Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-04
CITY AND DISTRICT.
DoN'T 60 ON THE STAGE.
neps q Young Actors Advice TO
neunx People who have Histrionic
YeaRminwu.

"f had It TO do over again would steer clear
% the stage said q young man who started out
non washington nve years ago TO enter on a the
ssiiS1 career. Not that have been less success
tui man the great majority OF those who began at
sne same time and under similar circumstances.
IN Isct, have Jared rather better think. than
COCO many fellows i know. / have had pretty
sSsady engagements ana have never been obliged
70 count railroad ties or course attended the
ooeequiss OF number Of companies and was chief
noorner . couple OF times, but I'D noe lose .
teat zeal In salary. As said before, have Jared
mooefateiy well for fellow who jumped In with
] could"
But your decisions about the glories OF an
.sSsors Ire are gone and you have had enough OF
NJ AZ srAR reporter inquired.
rEs. MY DELUsIoSs ARE GONE,
eosl think will stick 70 IL, nevertheless. There
- fascination about the life which doesn't assert
usen until you begin 70 think seriously Of giving
" up or until you have actually tried something
else TOT awhile. Then you discover how hard IL
time since abandoned the idea that was cut out
rof the great ACTOR OF the age. i still have nope
%sns sna1
Until that day comes / am willing TO go In and
TAKE such work as offers with respectable eompa-
'How long did IL take you to set thoroughly
cured OF the enthusiasm which 1rst carried you on
70 the stage?' the reporter asked
orudgery OF the life and the petty meanesses and
me 1ealousies OF many of the people was thrown
n contact with had thoroughly ground an ta s, IL
But didn't allow myself 70 be entirely dlscour-
aged got over my blues after awhile, and hung
90, determined TO see II through so did, and Tor
0ve years have knocked around IN all parts OF the
country, from the Rocky Mountains 20 Maine;
nave seen some tough times and been In many hard
holes, but Always got out without counting rail-
road ties or missing engagements for dinner.
But, knowing what know OF the business, II
had TO begin over again nothing could induce me
% 60 on the stage Unless he can begin with some
sucn company as Days or the Madison square IL
no place iSr young ieOw ~aS mas aa any iskins e
whatever offers In the way OF an engagement, a
young fellow 10 pretty apt 10 be thrown In with
are not desirable companions nor calculated to ele-
vate ones ideas OF human nature There Is no use
0enying IL stage NE Is feaiqliy demora Eng, ana
combination is'stining even 10 young fellow who
has Knocked around as most young fellows brought
up In city are apt TO do. or late years all sorts
OF low and worthless people, failures at everything
else, or nlled with the idea that II Is lazy life,
have drifted on 70 the stage: II Is these people
present level. Thy also make rougher and harder
TIE pathways OF those who 20 into the profession
w6h real love Tor IL, and who are willing and
anxious TO work for its rewards"
THE MANAGERS
sHow about the managers? Aren't they in
elined 70 carry things with high hand?" asked
the STAR man
THAT Is one OF the most CALLING and Illuminating
features Of the life 70 OF any spirit and sell
respect" the young actor answered with the
bitter ring Of unfOrgotten resentment in his voice.
al tell you the managerial ranks are not over
crowded with people who could make good their
claim TO the title OF gentleman i don't speak
now Of the responsible men VINO own or manage
theaters, or who have established standing In
the profession i mean the crowd Of theatrical
spectators whom q young acter Is apt 10 be
thrown In with in New York-the men
Who engineer new stars, and organize all
sorts OF snaps for the road. The insoient
airs these fellows give themselves in dealing
with their people, as they Call them, are simply
maddening. They talk Of, and often 10, their CON-
panies 50 many cattle, and a fellow has to be
ready TO resent insults at all times, and when he
does resent them IL usually means an end TO the
engagement, Tor many OF these managers are
utterly irresponsible financially. and when they
discharge you any attempt 10 hold them 10 their
contracts Is so much time and energy wasted"
Then you wouldn't encourage young men 10
think OF tine stage promising field for the ex-
ercise Of their amoition?' the reporter asked In
leaving.
"Aost emphatically not" the young actor an
Dwered. my advice Is 10 think or almost any
other career before the stage. Even its golden
apples, believe, are Dead Sea fruit"