The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-03
FORMER FAVORITES.
Actors Who Are Driven to Want by
Loss OF Business.
Overcrowdei Ranks and The Hosts OF
Foreign Players the Gauss,

Theatrical PEOPLE OF all grades, from
the angels or financial hackers of mana
gers down to stage hands, have known
few If any more disastrous seasons than
the now far advanced season OF 1856 IL
seems TO be the climax Of a succession of
adverse years, bearing hard on backs al
ready bent by heavy burdens OF misfor
tune. The failure OF many scores Of ex-
cellent travelling comI anies that vainly
sought support from the patronage once
accorded abundantly by the minor cities
and towns attests that the hard times
from which the country has suffered since
1892 are not yet over. Money Is aot yet
sufficiently plentiful TO permit indulgence
In amusements to the same extent as
formerly. This is in no wise disproved
by the exceptional successes OF few thea
tiers in the principal cities where rich peo-
pie live ana where the large floating pop
ulat ions maintain an abnormal scale OF
expenditure. The present situation Is bad
enough for theatrical enterprises and
those employed IN them, but worse Is to
come, because Presidential campsign
year Is always bad one for the theatrical
business
One reason for the ever er-increasing dis
tress among caterers TO the public amuse-
ment is that the ranks Of the profession
in every department are now overcrowd-
ed, not only by the natural growth OF the
established sources OF native supply, but
also by hordes Of imported performers,
who, as a general rule, remain when they
get here. For the last decade almost all
English stars have brough their own en-
tire companies to this country TO support
them, thus depriving Americans OF
chance o. employment.
Other artists, also, of almost every race,
color and previous condition OF servitude,
have focked to this country, and have
often been preferred by managers to ma
tive performers. The consequence is that
only the comparatively small number
who are in the front ranks are always in
demand. A few others ranging down
ward from this line manage to exc out a
precarious livelihood by occasional Jobs,
but among the rank and fle OF American
professionals the distress increases from
year TO year. Some do not get single job
in an entire season, and so, by sheer ne
cessity, are forced out of the profession
altogether into other occupations. AS a
rule actors are ill-adapted to and care
nothing for any pursuit other than theirs.
There are, however, few notable excep-
tions OF players making success in some
other business. But while most OF them
still hang on to their own, they conceal
their struggles in the poor abodes they
call "home,' and put brave face upon
their sufferings, not only because actors
in that word are also included actresses
are naturally proud, but also because they
know the Importance of keeping up APP
pearances. They are aware that IL they
look doleful and shabby the Inference
will be drawn that they are out of an en-
gagement because they are no longer at
tractive, and, as nothing succeeds like
success, they must at least seem to be at
the head and not at the foot OF the pro-
cession. Moreover, SO long as he can
keep well dressed hope springs eternal in
the actors breast. He is sure that so
long as he can hold on to his wardrobe
he may at any moment seize a job.
Therefore daily he joins the crowd on
the Actors Change, and helps TO swell
the swarm at the dramatic agencies, with
gsily uplifted head and cracking Jokes
with the most prosperous--or the reverse
--of them all. He may feel trifle hol-
low in the stoamchic region, and his
trousers may he fringed at the ankles, but
they viii be newly creased, and his face
will be clean shaven. The womens' plack
pressing, may shine like an old stove, but
their nang and fare will be In the latest
style, while their hats will be so below
cred and befeathered that no one will
catch even glimpse of Black Care as he
rides on the rim behind. II is only when
the players togs become threadb bare, or
he Is obliged to consign them to the care
with the most essential tools of the trade,
he drops out OF IL altogether.
Many among the retired ranks were
provident In their by-gone prosperous
days, and put by something, but, except
in the case OF stars, their earnings were
seldom in excess Of the indispensable out
lay for costumes and other incidentals, so
that few Of them now find themselves in
position to live without an income from
continued employment. Hence one
comes across retired artists of both sexes
In the most unexpected places and pur-
suits
In the list OF the impecuuious are not
included the vast hordes who gain subsis-
tsnce by instrncting pupils in the vari-
Gus notifications OF the dramatic art, as
this is the natural resource of their pro-
fcssion. Being overcrowded like the pro-
fession itself, only occasionally is the
business of the instructor sufiiciently
profitable to put those engaged In 1t in
fiourishing circumstances.
All sorts of strange expedents TO keep
the wolf from the door are resorted TO.
One ex-heavy william OF the melodrama-
tic stage now trudges meekly and uncom-
plainingiy in all weathers through the
suburban districts IS peddler. His
stock In trade consists OF course wooden
socks, mufliers, and mittens. His GUS
toners are farmers, gardeners, conductors.
drivers, and such other laboring men as
do winter work outdoors and require ex-
ira heavy covering for their hands and
feet.
The goods are knitted by his wife, who
not SO very long ago was celebrated for
her winsomeness as an ingenue. While
she has outgrown her youthful slender
ness and frolicsomeness she still could
earn good salary In more mature roles
were the opportunity but afforded her.
She little thought, as she used TO keep
her deit fingers swiftly weaving fancy
work hewteen waits at rebearsals and per-
formances, that she was in unconscious
training for handicrnft which would in
the hour OF their adversely partly provide
livelihood for herself and her husband.
"A former queen OF tragedy has been
for some years past in charge OF the
linen room OF one OF the great netropol-
itan hotels. Almost countless is the
number OF ex-professional, who run
boarding and lodging houses. An erst-
while jeune- premier. the once curled darl-
Ing OF matinee girls, now SHAKES mixed