The sun., 1897-08-22
A GIRLS STAGE AMBITION.
STORY or ONE L7TEMPT TO GAIN
FIME - IN ACTRESS.

Hsr EonE waiting for an Opportunity - Shew
Her TaIents-TriAIs That Beset Her--Lots or
YounE Womon whose Experience 10 Similar
No Easy Matter to Got on tho stage Vow.
"How did you happen to decide on tho stage =
asked the agent.
She was a stout woman with . business-liko
manner. Sho leaned over the side OF her chnir In
an unsettled way that was meant to show sho
had no idea OF wasting much time on the girl
who was talking to her But the womans face
was kindly In spite OF its sharpness
II had to do something" answered the girl.
"and had actcd some. So decided TO como
here and go into 1t regularly.
"oh, thon, you've had some experience" said
tao agent, and she looked a little encouraged.
what line OF work did you dor
81 played In "A Regular Fix, "A Box Of
Monkeys and Our Regiment 1t was at
home.
The woman expression grew hopeless again.
oh amateur" was all abe said, Then, after q
pause. she added: ~ thought you meant that
you had had some professional experience
NO" tho girl answered, but 1 was told by
everybody then that could do quito well as
q number of regular actresses that had como to
ous city. and, II do say 1t myself, have soon
women who know were not any better. L had
twenty lessons in elocuton. and during that
time learned tho potion scene from Romeo
and Juliet the speech OF Po,tid In tho trial
scene In Tho Merchant Of Venice and a scene
Of Pauline from The Lady Of Lyons, besides
Rroat many pieces. have good memory, and
lhaven't forgotten any OF them TO this day.
know wouldn't be embarrassed on tho stage.
and believe could act II got a chance"
This long speech had contained moro infor-
nation about herself than the girl had yet
given to the agent, who was beginning to think
fhat Aya min ptea ya ahout aa much nlo
could give to this inexperienced applicant. So
she decided to bring tho conversation to an end.
VERY well, Miss ~" she began, I'm take
Your address and see what can do. But don't
know Of anything just now. You see your lack
OF experience is dreadtully in the way. II you
sang could probably get you into the chorus.
But don't want to be q chorus girl" inter-
ruptcd the applicant with more spirit than she
had yet shown. "I want to go on the stage.
The agent hardly noticed this interruption.
She had heard it so often before.
Its the hardest thing In tho world to get
start" she replied. IF you've been to one of
the dramatic schools your chances arc better.
II YOU happen to know one OF the managers or
have some influence the chances arc a great
deal better. Or II you're very pretty and would
make an impression Immediately in that way on
she stage 1t does help you a lot. But Ill take
your address and let you hear OF the very first
thing that seems suitable for you. We won't
talk about salary yet. Theren be time enough
for that when we've heard Of something. Now.
good-by. I'll remember you. What was the
numberi 37s wcsti I've got 1t. Who was
that man that wanted to see mo about engaging
that quartet for that open-air AS You Like 1t,
OF tLonesomehurstf
The girl walked out Of the Office through a
crowd of men and women who were seated in the
Anteroom. She was blushing still. Tho agent s
allusion to her hypothetical beauty. though
made purely for the sake Of argument, had
brought the blood into her face In an instant.
The woman had not even noticed it. The girl
was not, indeed, pretty with anything else than
youth and health. She was Just a nice girl,
with a fair figure and 4 delicacy Of skin and
coloring that would be totally without effect on
the stage. But she had never before been told
that she would have q better chance In life IL
she had been better looking. So her cheeks were
led as she passed through the men and women
waiting their turn to enter the inner eanctum
which the fat divinity occupied.
She was able to observe in spite OF her en-
barrassment that majority of tho women wore
shirt waists and sailor hats while the men had
wholly abandoned waistcoats There wero sew.
eral groups Of them on the sidewalk outside the
building. She had grown familiar enough with
agents offices to know that most of their names
book TO await tho discovery OF something suited
20 them.
She thought she walked down tho street o
the invariaole character Of these visits TO the
agents. She had already seen two women ant
three mon. All OF them had told her of tho i'm
portancc OF some acquaintance with manager
in New York with practically only one OF three O
four managers. They were as inaccessible TO he
as the Matterhorn. No woman in New York eve
~.
Office without very strong iniucnc OF some,
kind; II the doors opened TO all the girls tha
want to go on the stage, there would be
steady stream Of them pouring in. This gir
could think Of no means by which she wa
likely 10 get such an Introduction. There wa
no conceivable relation in her life that led to th
door of managers private office, and the sigh
of frame OF pictures in front of u theatre wa
;he only thing that counteracted the feeling o
When she looked at the woman in the photo
graphs she said TO herself that her poses wer
awkward and her back lumpy. and she though
tor II she only had the opportunity. These lit
This young girl had been for sx weeks in Nov
York, waiting to find the opportunity whicl
tempted to besiege the managers Offices; tina
was too much for her ever to attempt. But sh
picture TO several OF them before her arrivs
here. and it gavo hcr u sense OF being well estat
lishcd when she saw II in plain view. along with
lot OF actors whose names she had neve
heard. But tho exchanges had done nothing
for her. She could have appeared in comic oper
chorus If she had possessed voice But sh
had none nor had she any idea OF taking such
step. She would go home before that. None q
the agencies held out any hope of New Yor
appearance. All they could do TO proms
some possible appearance in travelling con
pany. She had had the experience OF seein
several girls OF her acquaintance started out /
this way. She had come TO know them in tn
. I'm settled at last, thank God" one OF then
stopped to tell her she was entering on
agency "Tm going out with repertoire opcr
Faust to The Chimts of Normandy Onl
twelve a week. but I'm to have u small part o,
casionaly. It's shame you don't sing. | thin
she wants more girls for he chorus-young one
the corner OF tho room"
But ,you'll have 10 wear tights won't you
ask, the other girl seriously.
Why. OF course What i doi I'll tell 20
one thing for your own sake my dear girl:
you want to do any hing in his business. you
have 10 loosen up n little. Wear tightsi VIII!
OF course. DO you suppose they ever engage nj
Tor my voice alnncf We'll, SO long! hope yo
got something"
The girl thought Of the dwindling roll OF bill