The sun., 1897-08-22

her = place in one OF bis companies. She was
to play tho part of a, maid. except at the
more Important would be given 10 her. But She
was to receive no salary. Her expenses wero
M ssSySSs sS as 20
cay
There were many things to happen before the
girl seeking an engagement was finally to lose
tho courage which her hopefulness and egotism
gave her. She answered various advertisements
in the papers calling for the services OF an ac-
tress the advertisers, who did not want to rob
capital. They soon found out that she had moth.
Ing, and her poverty protected her. The con,
slant talk OF the agents was that inexperienced
this girl had to get enough to live on; The
women that sho got TO know all complained
and said that their work had grown harder:
When sho wondered why thrS were engaged
whilc she sat waiting for tho most modest open
The fat woman at the desk IN the inside room
could easily have told her the reason. All Of
them had had some experience. they were all
better looking and they were known quantities.
The presence OF an amstsIr I'd y hHr eohpfny hpt was
Finally, whom the end of her stay had beon
really reached, letter came to her from one OF
the agents She hurried around to tho tat
and the place was deserted; The pni irons had all
gone to Concy Island, and 1t was to this lucky
she had been sent for. The agent had supposed
chance for her to 60 to a seaside resort in New
Jersey at which small stock company had been
play ing all summer. They want somebody for
small part which, by some unusual circum-
stance, was presented In the play in u manner
that made 1t impossible for an actress who was
was the certainty that the girls railroad faro
would be paid, and also her board: but that was
commonwealth " plan. They paid the expenses
and shared the profits, As they had not made
did not % seem probabie that any OF them Would
make u profit that week. The agent read the
letter;
In her manner attributable to tho fact that 1t
was very quiet afternoon. ' Ii YOU want to
likely to make enough out Of it TO pay me Tor
taking the trouble. The part is not much OF u
That whis you have @ been " ee nj III here s"tS for
every day for two months. Now there's a
A great deal of her enthusiasm had left this
aspirant. The money In her pocket was barely
enough to get her home. She knew there was
room and seen other girls succeed better than
she, an ana @ had learned the fact that SO, something
large supply OF enthusiasm was necessary to
success. Beauty, about which she had never
thought Ip the past actually began to pre-,
quality. Formerly sh, had believed that
the melody, OF her voice. as she recited some
enough dramatic genius TO make her in demand
| anywhere But such illusions were leaving her
one by one. There must have been less. persis:
| tence in her than she had thought She declined
the woman's offer. She was startled at her own
courage. Then a sense of relief swept over her
"You don't want 1t r. asked the agent in
astonishment. You don't want iti'
The only answer was flood of tears from tho
girl. But when she lifted her head from her
hands there was brightness in her eyes and she
"""N "No. don't, Mrs. Smith," she answered. land
| I'm so, SO glad that | don't What a fool I've
| been to waste my time in hanging around here.
I might have known that I wasn't the right
II knew it the moment saw you" answered
the agent who Ergot heT , y"n
We'll. It was none of my business. You came to
me to find employment and it is my business TO
get it for people. II advised all the women
| to get out of this business who come to me to be
put into it, would be kept busy in a very un.
think you're right. Tll send out for another
| girl to go down into the country
The girl never began the battle for fame she
was only week ago moreover. that she left
New York. Her cure was complete.
| Nobody knows, said IN agent who comes
into very frequent contact with these begin
ners. :" the number OF young girls who como to
in theatrical COZ Companies. The dlcuity Of It in.
erenses now every day. None OF them seems to
| at the top. They're willing now to get in any
where. Not one in ten OF them succeeds. 1t Is
practically impossible for them to get to the best
| known managers here. The only way OF attract
ing their attention is by threc-ycars' course OF
study in one of the dramatic schools. Then tho
pupils can be seen and the most promising are
able to get opportunity in the best coupa-
nies. But women who have been for five or six
years on the stage just as anxious TO get be-
fore these n,gers as the beginners are These
women. as well as those who are Just beginning,
e s e eW tey anG
have to make some sort OF impression at
that before they are ever heard OF here.
They are just as eager as the beginners TO get q
hearing in town. All over the country these
girls are scattered, and it is only the lucky ones
jority. year in and year out. travel in either one
company or another which may never bring
tres. 1t is to those travelling organizations that
most of the girls who come here to set on the
Those who come to managers provided witt
strong letters OF recommendation may get
hearing but Il they are engaged it is Tor very
small parts. Even great beauty. provided they
! possess il, Will not enable them TO get q salary
Of more than $50 week at the outset. They
which it takes two or three years for them tt
prove that they possess the least talent. 1t is
Of the s1 New 'Sie YORK
know know ,, OF great many Instances In Whicl
season or two. Through the agencies 1t is very
pany. although employment for the road com
age dGbutanto at New York theatre has to g e,
on merely as an extra lady; and stand arounc
without saying word. This experience con
tinues sometimes for several seasons.
~ have q often been asked what becomes OF tn
to make a way for themselves on the stage,
could could only answer the question partly. Most Q
them go over the country, and, some of them
after season or two, leave tho stage, uncs
they are compelled by absoutc necessity to sta.
on ii. They soon become discouraged when 1
becomes plain that They are not likely t
become famous. II they have to mako
living. they stick to II. and arc satisfied
80 long ms they find emplo ymcnt. I saw at
cheap New York theatre last autumn woman
: who has been playing soubrette roles over tn
country for twenty-nine Seasons that people re
member. She Is nearly so now, and not one
during her career has she ever been talked abou
or praised. But she is n hard. working woma
who Is clever enough for what she does. and
rarely without an engagement in the companie
that play In the small towns or the cheap the
, atres. Sho still has career before her In oil
,, woman parts. She is type OF the actresses who
without becoming at all well known, make
good business career for themselves out OF act
= Ing, just AS they would out OF iypewriting o
!, | laundering. But they nre compelled to stick l.
It. Those that undertake it for glory and neve
, find 1t drop out after n few years. without ha,
Ing passed through anything but the hardes
| troubles Of their career"
! AMERICAN CLOTHES WIRING ERs.