New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05
RISKING THEIR LIVES.
THE AFFECT TERROR OF GERMAN ACT.
ORs AT THOUGHT OF AMERICA


Heinrich Conred, who goes to Germany and
Austria every summer to get actors and singers
for the Irving Place Theatre, was talking the
other day about those whom be had secured for
the coming season. He was speaking In calm
and even a complacent way when suddenly his
brow darkened as II he had caught an actor who
did not know his part at the last rehearsal
"you wouldn't believe he said that any half.
way intelligent people could be so ignorant az
those German actors about America. Why,
thev think that in America you have to 20
around with one hand on your pocketbook and
the other on your watch. And as for getting
here. Risking their lives they call 1t. They
get three or four times as much pay as they do
at home. but It Is with the greatest difficulty
that they can make up their minds to risk their
lives Every one Of them makes his last win
and testament before he starts. and then they
say goodby to everybody AMI make up their
minds that this is the end Of every thing.
II found a good musical director in Austria.
leading the orchestra and composing music
which became the property Of the theatre on q
salary of $50 marks a month. l said to him:
How do you live on THAR Your meals must
cost you as much as three marks a day. don't
theyT
Yes he said, they do
THAT makes 90 marks q month, l said.
| that leaves you only 60 marks a month for "
rent and clothes, and everything else. Nov.
suppose you come to America and get 20
week. You can get a room and board To- $40
a week. and that leaves you SIS a week, more
than your whole salary here. for other purr osea'
HE scratched his head and thought That Is
all very we'll for my food and Clothes he aid.
but what am to got for risking my feT And
he wouldn't come on those terms. They now
nothing about living In the comfort that people
of the same sort do here but after you have told
them all about that and have offered them three
times the pay that they are getting. they think
they ought to have a great deal more FOR risk
ing their lives.
when 1 told them that I had crossed the
ocean seventy times. they said: oh. that il
all very we'll for you. After you have r.sked
your life once, 1t doesn't matter to you. but II Is
different with US"
There was my new prima donna, Mme Ko-
paczl had many talks with her and he hug
band before could persuade her to sign a con
tract Finally I induced her. and signed tn
contract myself and was waiting for her to
sign. when ALL at once there a terrible row
in the next room, screaming and weeping and
grooming What Is the matterr / cried. Is
there anything the matter with madame?
But II was only an hysterical At. brought on
by the thought that II was settled and she
must come 70 America. Very WELL said to
her husband don't have her sign don't want
her 20 sign when she Is In such a condition
Wait while; talk 1t all over with her. and let
her sign when she feels better about It
I'm the end she did sign. and the next morn
ing came a message from her husband: After
a sleepless night and long talk with my wife.
we have decided that we cannot come 10 Amer
lea The risk Is too terrible
Then replied that had given them plenty
Of time 70 consider and they had weighed The
whole matter thoroughly before she signed tn,
contract, and that now that she had done SO
could not allow her to reconsider. | must hold
her TO her contract. Then they tried 10 MAJ.
out that the contract was not legal. because II
was made out on common piece OF writing
paper instead Of the regular blank. and on.
But about that time Nine. Sorma. who was here
with me last season. came TO town, and shs
called on Nine. Kopaczi and told her all ab. Il
America and the journey. and then she mt
some Americans and some more Germans who
had been here and knew the Irving Pace The
ire and they all told her how lovely 4, vas. 8
at asst she decided 20 come. ana signet for J
contract and felt better about IT,"