The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-17

Some Plain Words from Clement Scott
About Lie BebIBd the scenes.

| Some Piain Words from Clement Scott
About Lie BebIBd the scenes.
Never before In the history OF the unem-
| ployed has the stage door been beseRed by so
| many applicants from all professions and
grades in life as this season. when SO many
| girls hitherto supported by fathers and
| brothers are Obliged to seek employment. and
when professional women and crsitswomen
cannot find opportunities for self-support in
their own chosen fields OF work. Trained
nurses and professional cooks. teachers OF
long service together with the helpless I'M
trained daughters Of wealth. come together to
the agencies and theatres. seeking histrionic
honor without considering the fact that they
have neither histrionio talents. beauty. nor
youth to recon m end them to favor in an already
overcrowded profession. Mr.. Clement SCOTS
experiences with the intelligent maidens Of
Girton and Newton. reverend mothers OF con-
vents and parochial schools. with shop girls.
curates' daughters. milliners apprentice and
the inevitable English governess. seem perth
nent therefore. to be given to the stage struck
aspirants In America Just at this time.
II you ask me-" Mr.. srott writes. III
would recommend tho stage as a profession
and q career for tho ambitious amateur,
should reply most decidedly no. BY amateur
mean girl whose parents have nothing and
never had anything to do with the stage. The
children OF actors and actresses are excep-
lions. They may be left safely to follow their
own inclinations. which. In nine cases out OF
ten. directs them to the stage. They have
lived in the atmosphere OF the thea
tire all their lives They have been as
Robertson says nursed on rose pink and era
died In properties They never came to any
harm. They have had the dramatic measles
and whooping cough: they have been vacci-
mated out OF the rouge pot; they have to earn
moi In 4h an I'M to Of fNnN,.
they are always wide awake. Make the girls
students or Rovernesses. or marry them to
come hack to the stage like ducks to water.
Make the boys oarristers. or SOLDIERS. or doc
the stage door ike prodiTais - WIN Oa'A -
But with such as these | am not dealing:
1 am dealing with the amateurs.
First, then, the stage Ia overcrowded with
novices. Actresses OF great experience and OF
admitted talent are at this moment breaking
her what q cruel pro.essior his The very in
slant that a, girl loses her good looks, or that
the actress is virtually Put on the shelf. The
greedy public prefers beauty to intellect The
the struggles and espar Of the actress out q
agencies and observe for yourself what the
bitterness OF disappointment is A procession
reach from St. Paul's to Charlng Cross
Rlrl II exposed 10 hucn lnSldlouS and hidden
dangers as that OF the stage. The modesty
that IL the brightest Jewel in woman's crown
with. girl who has been brought up in refine
msnt must experience bit Of a shock when
che is compelled 70 share a dressing room
panion. but with several of whose habits and
LANGUAGE she must be unfamiliar. OF course.
this 10 q shock to modesty. but OF necessity the
shock beeomes less every day. The young
actress must grin and bear IT,, She becomes
dull and hardened. poor child i is AZ
frivolous conversation that she hears
goes In at one ear and out at tho
other But 1t neither goes In nor comes out
Without imperilling NJ odssty and Innocence
The young actress cannot afford to be prude.
Her royai path 20 progress and success is not
smoothed by reticence and self respect. She
would not get on by making q fool of herself
She must not be offended II the leading man
raps at her dressing room door and says Are
you visible No! Well, put something on,
for want TO talk to you about business All
this no doubt Ia very harmless: but II the girl
has no moro than this to contend against she
Is very lucky.
The man who has lost caste Is the great
danger in the path of the girl who has lost the
initial sense Of modesty. No, girl, however
stage struck. will find her ideal OF noble life
behind the curtain OF a theatre"