The sun., 1885-06-28
CHILDREN FOR THE STAGE.
TIE MANI q ERs USED TO HAZE MUcH
TROUBLE WITH THEN.
How They Are Obtsised Now-A Relative 81
WIN. n. vanderbiit shares the Honers with
lsoer children In Two Pubilc Per N q nee "a

How They Are Obtsiaed Now-A Relative st
wn.. II. vanderbiit shares the Honers with
Poor Chiidrsn In Two Pubiic Per rrorma auces
At one OF the New York theatres a play
was running not long ago In the performance
OF which fifteen children took part. At two O.
the performances only fourteen OF the children
regularly engaged appeared the fifteenth beins
a granddaughter Of William II. Vanderbilt
Sun reporter who was talking with the man.
ager OF the theatre OF this meeting OF extremes
on the stage-a grandchld OF the richest man
in the country acting with the children Of poor
people-was told that little Miss Webb was Q
private pupil OF the actress through whom the
children had been engaged.
This actress" continued the manager.
has now quite retired from the stage. and
devotes herself to the training OF children for
the stage. II II weren't for her you wouldn't
see plays requiring children produced except
ing at long intervals. for managers always
looked upon children as nuisances. and
Stunned plays In which children were reauir-
cd. But now the employment Of youngsters ID
no longer attended with 30 many dissgreeable
circumstances. because the actress spoke OF
takes upon her shoulders the burden which
managers were formerly required to bear. By
tho way. u YOU want to lind out particulars Of
Ing her lutte, lutte daughter Dou. who is. of course.
On the stage the reporter found a. raven-
haired. dark-eyed little girl rehearsing In some
stage business Her face would have been "a.
dren i who appear in welleinown child parts.
and her instructor would also have been rscoR.
stage children had eaualled the expectations
she entertained when she devoted herself to
s More MOUTH tnan Vn eauaIisd shem." she replied.
At first matters went slowly. because man.
ayers were prejudiced against plays requiring
!shinH and now am kept busy nll the time.
have already calls for ssventy-two children
s9S IN S or es
SUCH as have outgrown their usetulness."
n,ovins SSn %ers managers pre'udced against en-
=" because they gave so much trouble. Iis
Obliged to advertise. and then submit to Inc
opportunities OF perhaps hundred mothers,
BORN BORN histronic senias. II Then % the actors and
dren as were obs! !inate and iractious delayed
those children who had Geh haved we'll at rehear-
sails got scared and Hurried. But the young
ers. In fact. managers dreaded employing
Children principally on account OF the mothers.
You see, every mother insisted on attending
to her offspring. Worst Of all. though. ...!
stood behind the scenes. most CT them
crowding into the first entrance and interior.
We she sss. s Ss that a TO f
thought that might obviate all these difficult
ties through shlldrens bureau. l unfolded
their chiidren t6roSsh me- me-. A1 This Il theasre % had
plays requiring children. but the play not long
after long had
~ raO wara in 'ngT IL. atnouGa
me they wanted fifteen children. I replied
that II they would place some space at my dis
carl fssey s %s
n ast9,ntshment because they had memories Of
decided NOT 70 Give % anv mors pinVs reoHirn9
the carpenters room Tor ne. I lifted it up, as
hobby horses. &C.. and there the children re-:
NAMED until they went on the stage, You
m" rss inS az sse
vertising and selecting. Then I inquire Of
who ENGAGES children Of mo
and having ascertained, the line In which they
Z on the stage on which they are to appear. 80
hat can hand them over thoroughly pro-
With the delays at rshearsals. which formerly
annoyed actors and actresses. Tho mothers I
oroid sbsolutsly to come to rehearsals OF to
;iety for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Chill.
III engassmsnts ma is. fe. and % also am N careful
Q call my rshsassHs for some time after school
on Ii thsir way to asd o% tSe
res. When furnish children for travelling
roupes try to get engagements In the same
fes their mothers or older sisters as
It dIsSt as%nri icS to get children enough
,- "0h: no! II seems to me as II the whole
axd Sdvsr'ssd for ess, a61 hSnd5ed shdren mHss
xtended from the. door OF my office down
tars. out OF the front door. and. down the
ersey brought their children to me-"
oanx now nm, nH y0u make your selections from so
When they come in answer to my advsr-
| merely ask them questions enough
2 2 a satisfy me whether their hearts will be in
ames and addresses. SO that / can send Tor
en ts iSr n ,bsr further trial A. that trial can
diligence 20 further With me than looks. II
hs trial s satisfactory. 81 teach them the bus-
%Hhsas ss,o1s nPs you chill
Yes; they are the least satisfactory. They
Oh sRsr nes ike sssns
"a. or else try to portray emotions that
s wAni dost sHdysR wste 'hf5 Has
, my yoanEsters: First Of ali; drilI SS them 70
and gracefully through tho business as.
gned to them"
" At what ages do you engage childrsn?"
l take them as young as ak months be.
.nsc always Ike TO have two good babies on
and. From habyhood I 60 to four years, and
IKE children from that age to fourteen, Their
'Inp.nsation for their services varies from IS
siG weekly though one or two have obtained
, DO many stage children distinguish them.
Ives as actors later In life?"
:. Very few. They seem to tire emoti ionalIy,"
,me children stagey?"
on. yes. Especially those who are too Door
ys you an instance. A little boy whom have
aimed Tor the stage was recently taken to the
ashore ior the first time. For a long while he
oou watching the waves roll in. Then ho
rnsa TO his mother and exclaimed: Mammal
ow do they work them? p"