The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-03

ceive a specified number OF spools OF silk
with which to make the garments. AS a
usual thing, the empty spoUls have to be
that the silk has all been consumed In
the work, but in this instance 1t Is not
required, end from time TO time full
spool OF unused silk Is left over. The
women save these spools until they have
accumulated dozen, when they sell
them to dress-msker, who in her turn
Is glad TO buy them at couple of cents
reduction upon each spool from the ordi-
nary price.
Tucked away in dark, cold and cherries
hall rooms, garrets, and even cellar-like
easements in tenements are scores OF
women who were formerly more or less
important actresses. and who now go out
by the day to earn barely servants wages
as mothers helps or dressmakers' assist
ants. An ex-actress died suddenly in New
York recently from an accidentally taken
overdose of some deadly medicine. She
was not much over 30 years OF age, and
seven or eight years ago was leading
lady OF such ability that she supported
stars with her name in big letters follow
ing theirs on the bills. For some time
prior to her death she had been doing
theatrical dressmaking with her sister.
Behind the counters of some Of the
metropolitan dry goods establishments
are men and women who at one time
figured more or less prominently on the
boards; but there are not many OF them
thus employed, as for some reason the
profession usually seem to detest the dry
goods business.
The most fortunate among these COM
pulsorily retired players are those who
had trade before going on the stage. An
actor who used to star at head of his own
company had as youth been an appren-
tice to a bricklsyer. He lost all he made
theatrically. Since his retirement he has
been earning. good living ct his trade.
certain young sign painter got stage
struck and managed to make his way to
the footlights. lie never rose beyond the
rank OF walking gentleman and married
q walking lady, Their present source of
livelihood does not necessitate much pc
destrian exercise. He has taught his wife
his old trade, and together they paint
signs in n small room at the back OF a
little stationery store in Harlem. He
skjrmishes for orders, while she lays In
the backgrounds fer his fancy lettering.
A most pitiable case of decayed genius
came recently ID the knowledge of the
public. A man is well known in a su-
burban neighborhood as being handy at
odd jobs. sucn as cleaning horses and sta
bles, shoveling snow, attending to furn-
aces, scrubbing kitchen and cellar floors,
and polishing windows. He is grateful
for such poor perquisites as cast-off
clothes, and sometimes will even ask for
food. As no one can ever induce him to
tell his real name, he is always called the
Professor, probably because there Is a
something about him which is indicative
OF his having seen better days. He is tall,
slight, graceful In his movements, and
must have been good looking in his
youth. Poor tatterdemalion that he is,
his face Is always clean and smooth
shaven, and the moment his work is over
he makes haste to attend to his HANDS,
which, in spite of his labor. are white and
we'll shaped. "A few days ago lady set
him to do some garden work preparatory
for the spring. While he was busy in
tnat toll which some one has wittiiy said
requires "a cast-iron back with hinge"
the lady's husband passed by him with
visitor going toward the gate, disputing
as they we1t about quotstion from
Shakespeare. The Professor overhearing,
suddenly raised his tall form snd said:
"Excuse me, gentlemen, but neither OF
you is right. The quotation is'-so and
so.
This so surprised his hearers that refer
ence was made TO the immortal William
himself, and the Professor was demon
strated exact TO O word. This circum-
stance confirmed a feeting Suspicion
more than once aroused by his manner,
OHt lu nlS
hts trim finger nails, his smooth shaven
face, and lastly his unexpectej knowl-
edge, so the lady taxed him with having
been an actori lie admitted ii, and show
ed several old letters OF engagements,
numbers OF laudatory press notices, and
tattered playbills galore in which his
once well-known name appeared in prom
Trent characters.
Then she rememt cred him well, for
many time in crowded audiences in
frst-class theaters she had heard that
rich sonoorus voice rolling forth the COM
manding words OF the King in "Ham-
let," Master Walter in 1.-THE Hunch-
back" and similar roles, holding his
own well with distinguished stars OF a
not remote date. Two reasons, he said,
had brought about his present degrade
ton. The first was the falling into desue-
tude OF the legitimate drama; the second,
the almost complete usurpation of the
American stage by the alien element.
Down, still further down clipped
the old-school actor, until at last his
feeble clutch upon even the outer edge
OF the boards gave way altogether, plung-
ing him into that deep dramatic pit of
has beens from which none craHls out
and resumes his old standing.
youth he said, sis every actors
stock i'm trade. 1t Is OF shorter duration
in our calling than in any other, but In
the days of stock companies the loss OF
youth did not also mean the loss OF live
lihood. When the Juvenile man begsn
to flesh up or to age he merely changed
his line OF business. From the lovers
he glidef into the heavies. from them i'm