The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-24

thing. 1t is very rare that either maiden
or man has an opportunity. 1t is all nom
sense to say that opportunities present
themselves. They don't. Such presenta-
ton is exceptional. 1t may occur, OF
course, and you may be struck by light
ming, but the chances are very largely
against any such accidental incident in
your life.
OF the 10000 actors, male and fe-
male, in this country, how many are sue
cessful?
What is their ordinary experience? Isn't
1t fact that salary Of $40 q week is a
large average, and that season OF forty
five weeks is an unusually long term.
Why, right herein New York can find
you-for mind you in the term actors
include all grades, from the star to the
chorusman or the ballet GIRL can find
you, without leaving Broadway, fifty peo-
pie more, who are paid from so cents q
night to 81 week, than there are others
who run from $40 to $50, and so on. And
there are hosts Of young women and young
men who receive from $50 to $25 week,
playing good, responsible business, too,
who know very well that during twelve
weeks OF the year they have nothing to do,
80 that their $50 or $25 week for forty
weeks has to be spread out over fifty-two
weeks, because there are Just as many
weeks in the year to IN unemployed person
as to the most prosperous person.
The third class is composed OF fripperty,
jipperty girls, who have no idea Of life be-
yond the pleasure OF the moment. The
pleasure OF the moment includes bread
and butter and the necessaries OF life quite
as truly as the non-essentials. They have
an idea that II must be great fun to go on
the stage. They go to the Casino and
look at the pretty girls on Aronson's
boards, in their attractive garb, and think
what delightful experiences they doubtless
enjoy. They know nothing Of the weeks
OF unpaid rehearsals that those girls have
gone through. They know nothing Of the
cloying dissatisfaction they experience,
standing night after night, night after
night, for two years ut a stretch, as the
girlsin "Erminie" have, seeing other people
welcomed, hearing other singers ap-
plauded. noticing bouquets thrown to
other artists, while they, utterly unem-
ployed, save when joining in the chorus,
are unnoticed, unrcognized, except by
impertinent dudes or rude old men.
That's pretty bad, but is nothing in COM
parison TO the vexations and annoyances
that unvaryingly attend young people who
so on the stage, literally dependent upon
their salaries for their living. know the
case Of girl who went into one Of the
best companies in this country, with a
weakly salary OF Sl5, $40 OF which she
hoped to give her mother, retaining S. for
herself. Her delight at receiving quite a
lengthy and prominent part was somewhat
curbed by the important fact that she was
expected TO furnish three dresses, which,
with her hat, wrap, shoes and g,oves, cost
at very mild estimate, Sl35. There's
a good deal more fancy than fact in the
pictures young ladies paint for themselves
concerning probable experiences on the
stage, and never sec an earnest, ambi-
tious, intelligent, honest girl determined
TO make the trial that l don't feel pre-
cisely as do when see moths circling
about candies flame.
Take my advice, girls.
II you want fame look for II elsewhere;
the vast majority fail TO find il on the
stage. II you want money seek II In some
other field. The experience Of those who
have gone before does not warrant your
friends in advising you to throw away
your time.