The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-30
A SOCIETY ACTRESS, WOES.
Mrs Potter Finds That Her New Pro-
fessional Life is Not a Bed Of Roses.

fessional Life is Not a Bed Of Roses.
Fran the P6ilodeiDhia Press.
Mrs Potter has sadly discovered in the
three months that she has been on the stage
that there is tribulation in being both
woman of society and an actress. She
spoke with no little feeling on this subject
on the last day of her recent engagement in
this city. As an actress she has found that
every movement is watched by nor dearest
! friends" who are always nervous lest she
sh ,uld break some Of the cauons which are
held sacred by women of society The
cloSeness Of the espionage is such
that il becomes more than gall
ing to the victim. For instance,
when she was present last week at a recep-
ton given by an old school fellow who hap
pens to be one of the social leaders OF Phila-
deIphia, she was accompanied by Mr.. kyrie
Bellew, the handsome young Engllshman,
who is the leading actor of her company
There was hardly a woman in the room
who did not indulge III a quiet whisper
with her neighbor as to whether "she likes
that young man." or what does Mr. Potter
think OF her going out walking with Mr.,
Below" and a dozen other little pointed
comments, often in whispers loud enough
for the subjects to at least guess the import.
To a friend in Philadelphia Mrs. Potter
unburdened her mind somewhat one alter
noon. You see, dear, Pm in for 1t nOw,'
said the actress, land 50 | must go on: but
If could havl only forseen in what com
plete house of lOOking-glasses / should find
myself Gagged / know it looks queer to see
every detail of my wardrobe infinitely dc
scribed even down 70 the number OF clocks
| on my stockings and the COLOR thickness
and material Of my undertakings; but how
can help it. It is not only what | wear
"a nd IA | ryTt hnf hJ1 my
| most taoughtless remarks are caught up by
some gossip, repeated twisted, to. tured out
OF their original meaning and come back to
me in a disguise in which can not recognize
| them Look at the worry raised by one re-
mark that credited me with the desire to
elevate the stage just allow that l made
some observation or other about little
extra refinement needed in the couijSSeS, or
| that it might be better if society and the
! stage were on more intimate terms of
mutual respect-and this, by way of COM
! ment perhaps, on much stronger observa-
tionS on the part of the person with whom
! | was talklng-yOu can just picture how
| careless or malicious tongue or pen could
| twist and turn those half innocent remarks
Of mine and how bitter the sarcasm of my
| sister actresses would be at my expeGse.
Then as to the publication Of my ward
robe. | really cannot help that They are
seen, perhaps, by one of the ladies who write
! tor society OF fashion papers Sometimes !
| do not even know that my visitor--gener-
ally introduced to me by one of my mana
| gers-is connected with paper, and woman
| ike | show her my tinery Do you suppose
| | Ike TO read shortly afterward i'll every
newspaper ] come across that have twelve
| rOSe-c olOred this ana the same number OF
blue silk web thatf Why, | used TO cry my
eyes out at first. But the writers are not
the least sympathetic people | meet
| The most trying" continued the pretty
actress, ARE my friends, my well-meaning
and my very curious friends Ii YOU could
| only conceive how they inflict me Firstly,
my letters from other women and girls of
| my set who want to know if | think they
would have any chance on the stage, or
would ! write to them candidly and III con-
! iidence' what the life really IS like. Next
| my photograph and autograph, but that is
| comparatively easy. Next the people,
many of whom hardly know or have met
once IN Baltimore or Washington, who
want me to come to their houses, of course
| ! know why as an attraction to their dull
teas. | was at one the other night and was
! literally mobbed, and some of the remarks Of
the women on my personal aDp2arlnc in
! tended, ! suppose. to be aside were so I'M
| kind that did not know whether 10 laugh
or cry Here at this hotel, and particularly
| of an afternoon, | try to get a little rest
| The people downstairs are told to say Yrs
Potter is out, or asleep or resting, and can
not be seen Well you would think that
! would be satisfactory explanation to a
| lady, gentlewomau, l mean! Not at all
| Oh, Cora won't mind me- I'll Just go up,
aud suddenly my door opens, and in founces
one, two, sometimes half a dozen women,
and very often | have not even heard of
their names-they know somebody whose
cousin ! met in London, or some idiotic ex-
Cuse of that sort.
Il suppose this publicity does bring in
money, for my audiences are certainly
large but am growing so morbidly sens
tive of observation and comment that
when | take a holiday | shall try and hide
myself in some distant New England vii
age and wear a red wig and green goggles
by way of disguise Look at this batch of
cards the man has just brought UP. One
dentist, one theatrical bootmaker parlor-
car maker, a complexion agent, two photo
graphic agents and these SIX uames-per-
sons all unknown to me. Thank heaven
need not see one of them. They are at
least sufficiently merciful not to walk up
unannounced and enter my room with
How d'y do, Cora.