The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-18
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whoever applies for information or advice that
she is exactly fitted for the stage. If the appli-
can't be old and thin, young and rectangular
she is precisely like l3ernhardt or Maggie Mitch
ell; if stout and clumsy, she is told she he's the
stage presence of jeffrey s-Lewis or Fanny Dav.
enport. She Is asked to recite poem or read
something like young Lochinvar.' and the lasS
straw is removed from the weight of ber doubts.
Her voice. accent and all else are pronounced
needful Of only q little training to make them
perfect.
Strangely enough all these teachers are doing
well in their business. One of the genuine
actresses in the business said, last week. that
her experience led her TO suppose that at least
seven out OF ten theater-coing women in town,
In every class of life. have an idea that they
could fascinats the public from behind the foot
lights. and &C least four out of ten have, at one
time or another, dressed themselves Ike some
actress they admire in one OF her best parts,
and haverecited her lines bsfore mirror All the
teachers have all they can do TO teach all who ap-
ply, in spite of the fact that the appearance of
newcomer on the stage like Miss RusselPs, at
Days. and Mrs- James Brown Potters, on her
own behalf. are the great events of one season ia
three. When pupils lessons are over she finds
her greatest difficulty before her. One two
teachers are able to give their pupils letters to
theatrical managers. but there are seldom any
openings 10 fill, and most Of the teachers simply
tell the women 20 go the rounds OF the
theaters and apply at each place. Nine in ten
soon tire of the repeated disappointments that
ensue but once in a while there is "A persistsnt
who modifies her ambition bit by Bit until
at last she may be able TO get offer Of ten
dollars q week in a Bowery show to give
dance sing a song appear chamber
maid fRurante in farce twice day. And
these often the women who reach the high
est places in the profession But they must be
remarkably gifted, remarkably energetic and
remarkably self-possessed. They find their as
sociatee the outcasfs OF the sex--on the stage
merely because il is a tradition among outcasts
that those who are the stage have better
chances TO prey upon men than those who wan
der ths streets III a genius drops down among
them she must battle, often with main physical
strength, to preserve her self-respect; she must
hear the profane and outrageous talk of her
companions; she must feel the bitterness of
their contempt for her moral pretensions. and
she must SLAVE at her work patiently In the hope
that some variety manager on his everlasting
rounds for attractions may see her. admire what
she does. and lift her one step higher in her
fession with an engagement in one OF the stock
travelling companies. Themes, by her genius,
NAV in time become member of irregular thea
ter company. But every step Of her way is be-
set with obstacles and temptations.
Another clsss Of advertisements against
which the Law should ntervene) is that calling
for beautiful women to take positions in COM
panies forming for the road No professional
company is formed by advertising. The man
ayers of ali such companies get their performers
at the theatrical agencies, of which there are
dozen always crowded with men and women
clamoring for places. to do anything from the
duties of a road agent scene-shifter 10 the
rendition of Hamlet These advertisements
are q new device of the rich idlers In the cl lubs
who prey upon the other sex by gathering those
who answer their appeals, picking out ones that
please their tastes and then either making direct
proposals of outrageous character or actually
getting the woman q subordinate place in
fourth-rate company by an arrangements with
the manager whereby they agree TO pay him
VIII TAT ha aUraa To raU ha Vvnr in
done only when it necessary to effect
their purposes, but the theatrical people declare
slider would dream II could be- The clubman
who thus secures a woman place enters into
CORES Dondence with her, advances money for
her extra wants and entangles her with obliga-
tions followed by protestaIions of high regard.
1t is related of Lester Wallack that he al
ways inquired of every female applicant for
entrance into the profession whether she had
been married. buried a child. qnsrreled with her
husband Ru1 suffered poverty. If not he told
her these We're requisites for the portrayal OF
rthe cardinal emotions and for stimulation of ex-
perieuce with the stern realities of life Whether
that is mere tradition of the stage not, it is
certainly true that very nearly that standard is
set mp bv a manager who has made his how To
the public the business of an English
star whom we all know.
"You must have been married" he always says
TO women who apply to him: 'if unhapply mar
ried or widowed all the better
Death has recently removed physician in
this city who was the only person able to prove
d SIofy Wuicu NJ uSSO 10 Wulspor 10 MS neaTeSb
friends about lecturess who felt the justice of
this advice so strongly that she went TO him
and urged him to enable her to secretly marry
in order to obtain the necessary experience
without the public legal formality. She was.
and is. peculiar and etrongmnded to a degree.
She scoffed at the idea. of either dropping her
livelihood to please permanent husband, or of
handing over the profits from it to secure
husband life without toll. Her baby died just
as every provision was made for it to be brought
up in luxury, with the secret of it's birth hidden
under quiet divorce that neither it nor any
one else bur herself and her adviser and ex-
husband should ever know it, The lecturess
is everywhere regarded as the sternest Of
maiden ladies. CLARA BELLE.
BLACK AND GRAY.