The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
MRS. FIsKE ON THE THEATER.
Room on the Stage for Genius, but Not
for MedfOcrity.
New York Tribune.


"Apropos of the Tribunes discussion of
livelihoods for graduates said Mrs. Minnie
Madden EiSke, Il would say that the stage
should, Of all things, be the last resort OF
any young woman who simply wishes to
earn bread A young woman may. with
legitimate hope, study medicine, dentistry,
architecture or any of the professions into
which woman has successfully been intro
duced with the breadWinning idea, and even
with expectation of distinction; but the the
alter presents different aspect. Success in
any phase of art necessarily implies a spe-
cial aptitude in the student. Who would
recommend painting or music as special
vocation to a young woman who did not
disclose a natural bent for either?
There is nothing in the theater to en-
courage a woman who has not natural quail
ifcations for it. Genius is welcomed on the
stage when it has manifested ITSELF but
even genius must be ever alert ever indus
trious. Talent too. is welcomed but often
1t has to wait long for its best opportuni-
ties There is no place in the theater for
medocrity. The mediocre already crowd it,
and stand waiting in a multitude outside.
In other professions when the student has
qualified, she may much easier make a be-
ginning. The painter may produce, the
physician practice, no matter how humbly
at first, and in the other professions a skill
that has developed under professional eyes
will generally find employment
Infatuation for the stage is widespread.
Many young women of education, conscious
mainly of merely physical fitness, aspire
to the theater. There is, of course, de-
mand for simple beauty on the stage, but
vehicles, and promises nothing for the flu
ture. On the contrary, the future is dis
tinctly discouraging to it, for when beauty
is gone and the woman has nothing else to
commend her she joins the multitude of the
unemployed
"A young woman with marked appetite
for the stage usually finds some medium
for introduction to professional notice. Good
amateur work generally attracts attention.
While dra matic schools lack, from the ma
ture of acting, those methods that are nee
essary in schools that deal with exact prin-
cipleS, they are undoubtedly beneficial to
pupils. They are generally conducted. l
understand, by principals-some of them
actors of experience-who discriminate as
to their pupils. They do not undertake to
instruct those who show no fitness for dra-
matte work. and their graduates. when
worthy have some opportunity to find en-
gagements. as they show what they can do
at special performances Which managers
attend. Many young women no doubt have
been rebuned by managers to whom they
have applied for a trial engagement This
is to be expected, because the offices of
managers are besieged by aspirants for
beeYe the II no oeoos Of the stage Are
moral as those in any other walk of life.
Morality is a matter Of individuality. Rec
titude may be preserved in the theater as
in other places. The life of the stage has
hardshipS that are unknown to people set
tied in homes. Constant travel under try
ing conditions does not conduce to happ-
ness or sweetness of temper. but the wona n
who respects herself, and who has the
character and the well-directed ambition
Inal Woulu assist nef 10 success III Olnef
fields where hard work Is essential, may
survive all the hardshps and the so-called
temptations of the theater.
This as a whole, you may say, presents
discouraging prospect to the June young
woman who is seeking a vocation and
whose eyes, perhaps, are turned with more
or less longing to the stage. The truth viii
not discourage or in any way affect the one
who is determined to be an actress and who
has in her the ability to become one. But
there is one discouraging feature of stage
life to-day upon which ! have not touched
] refer TO conditions which may be transit
tory, but at the moment they seriously EN-
barrass all matured art in the theater OF
this country and tend TO stifle all art in
embryo. The stage of America is con-
trolled and dominated by a commercial
trust that has already worked disaster and
that promises an absolute stagnation of art
This influence is evil and its operations are
founded on injustice AS William Winter
writing of this influence, has said The
stage exerts great influence upon society