The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-31
THE WORLDS A STAGE.
AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN
MERELY Players.

Many of Them are Very. Very Queer
Performers at That, However-"Un-
Gle Tom" Actors and Other Freaks
on View on tee Local Rialto.
From the Chicd1o Inter Ocean.
New York is supposed to be the Mecca to
which all actors turn once year, for there
Is the shrine of Thespis and as devoted
worshipers they take up their pilgrimages
toward what is supposed 10 be the actors
happy hunting ground. This is the popular
supposition, and once upon time it was
correct. Now it is different.
Since Chicago has arrived at the period
when il is established as the great central
natropolis OF the United States, it has be-
come the rendezvous Of many stage folk.
Several reasons may be attributed TO this
condition. Hundred Of companies come
west every season, and Chicago being CEN
trail TO the territory they cover, it is mos
desirable place to disband. and no finer
summer resort IS known in North America
These are two good reasons. OF course
tbev are not the only reasons; there are
Others. For instance Not all of the
companies that attempt TO foister
trash upon the public are successful.
They manage u exist in the effete
east even with All Indifferent performance.
IL is very different when they face critical
western audiences. Then they collapse. The
performers are not looking for real work,
and they cannot live in the provinces with
out doing something, so they turn to some
large city. To Chicago is not such long,
tedious dreary walk as it would be TO New
y urk, and it has the reputation Of being
the best show town in the United States
So they naturally turn their steps hither-
ward A reporter sauntered through the
Riato and took few observations one day
last week. A visit was made to one OF the
old-estabished dramatic agencies.
"How's businessn he asked the agent
80, not as brisk as it might be, but can
not complain. l have engaged people for
several companies already
young woman was sitting in the cor
ner. Her attitude was pensive. Every now
and then she would look toward the visitor,
and there Vas an expression in her dark
eyes like the look OF fawn that had strayed
from its mother.
'Has that young lady deep, dark brown
sorrow that is casting its somber shadow
over her young life" asked the reporter of
the agent.
Nav She's Just a soubrette waiting for
an engagement" he answered.
just then there strolled in tall gaunt
individual. His apparel was of ante-bellum
cut and his hair was worn zen trainD or a
IA lDioCA w Ai4tAills HI u ObSPt EtpulCuEAi
voice that began in rumblings down IN the
region of his stomach until it found vent at
his lips, he asked the agent:
as there any mail here for me this
morning."
"No, no mail for you. There was a fe-
male here for you this morning, though, -
said the agent, and then he smiled IN his
sleeve.
"Ah" rumbled the human volcano.
"who wasi it, prytheer
"Prythee, it was thy divorced wife She
says her alimony is way overdue, and she
has got to have it," said the agent. A first
heavy scowl momentarily rested upon the
actors broad forehead, then all was peaceful
again. He strengthened himself to his full
Llght and .quothed: II am paying alimony
to three OF EN- now, and here | am out of
an engagement and they all want money at
once. Women are quite peculiar creatures.
They want the earth, and with that re-
mark he strobe out of the ROOM
w no is that distinguished actor?' queried
the reporter
He is the best Simon Legree that ever
che"ed scenery wi h an Uncle Toms Cabin
company" was the answer.
A stroll down Clark street was fruitful
for standing near the corner of Clark and
W ashlngton streets were two of the "pro-
fesh." They were WELL though rather
boisterously, attired. ANY one hearing
their conversation would know what their
calling was One of them tipped his hat
and the other one said: ibid you see me
win here" aud then they watched her until
she was out of sight.
Another popular rendezvous of the Chi
cago actor is Dearborn street joint called
the Dizzy" Here they congregate in
droves and sit and recout their artistic
successes on the road. Then such express
sions as these: 81 just killed EN-, n"lFhy,
foil 49, i,o,-
played the comedies with - AZ Just
owned 'em last season." and so
on, fill the air. These remarks refer TO
the effect their acting had upon the
audiences they played to. OF course all
actors do not talk 50, but many do Not a
few of the members of the theatrical pro-
1ession are men and women of eminent re-
spectability, also of retirement and cultiva-
uoB. Unfortunately for them the public
receive bad impression from the loud
mouthed members of the fraternity who
exhibit themselves on the corners
with several theaters occupied by first
class companies and with the many men,
oers OF repertory companies that play the
provincial towns with profit and sprink-
ing OF barn stormerS, the actors resorts are
Well populated at present. The barn storm ar
is, indeed, character study. One-half the
energy he exhibits applied III almost any
other channel would give him an iudepeud-
ence.
Yet he will go on for years. Going out
with company Of his kind, playing "Riche-
lieu, Richard III. ""Hamletn and 'Unoe
Toms Cabin" in school houses, barns-any-
where, IN fact-barely getting enough to
eat, and always walking back
lie can be seen contemplating the luscious
Vlands In cafe window, and that is as
near as he comes to associating with them.
their relative positions are never more in
innate.