The morning call., 1891-04-26
Famous Theatrical Stars Discuss a
Unique Question.
IS THE ACTOR A GOOD HUSBAND =?
What Leading Actors and Actresses Say About
MarTiags-WhGTG Marriage Has Proved
lBlsSSilg- Some Think One Way and
Some AlOhsT-WhY Some Think Il Best
for Actors to Remain Silgla-LOlg-DiS-
lance Affection.

lance Affection.
Owing to the itinerant life of the actor, 1t
has often been asked, Is 1t wise for the &C
tor to marry? Can he have a happy home,
and be away from it continuously While
the public has thought much on the sub
tect, the actor has never been heard
from. Recently these two queries were
submitted to a number of the leading
members of the dramatic profession, and
their answers, unique and interesting. are
given below.
Tragedy's Noble Mother Speaks.
Should actors marry? Why notP Ac
tors are like other people; they have af-
lection, desires, pleasure, passion; have
noble sentiments, morals cOmpanionship-
in fact, all the attributes of people in other
walks of life, and to consign them to celib-
acy would be unnatural and contrary TO
the command of the Lord when he took
part In the marriage of Cana. l say actors
because the nature of their relations to
the mimic stage is frequently of such
character as to cause ungenerous and
unjust criticism from those who lose
sight of the artist, only seeing the
man or woman before them. And this
being the case, 1t would probably be better
as rule for actors to marry within the pro-
fessi0n, as the outside partner, unless pos
sessed of more good sense and judgment
than we usually find in humanity, will be
apt TO develop to a large degree the green
eyed monster and make home valley Of
unrest and misery. JANAUsCHEK.
Mr.. Richard Mansfield, when asked for an
opinion on this subject, said;
"Why not actors as we'll as other menP
They are able to support their wives, why.
therefore, should they not have wives to
SupportP
al do not think, however, that they are
apt to marry. for the reason that it is so
difficult for them to secure wives-I mean
wives who would be their equals. l am
speaking row of an actor in the best sense
of the word-not of variety performers,
comic opera artists, or other such persons,
but of the upper strata of the profession.
Such men rarely marry. despite their ability
TO do so, for the reason that II Is difficult
for them to secure women who are intel
lectually and socially their equals. An
actor of rank and standing finds the door of
almost any home open 10 him; but the line
Is distinctly drawn with close hand when
DS hllbulplS 10 IdhG 1--we " lHb uduEul6lS.
The dramatic Is the one profession
which is still not considered pre-eminently
respectable, and few people wish their
daughters to marry into it. But provided
an actor can find a woman who will be
real wife TO him, there can surely be no
good reasons to urge for his celibacy."
Mile. Rhea's Cautious Advice.
Never having had husband. 1 find it
very difficult to answer the question salts
factorily. 1t seems to me, however, that on
the stage, as elsewhere, married life must
have its good and bad sides.
l believe that young woman of talent,
who weds an actor, wrecks her future, for
II she loves her husband she will sacrifice
herself for him, she will accept any engage
ment to stay with him, and as a loving wife,
she will take tie parts which may most
bring out her husbands talent, while hers
would remain almost unknown,
! believe that the happiest couples are
those where the husband alone is an actor
and the wife not an artist. She stays home,
takes care of the house. Of the children,
ana when her husband Comes back from
long stay ION the road" his home appears
to him then as a paradise.
On the whole, what l have Just said can
be resumed thus: Actors do we'll to marry,
but should not do so among themselves.
RHEA.
Early Marriages Not Beneficial.
l cannot answer as to actors, but should
think some actresses who have had many
experiences in the matrimonial line would
be able to illuminate several columns OPP
cratic singers, In my judgment, should Imar-
~, but not early. An early marriage before
3 singer has accomplished anything is very
often detrimental to success. After a singer
has we'll advanced and success is assured
think marriage decidedly advantageous.
Nearly all the successful opera singers have
married. Marriage Is an honorable estate
and do not see why any class should be
excluded. Marry for love and be happy,
and then, when any one puts the question
70 you, rs marriage a failure?" you will
know how to answer. MINNIE HAUK.
Nothing Makes or Mars an Actor Like
Marriage.
1t is an old saying that nothing makes or
mars a man like marriage. Especially is this
true Of the actor. One of the essentials to
his success is an unfettered mind wherewith
to grasp the spirit Of the playwright and in
terpret it in its full meaning to the audience
This unfettered condition Of mind may OBJ
tain in the matrimonial state; and again it
may not, 1t all depends upon the kind of
woman the actor marries.
The chances of unrufled happiness
among married professionals are very few
and remote. 1t is most difficult for married
players to obtain engagements in the same
company. If troubles arise between the
manager and one of the couple the other
takes part, and the trouble Is augmented.
Separation perfcrce ensues when man and
wife fail Of obtaining engagements in one
company. These repeated separations can
result in but one thiDg-fnal drifting apart
and divorce. And if there be children, what
of them? Go and visit the schools and con-
vents. See the little ones, deprived Of the
sweet influences of home, growing up in
ignorance of mothers love, living in the
shade, receiving none of the genial warmth
OF the sun.
But the actor is still lmbued to as great an
extent as his felow-ereatures with the de-
sire to love and be loved. His calling is not
such as to make him inSsUsible to la grande
passion. Love haunts his breast as persist
emily as it does the breast of the poet And
he Is quite as incapable Of resistance as the
rest Of the world.
Though deprecate marriage among pro-
fessIonals. both for the good OF the profess
sion and the individual, l do not think that
matrimony should be prohibited to them.
Celibaey, in my opinion, is not good thing
Matrimony is the actors privilege as much
rs that of any man, but it should be entered
into at the proper time. Early marriages
should be avoided. Let the player first make
q name and competence. These are more
easily made before than after marriage
Then go beyond the pale Of your profession
and seek mate from the outside world. An
actors wife should do all in her power to
guard her husbands peace against the daily
cares Of life, and never herself disturb it,
acting the part of breakwater, which pro-
tects space of calm and never destroys the
peace that 1t has made. When children,
those rays Of sunshine from another world,
come. they serve to impart a new impulse
TO all that is noble in the character of both
parents, diverting old feelings into new
channels of love. CLARA MORRIS.
Second Nature with Florence.
It's very strange that such question
Ghould arise, but still it may be natural
one. OF course 1 can only speak of Mrs.
Florence and myself. We have been mar