Life of Actors
and Actresses.


The average thentTe-goer has an idea that
actresses have little to do beside posing
before admiring multitudes, for which they
draw large salaries, and having the pleasure
of shifting the ever ascending incense of
alteration. The majority Of girls picture an
actress as a being of beauty, who sleeps
until noon. breakfasts on a cup of chocolate
and a roll in bed, drives out in the afternoon
clad niagniicently, is smothered in bouquets
in the evening ind rovels in champagne sup
pers ut night.
Unfortunately such is not tho fnct. Even
Bernhard had her miseries. Clara Morris is
a professional sufferer. Langtry, in spite of
her thick hide, was sensitive to the ceaseless
slight and censure and snub of the people who
were willing TO pay to see her attitudinize,
but who under no consideration could be in.
duced TO touch her hand or invite her to their
homes. Patti, with her $1,000 n night, has a
carking worm not far from her heart. Nilsson,
in spite of her magnificent presence, her pho
nomenal SUCCESS and triumphant manner, Is
troubled four-flfths of her waking time, and
groans in her sleep at night.
EDWIN BOOTHS UNHAPPINEss.
Booth, to whom Henry L. Abbey would
chcerfully pay $1,000 a night for $50 cousecu-
tive nights, is one of the most unhappy men
on the face of Gods earth. He has buried
two wives, been through the Iuortitications
of bankruptcy, and, so far as worldly wealth
is concerned. 50 far as the comforts of u set
tied home go. has yet to make the ono and
secure the other.
This being the case, what do YOU suppose
is the fate of the minor peoplcl The fact is
TINT they work hard, are undergrad, never
play the part they prefer, pny much, 10y far
the greater proportion of their salaries, foi
stage costumes, invariably have n gang of
hauppfS-On who emf tho broad thry cnyn nra
out of engagements much of the time and
ninety times out of one hundred die 80 poor
that they are buried ut the expense of their
fellows.
In the first place, It is extremely difficult
for them to obtain a position, and, having a
position, how few its advantagesl They have
TO rehearse at ~inconvenient times; they go
out in all kinds OF weather, regardless of
their health or comfort or home desires; they
dress in o%utlandish places, either wet, damp
and chilly or overhcated. They are at the
capricious mercy of speculative managers,
and, having found by experience that there
is very little sympathy for them, either before
or behind the footlights, they wrap them
selves in n garment of mental indifference to
appearances which is utterly misunderstood
by a cynical and suspicious world.
Actors, so far us personality is concerned,
are before the public more thnn any other
people, and yet how little is known of them.
The glare of foot-lights, fictitious surround
ings, characters and sentiments diametricaIly
different from their own, absolutely veil
them from the acutest gaze so far us their in
dividualities are concerned. How often do
stars even sleep in their own honest
THE HARDsHIPs OF ACTRESSES.
During the long nine or ten months of the
season married actresses can nave no comfort
with their children, no intercourse with
them, can take no care of them. ] read a
day or two ago u story of a girl who was
called to a Sunday night rehearsal. Her
father was very i'll, but the rental of their
rooms. the fees for the doctor and money for
the drugs depended upon her attending to
her business. 1t was imperative that
sho should be in the theatre at
half-past 4. Having arranged the
room as women only can, having placed upon
II table by the bedside of her father his medi,
cine, she kissed him good-by and with a low
ing touch promised to be back as early as
possible. You know what Sunday night re-
hearsals mean. They mean 1872, ), 4 o'clock
the next day. That is what this one meant.
Thu girl fastened home. The candle-light
had gone, the cold gray Of the early morning
was in the room, the father was dead upon
| the bed.