The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-24
sTAaE-srRUcK GIRLS.
A Veterans Advice-Too Much Hot Wa.
ter, Too Little Cash.

Howard, In New York Star.
Precisely why men and women who fail
in other walks OF life turn TO the stage with
entire confidence that there, at least, they
will find fame and fortune, is one OF the
unsolved problems OF the hour can I'M
derstand how girls with pretty faces and
comedy figures prefer TO stand in the
chorous or prance in the ballet than TO
wait on fidgety customers In store.
understand, too, how parents who are
straitened in circumstances are led TO put
their children ON the stage in sub
ordinate capacities, because every s. a
week is substantial contribution, and II
is very natural for actors who don't think
to put their little ones forward for the sake
OF adding something TO tho heterogeneous
compensation they are awarded.
But that is not what mean.
Within the past ten years the old-time
school exhibition and giving OF private
theatricals have developed into what is
known as the amateurstage. Theamateur
stage, in many instances, differs from the
professional stage chiefly in that the per-
formers are not paid. There are amateurs
who act quite as well rs professionals, and
who devote time and zeal and money to-
ward the success of the associations TO
which they belong, an' nov that the news
papers have taken hold OF amateur theat-
ricals, reporting their progress, chronicling
their doings, and making lists OF the peo-
pie who attend the exhibitions, don't see
but that an amateur Is an actor, quite as
truly as professional. The avenues, all
OF them, which lead 10 the stage are choked
embarrassingly by people who are crazy TO
smell the fctid odors Of the gas, and loom
t.. h.. Il q
borrowed plumes. There are three classes
among the many who loom up conspicu-
Gus above the rest.
Amateurs airs in the van.
A young woman, installing the APP
plause OF friends for an intelligent judy
incnt rs 10 her merits, longs 30 be before
the public; 10 sec her name in print Is
delight; 10 be spoken ~ m n woman OF
talent who ought 10 favSr the public is a
charm; 10 be recognized M professional
beauty Is dream Of paradisaical pleasure
The table Of every manager in the city
groans with its burdens Of applications
from amateurs, who inclosc commenting
notices, praises and pulls beyond ordinary
imagination. Many Of those people are
rich or, what il the .samo thing, they have
parents who are wealthy. They offer 10
dress themselves, TO play for nothing or 10
accept 80 small salary rs 10 be equivalent
10 nothing. No self.rcspecling manager. IL
seems TO me, would permit an actor, man
or woman, 10 play for him for nothing, or
TO accept 10 small a salary rs TO be equiya-
lent TO nothing. lilo thereby takes the
bread and butter from the mouth Of a person
who needs sustenance. know how mem
bers OF the guild Of writing feel when
competitors, who arc not In need OF money,
add tho weight OF non-paymcnt 10 their
literary efforts. A man who offers 10 cor.
respond with an out OF town paper for
nothing deserves TO DO spewed out OF the
mouth Of decent men and 10 be kicked
from the company OF scli-rcspccting labor
ems In any vineyard. Mn James Brown
Potter Is conspicuous illustration Of
amateurs not rich, but amateurs who itch
for notOriety and find pleasure In posing
rs professional beauties, and long also for
fortune, which they believe follows In the
wake OF fame. | believe verify that the
effect Of her influence In leaving the ANA
tour stage, where she never amounted 10
anything beyond tho line OF mediocrity,
is widespread and terrible; yet people, the
world round, read Of the beautiful Ms.
Potter, Of Der magnificent dresses, Of the
wonderful income she was 10 get, OF her
|
imagine her ut once ~ cnthroned In the
hearts OF millions, an intelligent, beautiful
actress
But they don't sec the other side
They know nothing Of the facts The
fact II that n moro drcary iizzlc never was
witnessed than her first professional per-
Torrance. She has been IN hot water from
that timo till now. II Is perfectly well
known by her that she took tho wrong
turn In life, and instead Of bounding like q
Jolly hart or roe along the golden, sun
shiny highway OF prosperity aud success,
she has wadcd In very deep marshes OF
unpleasant discovery that friends arc few
and fortune Ii fickle, and that something
besides piquant manner IL needed 10
make success, even on the stage.
A second class IL composed VI young
men aud women who can find absolutely
nothing 10 do.
They need money.
We all need money, and they, being
part Of all, find necessity pressing hard
upon tho heel Of progress. impclling
greater speed and further oxertion. lIav.
Ing honestly tried this, that and the other,
In their winds, and believing that inielli-
gent effort will DO rewarded ON the stage
they seek an entrance. Well, sometimes
they, through friendship, have the door
opened, and they find instead Of carpeied
drawing.rooms and gilded ceilings and
aesthetic furniture. and cordialiiy Of wei.
come, barren floor, a single STOOL, cold
looks, avertcd glanoes and a narrow path
ON which TO walk.
disappointment oiientimes turns TO dis
gust.
disappointment h tho ordinary lot. You
see, dear boys, you don't have a choice 81
parts. II, with money sufficient 10 buy a
play and put a company ON tho road, you
are able 20 assign yourself leading rolo In
play Of merit, with popularity garlanding
1, from start 10 finish, II Is one thing. but
II, hat In hand, YOU are grantcdpermisaion
10 sit quietly until you are called, and then
arr directed TO enact the humblcst possible
role, without the faintcsi opportunity. OF
distinction, wero you Garrick himself, that
u another thing, and that 10 the usual