St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-12
Troubles to Go Through at the
Outset.
Washington Star.


Washington Star.
1.-The life of chorus girl is not all
gas and CATERS" said novice in comic
opera to writer for The Star. II have
been in the business just week, and I
find it quite otherwise. To begin with,
have to endure a lot of haziDg from
the other young women. They seem to
look upon me very much as new pupil
at school is regarded. and they treat me
accordingly. 1t is always the same way
with every newcomer, am informed.
Instead of trying to help me along,
the other girls i'll the chorus do their
best to annoy me and lay traps for ne.
They tell me all sorts of absurd things,
SO as to cause me to make mistakes. At
the last rehearsal one of them asked me
to hold big book for her. To do so
interfered with my making certain
gestures, and got scolded for it. which
was exactly what my new friend had
counted on. When we got through she
asked me where the book was. l had
put it down and | went to look for it.
1t was not where l placed it, and spent
nearly an hour hunting for it with much
anxiety. At the end of that time the
owner told me that she had it in her
dressing room all the while. 1t was a
little game-harmless, perhaps, but
calculated to distress stranger.
1.-The other night one of the ladies OF
the chorus was very friendly with ME.
She said that she would like to go home
with me. and | readily assented. As we
went out from the stage entrance of the
theater l saw a cab standing at the
curb. Two men in evening dress
jumped out, and my companion intro
duced me to them. 1t Immediately ap-
peared that they were there by appoint
ment with my friend, who had agreed
to bring along another girl to make a
square party. 1t was trick and trap.
l find that it is necessary to be very
careful in such ways If one means to
preserve ones reputation. At the same
time it would never do to pose as prlg
or prude. The middle course is rather
difficult to steer.
II have discovered that the social
lines of the theater are exceedingly
rigid. They depend not on birth or
beauty, but Oh the distribution of parts.
Ii chorus girl gets anything to say in
play. though it be only single
sentence, she assumes superior air,
looking down upon her companions.
Perhaps she will not speak to them at
all under such circumstances, but will
refer to her dearest friend and chum of
a week before with the contemptuous
words: oh, she is only an extra
When have got acquainted l shall
doubtless find some nice girls in the
chorus, but those with whom l have
come into contact thus far have not been
agreeable. 1t would never occur to one
OF them to give me useful hint. 1t
was man who said to me Qnietly at re-
hearsal the other day: Take care not
to put your hand to your face on the
stage. or you will get scolded for it,
There are jealousies in the chorus,as
well as among the principal women
singers. Girls who have pulp with
the manager are put in conspicuous
places, though they may be ugly and
big also. Big women, you know, look
awkward in the chorus, and for that
reason they are not wanted usually.
They only appear we'll i'll the costumes
of pages, taking male parts. OF course,
it would be somewhat otherwise if
woman were very handsome and finely
developed, as well as large. She would
be likely to have a few words to say;
but that would be different, you see,
because she would cease to be one of
the mere musical lay figures of the
chorus. At the first dress rehearsal
any girl who is found to have bad legs
is bounced right Off. When ] was en-
anatomical inspection. The manager
simply stood at the rear of the theater
while sang from the stage, to judge of
my voice.
II had not been with the company two
days before l was in trouble with the
wardrobe mistress. Apparently she is
parsonage with great power. She
is also terror. For some reason she
took spite against me, and she does
not lose anv opportunity to express it
in words. Her opportunities for annoy
ing are almost unlimited. For instance,
she refuses to put the necessary hooks
and eyes and buttons on my garments,
and she will not permit me to put them
on. That makes my dressing very diff
ficult. found it very hard at first to
get my tights on properly. They would
gather in wrinkles at the ankles; but it
is merely knack. l have got pretty
we'll used to appearing in them already,
though l do not like to see my back view
in the glass. l rather dreaded an attack
of stage fright, but l have escaped it SO
far. The audience looks dark and un-
real to me from the stage.
II have paid So for my box of paints
and ct ceteras for my makeup. The
materials being expensive, other girls
made use of my box, which l left open.
| have learned to put it away. There
is always scramble for towels IN the
dressing rooms. The stage is dusty,
and it is necessary to wash the legs be-
fore putting on tieshings, because the
silk tights would not last very long if
that precaution We're not taken. Ac-
cordingly, towels are always very much
in demand. The men never bring any,
but count on stealing those which be-
long to the girls. We are obliged to be
very particular about our hands. which
must look white and pretty, with nails
we'll manicured. If they get sunburned
they must be painted.
''ln no school are rules more strict
than on the stage. 70 laugh at the
comedians jokes costs a fine of 81 for
each Otfelse; II any person does the
smallest thing wrong during a perform
ance the whole company must go
through rehearsal. Thus an error on
the part of a single individual! makes
punishment for all. Chorus girls gets
| SIS or $50 week while on the road, be-
cause their expenses are large, but
| they do not receive much more than
half that when playing for season in a
city. All costs for carrying trunks are
| betrayed by the management. We are
obliged TO pay for our own berths on
sleeping cars. Consequently we do not
indulge in the luxury except on long
night journeys. 1t is better to sit up
for three or four hours and make up
for lost sleep on reaching the place of
destination. On our arrival in town, a
list of boarding houses, with prices and
so-forth, is handed to each one of US,
so that we may take our choice.
There is certainly d great fascination
about the stage. One pretty girl in our
chorus married druggist in st. Louis
lncf prtt NV
left that city week later she could not
reconcile herself to staying behind, so
she said good-by to her new husband
and started out again. Most chorus
girls have very little ambition, and do
not expect to rise from the ranks. But
mean to be prima donna some day."