The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-09
STAGE STRUCK GIRLS.
AsPIRANTs FOR HIsTRIoNIC HoNoRs
GROWING DAILY NUMEROUS.
The Hardships of q Dramatic Career
Described By One Who Speaks From
Experience Interview With Miss
Maude Jeffries-Her Advice to Girls.


due to the "elocuting" in public epidemic
which has struck the town, or 30 the
promptings of impatient genius or to the
common desire for applause, or all these
combined it, would be hard TO say, but the
curious TACT is that hstrionic aspiration is
confined in Memphis TO the weaker SEX
1t must not be inferred from this that
The APpEAL entertains the opinion that
aspiration for histironic honors is necessa-
rily indicative Of weakness. The APPEAL
is merely stating a fact, when it says that
80 per cent Of the stage struck element Of
Memphis belong to the softer sex,
The study of elocution is doubtless OF
great value to both sexes in acquiring ease
and grace of manner and a correct and
agreeable method of reading aloud and
in so far as it tends to accomplish such re-
suits should be encouraged, but the prac-
tice of permitting half trained young ladies
to "recite" at church entertainments, fol-
lowed by ilattering preSs NOTICES las mus
be the case where crit1asm is dSsarmed by
a regard for the personality of the elocu-
ZIONIST and the cause ia whose service she
Is enlisted), these things have pernicious
tendency in engendering morbid love OF
applause and an inordinate amount Of
self-appreciation. These tendencies are
always progressive, and eliminate in q
well defined case of stage struck"
This much by way OF preface to an in
tervicw had by an APPEAL reporter with
young lady who is well qualified to speak
Of the hardships and tolls OF 4 dramatic
career.
Miss Maud JclIries, OF this city, whose
career on the stage has been brief but
brilliant, arrived in the city few days
ago and was interviewed yesterday by an
APPEAL reporter.
To those of our readers who have never
seen Miss Jeiiries il may be worth while
20 state that she has been endowed by
nature with the qualities that generally
succeed in the dramatic profession. She
has youth, beauty, talent, fine voice and
striking presence. Her tall willowy
form, deep black eyes, clear cut profile,
and black hair at once suggest
the ideal representative OF the tragic muse.
Miss Jeilries has not had an opportunity
heretofore 10 exhibit her talent in lines
best suited 10 her style and tastes, but like
true artist she is patient and will bido
her time, in the meantime preparing her
self by severe study for the opportunity
that time must bring her. She has signed
a contract for next season, on liberal
terms, with Miss Lizzie Evans, and Mem.
phis theatre goers will have an opportuni-
" Of seeing her some time in December.
IL is safe TO say she will make hit in her
own home.
II will be remembered that Miss Teffrics
made her debut here last October in "Our
Angel" playing the part OF the governcss
In Of 81. t,,.l 81
Her success was instantaneous, and the
y press were liberal in their commentator
OF her acting. Miss Evans was much
pleased with her work and urged her 20
pcrscverc. Thus encouraged Miss JclIrics
went TO New York last summer, and there
pursued her studies under the direction OF
Mrs. Emma Waller. She made rapid
progress, and in March succeeded In get
ting an engagement 10 play leading
business with William Hamilton, who
was making a tour OF the New
England States with piece called Rock.
wood" Miss Jcilries story Of her cxper-
fences on that tour had best DO told in her
own words. II may serve rs a warning to
stage struck young ladies. 81 never will
forget that trip" she said with almost a
a shuddcr, 'it was awful, all one night
stands, and the terrible import Of that
term never can be realized unless you've
been there. After three or four hours
ride on a railroad train you get TO town,
half asleep, half awake, about 2 or o'clock
in the morning. There YOU sometimes
find carriage TO take you TO
hotel aud sometimes not, more
often not. You 90 20 bed in n
cold, cherries room, hungry, tired, Ills.
gus,cd. The next morning, rehearsal on
cold stage, with chilling duught striking
YOU from seventeen different directions.
At night you hurry through the last act OF
the play on dead run, you might say.
Sometimes whole scenes are cut out 10 en-.
able you TO make the train, and when the
curtain falls ON the final scene you are
hustled of 90 the depot without time In
some cases, % wash the make up OIL your
face. oh, you can't form any idea Of what
hard life Il Is. have often wished my
self at home, snugly cnsconcd before an.
open gratc lire, drinking in warmth and
comfort with every breath"
"Did you ever have any particularly IN,
comfortable exporience?' asked the 10.
porter.
"Did I9' replied Miss JcfTfics, smiling
at the question. IL had several. One
that ! will never forget. II was on cold,
rainy night In March, and the scene, as
the noyolisis say, was in Providence, X. |.
Ever been 20 Proyidcncc7 No7 Well.
you're lucky. We got there about .
O'Clock In the morning. IL was awful
cold and raining cats and dogs. No car.
riagcs, dark rs pitch, and mud over our
boot tops. Well, We Just had 10 tramp Il
half mile through a drcnchng rain
storm that laughed at umbrellas and
watcrprOots. Oh, how longcd for home.
them and Miss Joilrics' manner and
voice left no doubt that sho meant every
word of H.
''fhc stage, then, IL not the beautiful
paradise you pictured ~"
"Not 10y any manner OF means II Is n
hard life, fun Of drudgery, dsappoint.
mcnts, trials, care, sometimes utter DIES.
pair. | say 10 any girl who has good
home. stay In Il by AN means"
Are you In the profession 10 stay?'
Yes, have gone too lar 30 recede; he.
sides have been unusually lucky In ~.
curing prompt employment ri a liberal
salary"
The conversation then driilcd into grn.
ctal dramatic topics, during the course Of
which the reporter learned that Mis-, La.
Eic Evans had secured six new plays aud
that the everlasting chcsinnts, "Our
Angel and "Fogg's Ferry. will no longer
make life burden 20 religious theaier.
goers. The reporter also learned that the
demand for dramatic instruction Is 10 great
In New York city that Steel Mackay's
school is so.crowded that he has had 10 ne.
fuse students NJ slj week, and
that Dion Boucicault and A. W. Pal.
mer are arranging 10 open new school
L. - Ill Al.