The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-19
STAGE REALITIES.
A Picture Of the Home Lite of Ac
tors and Actresses.
Men and Women Who Powder
Over rear-Stalned Cheeks
and Press Painted
Kisses On the
Lips Of Dying
Loved Ones.

idea that actresses have little to do
beside posing before admiring multi
tudes, for which they draw large sal
aries and having the pleasure of sniff
ing the ever ascending incense of
alteration. The majority of girls
picture an actress AZ a being of beau
ty, who sleeps until noon, breakfasts
on a cup of chocolate and a roll in
bed, drives out in the afternoon clad
magnificently, is smothered in bou-
quets in the evening, and revels in
champagne suppers at night.
Unfortunately, such is not the fact.
Even Bernhard had her miseries.
Clara Morris is a professional suffer-
er. 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 induced to
touch her hand or invite her to their
homes. Patti, with her 81. 600 a night,
has a carking worm not far from her
heart. Nilsson, in spite of her mag
nificent presence, her phenomenal
success and triumphant manner, is
troubled fOur-fifths of her waking
time, and Oan in her sleep at
night.
EDWIN BOOTHS UNHAPPINESS.
Booth, to whom Henry E. Abbey
would cheerfully pay 81, 900 a Eight
for 15O consecutive nights, is one Of
the most unhappy men on the face
of Gods earth. He has buried two
wives, been through the mortitica-
tons of bankruptcy, and. so far as
worldly wealth is concerned, SO far as
the comforts of a settled home 90, has
yet to make the one and secure the
other.
This being the case, what do you
suppose is the fate of the minor PEG
pie? The fact is that they work
hard, are underpaid, never Llay the
part they prefer, pay much, by far the
greater portion Of their salaries, for
stage costumes, invariably have a
gang Of hangers-on who eat the bread
they earn, are out of engagements
much of the time, and ninety times |
out Of one hundred die SO poor that
they are buried at 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 are
its advantages! They must rehearse
at inconvenient times they go out
in all kinds Of weather, regardless of
their health OF comfort or home de-
sires they dress in outlandish places,
either Wet, damp, chilly or overhead
ed. They are at the capricious mer-
cy of speculative managers, and,
having found by experience that
there is very little sympathy forthem
they wrap themselves in a garment
of mental Indifference to appearances
which is utterly misunderstood by a
cynical and suspicious world.
Actors, SO far as personality is con.
cerned, are before the public more
than any other people, and yet how
little is known of them, The glare OF
foot-lights, fictitious surroundings,
characters and sentiments dianletri-
cally different from their own. abso-
lutely veil them from the acute-,
gaze SO far as their indlvidua:itias
are concerned. How often q o.al
even sleep in their own homes!
THE HARDSHIPS OF ACTRESSES.
During the long nine or ten months
of the season married actresses can
have no comfort with their children,
no Intercourse with them, can take
"a OF them. read a day or two
ago a story of a girl who was called to
a Sunday night rehearsal. Her faith
er was very ill, 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 she should be
at the theater at half past 7. Having
arranged the room as only women
can, having placed upon a table by
the bedside Of her father his medi-
cine, she kissed him good.by and
with a loving touch promised to be
back as early as possible. You know
what Sunday night rehearsals mean.
They mean /, 2, 8, and 4 O'Clock next
day. This is what this one meant.
The girl fastened home. The candle
light had gone, the cold gray of the
morning Vas in the room, the
was dead upon the bed.
STAGE VERSUS HOME LIFE.
[ have known men to play while
their wives were dying at home.
LAST season the stage manager in one
IF the chief theatres of New York
1ad a wife and daughter. The
laughter married. She was fragile.
md the pains Of approaching mater
lity compelled her, although in the
profession, to throw up her work and
'etire to bed. The stage manager had l
rheumatic cold, and was t
likewise forced to take to his bed. I
The wife and mother was in the bal- 4
ct of one theater, the husband of the =
laughter was an actor in another
heatre. Night came, leaving the
Wo invalids in the care of a young
ervant. The mother hurried to the
allet, and the husband, a comedian. L
0 his fun and frolic. The illness of
he daughter took a sudden turn. and G
re the husband could be summoned
rom his motley, or the mother from
er PEASANTS dress, she passed from NJ
ain into Inconsistencies, and be- E
IRE the morning dawned her shirt =
gone, leaving her father racked
18th pain upon his bed in the ada
.nt room, a motherless babe crying
pom the pillow, the husband crazed
18th disappointment and grief, and
mother worn to a shadow hv
'atching, anxiety. and a divided du-