The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-18
WOMEN ON THE STAGE.
How They Are Paid in Comparison with
the Men of Equal Ability.

the Men of Equal Ability.
Joe Howard, in Philadelphia Press.
Unless you know about it, you would be sur
prised when told of the vast cumberland vast
is a big word-of young women. with plenty of
money in their fathers pockets, who are am
bilious to shine upon the dramatic boards. A
very pretty young girl came to me a year or two
ago seeking an introduction to a metropolitan
manager. / took her to Mr.. Mackaye in person.
He was very much pleased with her appearance,
and said at once he would engage her to appear
among the ladies OF his company, and that as
soon as she had become famillarlzed with tho
stage he would give her q small part.
When asked what compensation she would
receive, he Immediately sat back in his chair
and said, why, nothing. Several of the ladies
in the theater pay so much a week for the
privilege of coming upon the STAGE but being
told that it was a matter of necessity, he said
that he would allow s. a week as salary Now
look at it. Here was a girl who wanted to earn
her living in an honorable profession, She was
willing to give her entire time, her talent, her
study, her e%Xertion, her personal presence to
build up, so far. as she could, the business of this
manager, and he expected her literally to pay
for the privilege, knowing perfectly well that if
she simply came on as one OF the ladies of the
ballet, as the women are called who stand around
as guests, ETC., on the stage, she would have to
expend in dress, wig, clothes, shoes, stockings
and underclothes generally, more for any one
play than she would receive in a whole season if
she were paid the sum which he finally was in
uuCGQ, DOSSlOIN uS q lNNOlf w OICA -
OF course, the girl couldn't accept il, and
didn't, but there are scores and scores of women
who come every year to the leading managers of
the city. offering to dress parts magnifcently.
and to play without any compensation other
than the pleasure of seeing their names upon
the bills and finding themselves paraded in the
public eye. This whole subject some day will
be properly treated. Why, take our leading
theaters and see the injustice of the manage
ment as between the treatment of the men and
the women. Take an historical play, where both
the ladies and the gentlemen are expected to be
magnifcently dressed-and l use The term adj
visedly, magnifcently dressed-the costumes
worn by the men are furnished by the manage
ment, the costumes worn by the women must
be paid for by THE women themselves, and the
men are the better paid of the two. Now. where
is the justice of that Why isn't that n sugges-
ton to INSCRIPTIONS women; why doesn't that
open a door to wealthy admirers2 Isn't that a
text on which a sermon a mile and a half long
might be preached? The stage has more honest
women upon it than dishonest, and more good,
straightforward, self-respecting, industrious
ladies in its service than women of another kind,
and yet they are so outrageously treated, so I'M
fairly placed when compared with the men, that
it is a wonder and amazement that the thing is
tolerated, even by the men themselves.