New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-29
THE ACTOR ON THE ROAD.
HOW HE EATS. SLEEPS. DRESSES AND
TRAVELS
,Sc,nrxrs GRAVE AND GAY THAT ROD LIFE or
ITS MoNoroNY At LEAsT-THlNGs
NOT ON THE BILL"

,,orce a,a the daily scenes OF his existence are
not as brightly ulum.ned as the surroundings IN
which ne is vi we'd by the public The c"'Hhs Oh an
actor takes 20 .n;o strange places. ana * Is
natural I'm rowing life it presents experiences
varied r. rot always pleasant Successful payers
whose tours on the road are confined TO large CUES
are usually able TO find fair degree OF COM
fort h,,, there are few Of these who az some Time
or another have not had 10 endure the Ncssitudes
O, one night stands with queer hotels. queefer
boarding houses and theatres I'm which every Sue-
eesfion 81 comfort Is lacking
II is a peculiar fact that when an ac'oi or a'''cSS
starts on n tourney alone he or she is hKeN 10 I've
almost as helpless as child Checking DaeR"t" =
mystery. md the preliminary details oi UaNeI's
are unknown 10 them. This is due TO the fa'' 'n"'
when the player IS enrolled in comp"hl "'
practically ceases 10 he amt in himself ana De-
comes only one pert Of larger nni'.
THE MAN WHO PAYS THE FREIGHT
Conductors ON railroads have come 20 recognize
This fact and when the man I'm the blue coat anu
brass buttons passes through the tram %" VIM !"
theatrical company t. travelling ne a0''P'9 "
roll Of the head and The word company as d"
assurance that before he finishes ms rou"D ne
Will find a man who carries tho tickets for an Inc
latter is known as the treasurer or business man
aso- - the company and he relieves the actors
OF responsibnty by buying al the ucNe'S an"
hooking out FOR The various details or the "ii.
The advance agent makes the terms WIN tue
eorera, nasscncer agent and sends back memo
rorarn, from which the treasurer knows how much
the tickets are 20 cost and all other necessary oe
tails The agent also finds ont the rates az NV
varlous hotels and boarding houses when 'ale' -
Tho calling and these are posted on the 'a"ooaru
n, the theatre I'm the preceding town so mar 'he
o,,ors can make I'D their minds beforehand where
they VII stay .
Before reaching the town the property man goes
n each member % the company ana hhuS O"' '.'o
oadress ~ his abiding place. that the trunks
~
previously attended TO the collecting ana checking
~ the trunks so that all the actor has TO 90 j. 10
see that his trunk Is packed on time IN one "'si''
stands the actors frequently carry only one u""N'
which contains ho.h the stage and street "ar"iouc'
In e,ch casas the handsome leading man VINO
-. g.. ,.,,.,r we'll on Sunday IS likely 10 take
his way to the hotel or train on Saturday night
carving under bis ann bundle con'""ns "
s,arcbcd shirt ana the various accessories OF Ms
street sarb.
HOTEL VERSUS BOARDING HO' 81
In every ,arge city there are one or more theat-
r,-al boarding houses They are paironzen 10y INC
ork and file but the best known PLAYERS as a
A. 49,, r., ~ them stu some of these. IN
,nenorv Of earlier days patronze the hulnD'e
boarding house in preference TO the MOTEL eoi'c
do so in a spirit ~ economy. The Keepers Of some
of the best known theatrical boarding houses nav
boen PLAYERS who. tired Of the uncertain ne ~
~ -o,a have settled down to the grind or cater
49,, -, ,heir old associates In some cases they
ra,o COVE INFO the business a makeshft "hne
waiting for a good engagement when never '''"s
" . , ,s,,ouc
The keeper Of a theatrical boarding house us"".S
knows her clients well Sle enters sympa'he''o""S
into their lows and woes and with players coming
and going all the time she Is never al loss 'o'
gossip with which 20 regale her guests.
THE LANDLADY's TREASURE.
--n, Contra table I'm the parlor Of the theatrical
,oars,rr house IS usually adorned by an album OF
red plush which IN rs turn Is adoiheu VIZ" ,rn
faces OF those who are patrons OF 'he nous
mantlepiece holds pictures OF the Ia'iU''1' 10
az. so,,hret,e or possibly OF her daught'I' VINO ,
80 ,-,uiiv is .gn the profession No' an '"o
lar0lse,es are kim hearted. There are some SUE,
boarding houses I'm which reposc the ~aluiU.' Teo
mimic kings ana qlceihss T in he dead of night.
living their trunks behind them 80. tho
Nv r Queer tninrs The actors find on the road I'm IN
some Of the small towns 'ne uca''f :, &C. no, an
s,iansor o nh, ,binp for ali OF the men of company
be Obliged 10 use 0nI aT,H actor who played
IN and e,iccoesful season in New ork WIS
lG.S m ,.r I'm several small California towns.
o ma ers, of hes IL was found that the sceneIA
&c The production was too large Tor me h S, CON-,
ne td "a ~ ,vo n,f. one representing the exterior
Of ii log cabin and me otheT k E@na and the
ontraast Of me actresses' elaborate gowns Wl t
the dingy scenery was worth going 10 r Se in
s ,ne w Fsa' a cans ed WITH With ReTosene
,,,reets.l r.>.D-p DIFFICULTIES.
DlSfSSlNN ''>I'-'' ,,,
Nine Of the mon dressed I'm one room ""',m
,.. ,,, crowded ,,. three There was only
"oul' nave ". ~" . ,..yoa ~ tho wood
one looking glass ana 'n"' was '',' 80 49, only
partition in such position as 10 De OF "S o"'
,o, o,o .,o,d an q chair
When one N'"'' o' " ''' ,r, .ore cook
There was NOT oven lamp. me a''"'S '''N
turns I'm holding up a candle so that the max up
-, T., 49,. o r,o ,,,rrer had TO 20 through
coNiu "' l''. '' ' W ,.,lo ,or+ ~
similar masssaT o ana 5 ge Tg on the stage their
toilets were as fresh anu ne -. -, ora bic
ineZ naH Dee" P'' '' '''''
condlNois ,. ., aro . NIGHT and IL IS Gus
! ne d' ~'.N .. t4s Gunner after the play
IomSIY i"r .I'" u. ,e,,lar meal rs prepared
III ID" iai. 'i 49,, = , ,slle a'hoe al which
nls 'an.S oa Nv avg ,he OCCASION is looked for