The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-26
THE STAGE As A PROFESSION
Mrs. Kendall Speaks OF Its Advantages, also
Gives Her Views on Marriage.

Mrs. Kendall Speaks OF Its Advantage, also
Gives Her Views on Marriage.
When Mrs. Kendall submits to the inquisition
Of the interviewer something wholesome and
womanly Is bound to be the result. and when
recently some one questioned her what she
thought Of the stage as o career for women
she said:
THAT is Of all questions the most difficult
to answer. and especially difficult to an actress
who Is supposed by the public to have been
exceptionally successful. love my work with
all my heart. and 1t would seem ungracious In
me to speak disparagingly Of the plank which
has buoyed me up. Still. there Is not an actor
or actress In the world who will not bear mo
out when I say that only members Of the pro-
fession can form any estimate OF the Difficult
ties. tangible and intangible. which surround
those who wish to make their career on the
stage. To some people tho dramatic faculty
is natural. and do what they will
they cannot keep 1t down. STILL take
an ordinary young woman who has her living
to earn and compare what her life will be II
she takes to tuition as an alternative to the
boards. A good governess Is treated as an
equal. for surely 40 woman would put her
children with q governess she could not re-
spect and trust II she is Ill she is taken care
Of. and II need DO may take a holiday. Contrast
oOl " VIM AoS Vi oh NsS ~
constantly thrown out OF en- plovment for
months at a time. and must appear at tho
theatre at the appointed time no matter how
Ill she 10. O I course the temporary salary Is
s saSes.; snS Srs tn isrn lizzie e by he s msn wsens a.
But II the girl falls Ill she often loses her place
altogether. or her understudy. j. OF a smarter
'fThen In England there is little opportunity
for training. for there is no C,onservnt2ire for
study. The would-be actress has no alt"rna-
fiVA hnt To R6t into AS GOOD q theatre AS Rn0
can. and be content II she can get no,hinE bet
II I had my life to begin over again l would
study in Paris. The Conservatoire has pratt
caliy educated the French people where .l:at.
il art. and people should not try to act before
the, S.,g, w9 9S.1 t b.G stS Of ,:iapS TjPs a IN ro s5a ;nast SnerA
las for the qualifications essential to sue
cess on the stage. q certain amount OF dramatic
tant. and good health lie everything. l%.ople
seem to think that an actress is necessarily an
health. whsn tho truth is that al! Of US Who
have made our mark In the world have been
s NJ az. %Sy Is y so. s salsns: can f Ses4 sSe w ysrpis1s
time In wS}ei, the public seesas act reeeTssenss
rehearsals. learning new parts. the costum-
ers. &c. we literally have nc. peace. and even
when we are successful holidays come few and
IN speaking q marriage Mrs; Ksndal says;
two OF a trade always agree in tho married
state. would have a tailor marry o dress
maker. q painter marry. a sculptress. and so
ing shop. and / think It Is q disastrous. thing
when an actress marries q man who takes no
Interest in her success. or when al actor has
to 20 home to y woman who prefers not to hear
tho theatre, mentioned. On the whole. the
most united married. couples l have known
an actress can be 1uite as good n wife and
other as any other woman. rather bet
ter, perhaps. than her more domestic sisters.
for she always has to have her wits about her.
and that helps her In daily life."