Evening journal., 1888-07-06
ACTORS AND WRITERS.
GOSSIP ABOUT TWO CLASSES OF
SO CALLED BoHEMlANs.

The Wages of Actors-rs Acting Healthy
occupation?--Prices of High KicIsers.
Grants stenographer and His valuable
Historical CoIections-AIoney in Brains.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON. July 81 chatted last
night with one of the leading theatrical
managers Of the United States. The
subject Of actors salaries came up, and
Che manager told mo they are on tho in
crease. ''All classes Of persons connected
with the stage" said he, 'are getting
higher salaries now than they have ever
had before and think that many OF our
actors are paid too much We have to
pay $3.50 week for any kind of leading
man, and u good second is worth $3.50. q
week Il actors would save their money
they would mako as a rule more thnn the
managers, and there is no reason WHY
great actors should not amass fortunes.
Look at Patti with 5000 night Note
the extravagances Of Sarah Bernhardt, and
you can see where the money goes tol
There is too much competition in man.
agement, and it is this competition that
raises the price OF salaries. have had
actors at $500 week who wero dear at
that, and who were paid $500 week by
another manager, and have had actresses
whom paid $3.50 a week taken from me
by other managers, who would offer them
$500"
Are the managers as a rule making
money!"
'Some are. but not many. / donH
think more than one-third of the manage
ments have come out ahead during the
past year, and il these have made an nv
erage of over $4,000 apiece they have
done we'll. As for me viii come out be-
hind, and have very fair troupe
What women Of the stage get the best
salaries2'
"The great singers, Of course, though a
great actor Of any kind is well paid. I
judge that Scalchi gets at least g.. coo
a month. Campanini $S. 600. and you know
that Patti receives So, 900 a night by con-
tract. Look at the immense sums taken
in by young Joseph Hoffman. But an
actor or actress is worth Just what she or
he will bring. II she win bring $1,000 or
$4,000 a night she is always worth Sc. 900.
and If she is only the side light to a big
play she may not be worth $50 a week.
The average theatrical salaries run.
| judge, from $50 to $40 a week.
Rose Coghlan used to get $3.50
a week Miss Jewett had for time
$500 a week and Emma Abbott started
out with $1,000 a year, and now gets
SlUO night for a concert. Ger
ster gets $1,000 q night Sembrich can
make $1,000 q night and Mrs. Langtry
has gotten big fortune out Of her beau
titul face. Modjeska has her own troupe
and usually does very wen. Maggie
Mitchell makes lots Of money and saves
IL. and Kate Claxton is always a good
card"
How about the balletY"
"Ihe high kickers are, of course, paid
well but the ordinary ballet wall flower
gets barely enough to support herself
The wages range all the way from SO a
week upward and a good utility woman
commands about $40 a week. AS to the
ballet. ] think the days Of great dancers
have past. You should have seen Fanny
Ellsler when she made the tour Of this
country. She set the people wild with
her dancing, and it was so with Taglioni
IN Europe Jennie Durand died in Den
yer about four years ago. and she was one
OF the first ballet dancers Of this country;
she was great favorite in the mining
towns Of the west, and she made a great
deal OF money. Taglioni got $4,000 a
maker and she retired from the stage
when she was stin in her prime"
do yen think stage life is healthful
occupationT
1T depends on how it is used, was the
reply; many of the actors of the past
have lived to a good old age Macready
died at so, and Charles Kemble, the father
Of Fanny and Roger. lived to the age Of
79 John Brougham died at 20. and Char
lOtte Cushman had passed her 10th year
when she died. Kittie Give reached
the age Of "A, and Fanny Eilsler, the
noted dancer, lived 10 be "a Sarah Sid
dons died at 76. and the Wallacks are Of
a long lived race. Henry Wallack, one Of
Testers uncles. lived to be 7S. his father
was 73 years old when he died, and his
graIdmother died at 30. Thomas King,
the original Sir Peter Teazle, lived to be
"a, and the noted Colley Cibber lived to
be 81. There is no reason why an actor
should not live as long as the average
man, provided he does not drink OF en-
gage in other dissipation. It is true his
life is an exciting one, but he has his
summer vacation, and he has as much
time to rest as has the ordinary man, and
1t is the same with actresses"
lnet IrOIeSsor ~. ~. Dawson here yes-
terday. He is the man who acted as
Grants private secretary during the
writing of his book. and It was to him
that Gen. Logan confded many Of his
papers Mr.. Dawson has the confidence
of more public men, perhaps, than any
other man in the United States. A quiet.
slender man of about 40 years Of age. he
has for years been connected with the
statesmen Of the country In confidential
capacity. He has acted as private secre-
tary to more men than any other stenog-
rapher IN Washington. and he has a col
lection of historical notes which are sur
passed only by those of Bancroft. He is
possessed Of remarkable literary ability.
and his sorupulous integrity has given
him access to matter which other writer's
could not obtain. He has been gathering
all the material he could find about public