The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-27

q
that may be asked of them. The finished
actor Of many years experience must DO
willing to black up, or to act the clown, or
take q part which would be scorned by an
ordinary "supe." So, too, with the
actresses. The result mas been many disa-
greements between the manager and bis
| employees, and many Of the latter have left
lucrative places rather than be Inundated.
The drinking clause is used by managers
only when 1t Is notorious that the party of
the second part has been addicted TO the
excessive use OF liquor. In fact, all clauses
in theatrical contracts which interfere with
! the natural rights of the employe may be
said to be due 70 special reasons. Thus the
not unknown clause prohibiting gambling
Is used only when the applicant has been in
the habit OF INDUCING his passion so much
SIS 20 interfere with his ability Co do his work
properly. Some time ago the English papers
we're filed with denunciations of man
sger who was alleged 90 have inserted a
clause in his contracts with actresses giving
HIM the right of peremptory discharge in
case they married. No clause exactly likely
this was ever known in this
country, possibly because it Is undoubt-
eddy illegal. being against the policy of
our laws, which are always favorable to
matrimony and impatient Of obstacles that
may be put in its way. But a similar con
tract was drawn by Jonn r Rogers some
years ago. That contract and its result
have afforded much amusement to the per-
sous acquainted with the facts. Rogers had
Just left J. (. Emmett 70 become the mana
ger Of Minnie Palmer. The latter and Will
lam Seaman were playing at that time in
a sketch called Our Boarding House" The
conduct of these two was very affectionate,
and 1t was rumored that they were contem-
plating mstrimony. That idea did not suit
Rogers at all. and so he insisted upon insert
leg clause in his contract with Miss Palmer
TO the effect that if she married within five
years the contract should be void. Before
that time was Up Rogers married Miss
Palmer himself. SO that both p rites VIC
lated the contract.
theatrical managers are 10th to talk
much about the special or curious contracts
which they sometimes make and, strangely
enough, even the actors who are bound by
them hesitate to make them known In~
quiries by the reporter were answered
evasively even by managers and actors who
are usually very ready 10 talk, but few
exceptional contracts were learned Of never
theless
Manager Pltou's contract with Rose
Coghlan, at the time OF her marriage with
Mr. Edgerly, contained a unique clause
Pltou feared that the new husband might
wish to interfere with his plans so he in
serted sclause binding Miss Coghlan to
make her husband keep his hands off the
management. When the French twin
sisters" as the wives of Billy Hoey and
Billy Evans were known befo q their mar
rage. went on the stage. their parents caused
clause to be inserted il their contracts
which allowed the girls to leave the stage
at O'Clock every might.
1t must not be supposed that all actors
and actresses are bound by the ordinary
contract. The stars and even others who
are much in demand ore quite likely TO
make contracts when the clauses are in their
favor rather than the managers Every
star actress must have her French maid mo
other nationality will do, apparently, and
they are all Annettes or Thereses or jules
and the ike her coach 10 and from the
G1eater, her accommodations in the draw
ing room cars, and suites OF rooms at the
best hotels. The star actors are quite as
particular, and Wallets are among their re-
qulrements. Neither do either of these
sign the unpleasant clauses which enaole the
manager todispose of employees as they see
fit.
The most interesting contract between
the management of an amusement COM
pany aud its employees. however is I'M
doubtedly that of the Barnum q Bailey
circus, It is full OF prohibitions and re-
strlctlons probably because there are so
many employees of various kinds, and be-
cause the bohemian character OF the circus
mans life makes him more liable to break
through ordinary restraints than the more
prosaic average man. Besides binding him
self to all the obligations Of the usual theat-
rical contract, he agrees that the manage
nent shall have the right to continue adver-
Using him and his attractions, even after
his discharge, until the end of the season.
without compensation. In other words. if
the management hires 3.legged man with
lot OF trained owls, and dismisses the
same in two weeks without assigning anv
cause. the circus can go on advertising them
as il they still were in their employ, with
out paying anything for the privilege. The
management also retains the right to hold
back two weeks wages until the end of the
season to guarantee the faithful perform
ance of the duties contracted for.
This was especially designed for the dis
cipline OF such employees as have particu-
larry unpleasant work. There are many
tasks connected with the circus which are
very ungrateful, and the men who UNDER
take these would frequently leave in dis
gust il their wages were not held back
under this contract. Tody Hamilton told
story recently which illustrates this.
This living skeleton, beng unable to help
himself, has valet whose lot is extremely
hard. The latter has to carry the skeleton
about and perform almost every imagin-
able service for him. The skeleton. like
most invalids, is a hard task master, and
reviles and abuses his helper frighttulIy.
The latter has no redress, but he would
rarely stay with the circus if his salary
was not held back. During the
last season the valet was a grim visaged,
taciturn man who rarely said anything.
he got along with the skeleton better than
any previous valet. because he would paw
no attention to bis abuse. but on the night
preceding the end of the season, after all
hands bad been paid Off, both the skeleton
and the valet mysteriously disappeared.
A number OF searching parties were organ
lied and the fields and woods in the vicinity
were carefully examined, but it was long
after midnight before the skeleton was dis
covered stuck in the mud of a swamp. with
his body leaning against a tree. He was
almost frozen and groaned dismally.
HE carried me out here" he said. be-
tween sobs.. land said: Now, you dirty
bIackguard. I'll get square with you for the
whole season. Stick there until you rot
I'm fro-o-zen. B-r-r-rm
The valet was never seen again.
The empioye also gives the management
the right to discharge him instantly when.
ever he may be guilty of drunkenness, neg
lect of duty, disobedience of orders, pro-
fame or vulgar language. fighting, stealing,
gambling, ratfilug, card playing, lottery,
characterization, or any other unlawful or
improper conduct. or whenever he or she
shall associate or consort with any improper
person." The rules which the employe has
m SIGN nunbar fOrtv-sayan and covar