The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-29
CHILDREN ON THE STAGE.
Experience Of a Woman Who Trains the Lit
tie Ones for Their Appearance in Public.

Experience Of a Woman Who Trains the Lit
tie Ones for Their Appearance in Public.
New York Commercial Advertiser
when I decided to devote myself to training
children for the stage | went to the principal
managers of the city and obtained from them
promises to engage their stage children from
me. Then I advertised. From the many
applicants I selected those who seemed
bright and promising, and put their
addresses in a book. This enabled the managers
to save themselves the trouble Of advertising
and having to select a few children from hun
dreds of applicants, by applying directly to me.
Another difficulty managers formerly encount-
cred with children was the delay they occasioned
at rehersals. This caused great annoyance to
actors and actresses. Now l rehearse the chill
dren myself and place them in the stage man
ayers hands proficient in the business required
of them. When a manager sends me word that
he wants a certain number of children. l 60 to
him and find out what they are to do, strew
flowers, mingle with the populace. etc. Having
obtained this information l drill the children &C
cordingly, on the stage of the theater in which
they are to appear. This aocustoms them to the
surroundings, and they are not Hurried at per-
formances."
"And the mothers?"
"Oh! I've squelched them. / make short work
of them. l give them to understand once for all
that they will not be allowed to enter the thea
ter unless they buy a ticket and sit in the audi
euce. l instruct them when to deliver the chill
dren at the stage door andswhen to call for them.
Between those hours the children are mine"
Don't managers have difficulty with the moth
cas- about the children's payT'
None whatever. They deal directly with me.
The children get from So to SILL a week, accord
ing to the kind and amount of business required
OF them. The managers pay me and pay the
children, after deducting my commission"
When / asked Mrs. Fernando if she had any
difficulty in getting all the children she needed.
she replied: None whatever. Recently | ad-
vertised for one hundred children, because next
season promises to be very busy. and l had so
many applicants that the line extended all the
way down stairs from my Office and a long way
down the street. The whole world seems stage
struck. Mothers and fathers came with their
children all the way from far corners of Long
Island and New Jersey. l make my selections
from applicants by questioning them and finding
out if their hearts will be in their work. OF
course, looks are also of Importance. Then l
appoint a time when they are to come to me for
trial. At this trial l can soon find out whether
they are quick or dull, graceful or awkward,
willing or obstinate. Sometimes parents come
to me with children whom they present to ME
as natural born histrionic geniuses. / nave
nothing for such children. They've been taught
Shakespeare at home, and they run off the sen
fences, like machines. or else try to give express
sion TO emotions that are not childlke. / can't
use such children. l want mine to express sim
pie emotions-such emotions as children have.
Playwrights don't write Hamlet parts for chill
cren; they write children's parts. / teach my
pupuS urSC 70 Walk gracefully, anu CQeL go
naturally and easily through the business re-
quired of them"
Between what ages are the children you
train for the stage2"
six months is the youngest age at which I
take them. Of course, l don't want many as
young AS that, but l like to have two good ba-
bies Away on hand. The babies in Confusion
were mine, and l supply the baby for Hearts of
Oak" From babyhood I skip four years, the
other children ranging in age from four to four
M lnnjT a. 4-->1 a. NJ
York managers, but will engage children for
good travelling companies, at the same time en-
deavoring to get their mothers or elder sisters
engaged as super ladies. The little ones l in
struct are usually the children of people in mid.
die circumstances, and their earning are a nice
help to the family. never call a rehearsal for
any time during school hours, and / am careful
to see that the children are properly taken care
of on their way to and from the theater. / also
notify the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children OF all engagements l make. For
these reasons Mr.. Gerry does not trouble me-"
DO you find it easier to teach girls or boysl"
Boys, most decidedly. The little girls think
too much of dress. Even my little Bijou has the
mania. She always asks: Mamma, am 1 poor
in the beginning and rich in the end, or poor all
through If it's the former, she's perfectly sat
isfed; if the latter, she doesn't like it."
Don't some of the children become very
STACEY by being constantly amid theatrical sur
roundingsP
Undoubtedly; and I can toll you some exam
Piles which are as pathetic as they are amusing.
One little fellow, the first time he was taken to
the s%eashore. exclaimed, as he saw the waves
rolling in: Mammal! How do they work them2
Another child, a little girl. recently went to the
country for the first time. 1t was night when
she started. Early in the morning sho looked out
of the window at the country landscape. why,
mamma she said, that must have been painted
by Voegtlin.n
Iasked Mrs. Fernandez If stage children usu-
ally made their mark on the stage when they
were grown up. No." was the reply. .'They
the stage a few years from now, and shan't go
back unless she shows extraordinary talent
later. Nothing is more wretchej than the stage