Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-13

We at once say 'tNo." But then the Oth- CT side. She will work for a salary that woman who is absolutely dependent on her profession could not possibly accept. So if she is good actress the society girl certainly has great advantage
 But is the fame that one may possibly gain on the stage compensation for one half the tears and heartaches that inva- riably accompany it?
 Just burst of applause, little success, and all the trials and humiliations are forgotten. You may think that humilia- tion is too strong a word, but for girl who has been tenderly raised, no one who is unacquainted with the life behind the scenes can form any idea of the mortif cation she is subjected to. The last years of my school life were spent at the Con- vent of Mercy in Philadelphia, and just four months after leaving there appeared in 8 very small part at the Boston Mu- scum Imagine the change! I had to share a dressing room with four of the ''extra ladies''-women whose conversation would have filled the good sisters with horror and that kept my cheeks and ears tingling with shame for some weeks, and then, though it still ~disgusted me, ceased to be shocked. This is, think, another req son why girl who is not obliged to do so should not adopt the stage. I'm quite Sur0 UudU Uu0 pcIUJ CI1d1S Gu1U do oAC olIllC seem, oh, so big will injure the best dis positions in the world. Those dreadful little jealousies-they certainly do not tend to ennoble the mind. often think of what my grandfather, Colonel Columbus Lee of Alabama, said when one of my uncles told him that he knew he had it in him to be the greatest actor of the age, My son, your remark convinces me that you are fool, but I'll not allow you to advertise the fact to the world" And the poor boy was sent to one of his cotton plantations on the Red river for nearly two years. of ten wonder where he would have banished me to if ho had lived.
 Hard as the life is, however, there is fascination about it so strong that if one attempts to leave she will surely wander back again. After two years l gave it up, thoroughly convinced that nothing would induce me to return. I had been out west during a very severe winter. My mother and went south to visit our relatives. It was my first visit since 1 had left as mere child, and all our connections exert ed themselves to make it pleasant. I re- member meeting Mrs. Cleveland in Mont gomery at little reception given the pres ident and herself by Governor Seay. She was so charming that we were nearly con- verted to woman's rights in order to vote for her for president.
 spent over year in the south, visiting everywhere, and really enjoyed myself very much, when one evil day l received let ter from a manager in New York offering me a very good part. l was in Birming- ham at the time. 1 remember it was just before the Alabama club reception, and my aunt had had beautiful gown made for me for the ocCSsion, but even that could not keep me, aid four days after the re- ceipt of the letter I was in New York and crazy to act again. All the hardships of my last season faded away until they real ly seemed rather pleasant as a change, if nothing more.
 Of course I went back. I could not re- sist the temptation. 1 have been in the harness almost continuously since then, and I presume that l shall remain there until die.
 The stage undoubtedly units woman for home life. Living in hotels all the time, she cannot assume the responsibility of home. Having only to press the but ton for anything you may want, hardly having to think for yourself, one really gets so lazy that one does not want the trouble of thinking. At least that is my experience. My mother who is nearly al- ways with me, thinks hotel life the most horrible trial of all the many we have on the road, and she thinks the society wom- an who, without being forced to it by pow erty, adopts the stage as profession is a very foolish individual. That, by the way, is also the opinion of LEE LAMAR.