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

parent hcartlcssness cast ambition aside
and told tho different offices to put mo
down on the chorus girl list at $40 per
week, but only for operas whore should
not DO compelled to wear tights.
why, you wouldn't get place In 10
years under those circumstances, 4" said tho
agent who had first laughed mt my news
paper notices.
1t was an awful concession, but finally
guiped out: Very well. Include tho
tights" started to leave when no called
mo back and asked if my figure was such
that would feel warranted in appearing
IN tights. told him yes, and that agony
was over.
A few days later received note from
this same man asking me to call. did
SO ana was delighted when no informed
me that he had something to offer me. I
Immediately became of moro Importance
to myself, and in my most dignificd man.
ncr L requested him to explain tho kind of
part was expected to play, whether the
costumes wcro expensive, how much time
would have to be devoted to rehenrsals and
whether should have the opportunity to
understudy the leading lady I also added
that he might mention tho salary.
de replied, with some amusement, not
unmixed with irritation, Tho costumes
arc expensivo'-I started nervously-''but
they are furnished by the management"
1 breathed sigh of relief 1.-The part Is
easily within your grasp" I bowed con-
descendingly. You will not be tho un-
derstudy of tho leading lady" I tried to
appear indifferent. I'm short, tho position
ID that OF an extra woman in q largo spec
tacle, In which you will wear flvo very
problcmatical costumes, and the salary
Will be SO week. Now, do you want it2
II you don't There arc lots of others who
do, but L felt sorry for you and thought
L would give you u chance"
was SO greatly surprised that ] made
several efforts to answer before 1 could
get my lips to franc n most emphatic
No" Then I went back to the board
ing house and consulted with the land
lady. She advised mo to take it by all
means, doubtless influenced by tho fact
that L now owed her n goodly sum. Well,
I took the place, the agent Smiling when
1 told him of the change of mind, and tho
following Monday rchcarsals began.
was disgustcd with tho people whom
met at the thcatcr OH the first day There
were nearly 200, and to say that major
1ty OF them were tough mildly expresses
1T. Tho actors-those who had speaking
purtS-Sccmcu to regard tho extra women
and mon as riffraif, and it must be atl-
mittcu that in many eases this opinion did
no injustice. Even the ballet girls held
aloof from us.
All this was bad enough, but whom the
rehearsal began I became discouraged.
Tho man who was producing" tho picco
and who had charge of everything was q
boor. Ic stood among tho orchestra chairs
and yelled Mt all within tho range of his
vision. He was particularly attentive in
this respect toward us extra women. I
was the object of several of his pleasant
snllics "Thc slender lady with tho black
hair will please not walk rs though sho
wero mt funeral" and tried to smile,
though fear that failed sadly.
After about three weeks of this purga-
tory the night of tho dress rehearsal ar
rived. The stage manager and tho pro-
prictor, angcrcd by scores of mistit shoes
and costumes, gave the air sulphurous
odor with their imprccations against tho
offending tradcspeoplo To make long
story short, tho piece enjoyed only very
short run, and once more found myself
minus an engagement and my SO q week.
1 next became Giving picture" Mt less
than living salary. This gave up when
L was assigned to part in which my figure
was cast to create a sensation with very