The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-16
WOMEN UPON THE STAGE.
WHY THEY ADOPT THE DRAMATIC
PROFESSION.

Nvw YORK, Feb. 1870 many unkind
criticisms are made upon womens Tiki ng for
tbe stage that young girls who have genuine
aspiration in that direction are slow to
roske them public. The most unworthy
r,o+ives are assigned to the sex, such as
rsnity. love of excitement and display and
dissemination for serious work. All these
NAV apply in many cases; no one denies the
charge in its limited application, but the
,rbole truth is not told in such declarations.
Women have better reasons than these for
adopting the stage, and nine out of ten of
those who go to the theaters for employ
ment do so because they can earn more
money. The pay is what allures them, not
the nootriety, publicity or personal vanity.
Chorus girls get poor wages, comparatively
sreaking, but they make more than they
could earn in any workshop or in household
ssryice Ordinary actresses make more than
do the majority of women of
a1ual attainments who act as clerks or do
tgpewriting. In fact, mediocrity is better
paid on the stage than elsewhere, and talent
is compensated generously, while genius
realizes wealth and fame.
Anv one at all acquainted with the facts
will admit that the requirements of the
stage for all but the very few are not
difficult to meet, and no great amount of
thoroughneSS is demanded from those who fill
the minor roles in the popular plays of the
dav. | had believed this fact, in an indif-
ferent way, for long time, when one day
n Young woman, in whose welfare | had
been interested, satisfied me beyond any
doubt that the stage was haven of wealth
for ordinary women whose physical attrac-
lions were above the medium grade. This
i
and HAD not the courage to persevere in it.
She had tried several other pursuits and
given them all up because of her inability to
do the work demanded of her. Mentally she
was ordinary, and consequently, was COM
monplace in appearance. Some of her good
points were a slight figure, regular features
and an insipid expression of countenance.
This latter attribute induced the manager
to whom she applied for a place a, chorus
girl to take her She could not play any
piece of music, but knew her notes and
could make the piano jingle few tunes. As
to music in its real sense, she was as ignor-
ant as an infant. But she secured position
at IS a week to begin with and when she
had been a chorus girl for time she be-
came 'supe" in a new play, and later was
given part where few words had to be
spoken. Soon she reported that her salary
was raised to SIS; then to $25, and now the
young woman is making a handsome in
come and is doing for herself in that career
what she could not have accomplished in
any place requiring more than common
intelligence and ordinary education. She
had no special desire to try the stage, and
her main reason for making the effort was
that she had an acquaintance who was get
ting So a week from a manager for appear
ING in gossamer and tights AMI singing in a
chorus. My acquaintance to this day cannot
spell words of three syallables and Is unable
to write a short note correctly. She has no
aptitude for study and is not even ambitious
Or industrious, but her thick suit of hair
has been bleached rich cream yellow, her
teeth have been carefully preserved and
good clothes make her look we'll on the
stage. She has been drilled until she knows
her parts and her ear has been trained to
enable her to sing, In a superficial way, any
ballad or part that comes to her. She is
mentioned in the papers as beautiful and
in her limited field of work is a success.
Talking with her one day recently l said:
"You were fortunate to adopt the stage as
your profession; it is the only one you could
do so well in"
''Oh, yes" she replied, 81 a, profesh-
with good salary-and !. t4i1 will keep ~
the two parts have learned will hold my
place right along"
Shall you marry or devote yourself to the
stage permanedtlyp
Just as soon as a rich man asks me am
ready to take him. The manager is always
finding fault with me and telling me | am
fool, and | will be glad to be rid of him and
of all managers, but [ must marry money"
why is wealth so important to your
happiness, you have never had itg' | said.
That's so; but then you see, I've played
wealthy so long that | could not go into
everyday ways and be satisfied. No stree.
l mean to marry rich and get out of the
profesh as soon as there is a solid offer
made.n
What on earth is your success due toF'
was forced to query. You are not really
ambitious or educated or proud of your
work. What is itf' | asked.
! oh, am pretty good looking, a nice
figure, and | can racket around the stage
and please the old men and the boys. The
first like dash and cheek, and I've got lots;
the others like love-sick looks, and when my
eyes are made up | can look languishing
glances at them. Old Fire. the manager
says bring the fools to the theater, while
Minnie another actress draws the sensible
fellows and the women. | get the best
salary and the most presents. and if it
wasn't for the everlasting bother of trying
to remember what I've got to say l would
not want to get out of the profesh. They
are always talking aoout a new play, and /
mad as soon be hung as to learn my lines in
anything"
Inc young woman was delighted with her
success and was pleased that she could show
50 good bank account to one whom she
Knew had gagged her abilities in other
nelds and was not likely to overrate her
aftlstlc requirements. / call her a success,
Tor she earns more money on less capital
IMAM any person of my acquaintance, and
IN any other field | honestly think she
would not be able to command S. week.
from her and from others on the stage /
nave learned enough to know that it is
9ood neld for great many women, and
win sufficient personal attractions there are
zen chances to one for success in it. So that
Deneve women seek it for a practical pur
pose mainly, and that many adopt it be-
cause 1t is prominently the place for
women. have not statistics at hand, but
am safe, think, in asserting that there are
more successes and fewer failures for women
IN II than in any other calling, and by the
stage mean the operate as well as the
dramatic stage
Some years ago, when "Pinafore,"
:. PATIENCE" and others of Gilbert and
ohllvans operas were the attraction of the
heaters, manager remarked in my
presence that the composers were greater
phianthropists than men like Peter Cooper,
1onn Howard and others he. could name;
ana when asked to explain said: Look at
sne men and women--girls and lads in
rlhalore' who are earning good salaries;
Isaize that they could not get tenth part
vi Vi IL from any other business and then tell