The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-04

one. Paragraphs filled to bursting with
tho most fulsomo laudation wero fairly
Dclchcu forth mt our quiet citizens in cach
Issue of tho papers
And tho cause of 1t ALP
had played Juliet.
AS the cditors-thnt triumyirato of in
falliblc reilectors of public opinion-had
been unanimous in saying that I gave
promise of cclipsing Mary Anderson, and
that my methods closely rcscmbled those
of Adelaide Nelson, consulted INV
friends, took the few dollars I had man.
aged to save from tho pittanco which
earned in tho factory and started for New
York with the serious intention of secur-
Ing manager to star mo in tragedy
just think of it'll
had oven determined that my salary,
with the percentage of profits, should
never fall below $3.50 week That was
to be made u portion of my contract In
fancy could sec myself ut flno hotel TO-
cciving the cards of obscquious managers,
all anxious to disprovo tho oft itcrated as
sertion that there is not n fno tragetlienne
in America.
The first feature of this picture was
verified. I went to tho fine hotel-staid
there one day, in fact, at cost of nearly
IS. Then, as the newspapers of New York
mad Tor some unaccountable reason failed
10 become aware of my presence in the
city, and ms 1t was possible that their ig-
norance might continue, 1 concluded to
rctrcnch. 1 began economizing by going
to theatrical boarding house where tho
stipend is 50 week for little box of O
room; about six yards lin strips) of do
Jected looking, moth stricken, oncc-was-
brussels carpet; perfect washbowl and
an imperfect pitcher; Il small looking
grlDSS from I'm af I
had boon frightened; wooden bedstcad
with mattress apparently of tho Same
material and one pillow, sectionally filled
with the stuff concerning which the youth
who through an Alpine village passed.
whilo 1.-THE shades of night werc falling
last had so much to say with so littlo
provocation.
Since then have been dovoting all nv
leisure moments, and there have been
many of them, TO the study of-cconomy.
started out to SEQ tho most prominent
managers; tho smaller ones I had deter
mined to ignore. Tho former must he an
exceptionally busy lot of men, for in re-
sponsc to my notes sent in by the guard
ians at the Office doors to the effect that
wished to see them to arrange about
starring tour, they all sent word that they
wcrc sorry to have to forcgo undertaking
my management but that they really had
moro on hand than they could we'll ut
tend to. Up to date have not seen one
of the prominent managers.
then consulted some Of the people In
the boarding house, and they advised mo
to go to tho theatrical agencies. concluded
to do so. 1t would perhaps DO better after
all, to begin as the leading lady of some first
class attraction at $50 or 500 a week
and gradually work up into tho stellar
~ -.
decidedly consumptive purse into my
pocket, 1 sailed forth. When had stated
my business to the agent, was told that
my name was not familiar to him. 1 was
incXprcssibly shocked, but whom asked
rs to my experience 1 exhibited tho clip
pings from the local papers with an dir of
authority. as the man read tho corners
Of his mouth began to twitch, his lips OK
banded, and the unfolding monster broke
out in n loud guffaw. was SO mad
could have cried, but didn't.
Tho agent said he had had many similar
cases, but never ono quite so virulcnt rs
mine If wished to register and pay the
very small fec required, it was possible,
though not very probable that he might
get mo OH to play small servant girl parts
Mt $l5 to $50 q week. did not condo
scend to reply to what regarded rs his
premeditated taunt, and I nounccd out
of the office. My experiences st tho other
agencies were much tho same, and de-
termined, after another week had passed
and my pockctbook had acquired an alb
solutcly hopeless look of discourapcment
to return to my native heath. But before
train time / remembered the bombastc
statements ] had made and how 1t was
published that l should never come back
home exccptat the head of n big company,
and determined to stick it out little
longer.
did so and of course got in debt to the
1andlady for board. Each day l was get
ting moro respondent, and gradually ar
rived mt the determination to accept any
engagement in drama or the legitimate
That might be offered if tho salary were
not less than $50 week. But still I was
unable to get anything. Then 1 regis
tered at several of tho agencies. The lady
at the boarding house had by this time
begun to ask me for money, and driven to
desperation by her opportunities and ap-