Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-30
WORSE THAN DUDES.
1Fe STAGE DOOR GIRL is A STERN
REALITY TO ACTRESSES.

nStn, Dut the cne VI no Haunts the
Exits of Theaters Is Generally an En-
thusiastic Bit of a Maiden.
have read many remarka BILE stories con-
corning crowds of men of all ages and sizes
who swarm about the stage doors of thea
tiers, staring the actresses out of ooUnte-
nance and making themselves generally
disagreeable and obnoxious. But the stage
door dude lives only in the newspapers. 1
have been on the stage-well, won't say
how many years-but in all that time l
have never seen one Of his kind. There is,
however, being who haunts tie stage
door. This individual prefers sunshiny
matinee Gays, is young, pretty, well
, dressed, and possesses an alarming cara
mel appetite. In short, it is the sister, or
possibly the daughter. of the stage door
dude. He, if he ever existed, belongs to
past generation.
She goes to the matinee, falls in love
with the hero, sympathizes with the hero
inc, hates the villain, giggles at the come
dian ithe stage door girl never laughs) and
says she thinks the ingenue lust dear"
Then, when the curtain falls upon the re-
united lovers with the villain shipped off
20 Botany bay, the galleys or Sing Sing,
according to his location, she devours her
last caramel and hurres to the stage door
And she does not go to the stage door to
see the hero, the leading Juvenile or the
handsome villain, but, astonishing fact, to
see the heroine, the ingenue or the SOU
| brette! This door, which is to her ewes a
gilded portal, is usually located down the
dingiest, d;rticst alley in the neighborhood.
But it does not look dingy or dirty to her.
She docs not even see the garbage barrels,
tin cans and general gloominess of the
place. Her Mecca is that door through
which she must pass-that radiant vision
whom she has just seen folded to the heart
of the hero
have known girls to stand for an hour
or more in pouring rain with undamp-
ened ardor merely to see a figure COM
pIetely envelcped in macintosh, veil and
umbrella hurry past them and disappear.
In Baltimore are two pretty sisters
who, | am assured, are cultivated and
refined young women. But these girls
have perfect craze for actresses. Every
Sunday they are seen at the principal rail
way station of the town to welcome the
coming and speed the parting actress, al
though they have no personal acguaint-
ances IN the profession. They are per
fectIy content to worship from afar. But
they must see their divinity and find out
~
on it." They usually sit in front seat at
the theater and stare at her through their
opera glasses. This to a sensitive actress
Is something maddening. if by any chance
she happens to catch sight of them. How
ever, there are many people who do this
same thing, and who are not stage door
girls, and no doubt the girls are justified
in thinking that they have a right to do
so. But cannot see what pleasure they
derive from minute inspection Of rouge
and grease paint.
To return to the stage door girl. II will
require great deal Of argument to con-
vince her that the hero and heroine are not
madly in love with each other in private
life. \ pretty girl once said to an actress
of my acquaintance, lis it really possible
that you do not love Mr. BPS Ger
tainly not" replied my friend. We'll.
can understand it,, said the young lady.
He must lie in love with you or he
couIdn' I act his part so we'll" 1t was time
and words wasted trying to convince this.
on other subjects, sane young woman that
Mr.. b was devoted husband and ia
ther with about a. much sentimental re-
gard for my friend as he had for the table
over which he spoke certain line, the
sword with which he fought the villain, or
any other stage property
Inc stage door glrlS room is usually
decorated with photographs Of her favor
ties, and she is not always contented with
mere photograph. Actresses receive
photographs of themselves every dav from
admiring girls. with the request that they
return them with their autograph.
All sorts of questions are asked in these
notes. This one wants Il lock of hair an
other to know who makes her dresses.
And l know of one girl, more curious than
the rest, who wished TO know the name of
her divinity's corset maker.
But the letters received by actresses are
not all from inquisitive girls whose eyes
have been dazzled by the glare of the foot
lights Sometimes they come from sensi-
bic, thoughtful women who wish to tell of
an evening pleasantly, perhaps proiitably,
spent at the theater and 10 speak words of
commentator and encouragement These
are always pleasing to the actresses who
receive them. One word of honest appre-
citation is worth whole pages of gush, and
no one is so quick to appreciate this as a
woman whose life is passed in an honest
struggle to achieve success and possibly
distinction on the stage.
A friend of mine received the following
note, accompanied by Bible and bunch
of violets, from dear old lady:
My DEAR MIss-I am sure you will not be
offended by an old woman sending you this
gift and her best wishes. l have many times
witnessed yoar interpretations of characters
that show much intelligence. l know to look
into your honest eyes that you have sweet,
pure heart. God bless and keep you. Very
sincerely, Mrs. --
And, bless her heart, her Judgment was
not incorrect, and Bible and. a little faded
bunch of viOlets are kept among the dear
est treasures of the actress in question.
Before the Actors Fund fair a great
deal was said about the probability CT the
actresses who attended the booths being
subjected to insolent attentions from men
This fear was afterward found to be en-
tirely grourdless. 1t was not the men who
pushed and struggled in the crowds about
the booths, staring and making audible
comments about the actresses who were
working for charity. 1t was the women.
These gentle creatures focked there in
crowds and stared to their hearts content.
1t was the first time they had ever had