The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-11-08

THE DEBUT OF ONE GIRL WHO WANT
ED TO BE AN ACTRESS.


stnge In shame and Dismny.
There's a very large number Of per-
formers-woud be and others-who are
given trial performances" in the vaude-
vile theaters to test their ability to suit
the patrons. Sometimes these are given
In public without previous notice ON the
programmes, but generally for the man
ayers eye alone.
A very pretty and ambitious young girl
had quite an experience in this way last
summer.
"You know how poor we were" she
said to me when had coaXed her to tell
of her debut, "and how large every dollar
looked. All my friends had praised my
parlor recitations as being very fine, and
so | thought l might rs we'll see il /
couldn't turn my talent to some account.
IL applied to six vaudeville agents.
None of them cared for what did, but
they all offered TO have sketch written
for me by different men whom they
recommended-in their employ, ] after
ward learned.
''rhs would require from $25 to 500 as
n starter and as this was out of the
question they all dropped me like a hot
potato. Thus l never got near the prom
inent vaudeville managers at ALL
"But kept at it, and at length met
manager who, after hearing me,
agreed to let me go on that night un-
announced, except by the sign Extra
Turn which was pushed out for the
audience TO see.
"If suited, was to have S25 week.
TWENTY-FIVE dollars month would
have seemed splendid, and in great
state OF excitement rehearsed my music
with the pianist, who tried to iiirt with
me, and rushed home to carry the good
news and fix up wardrobe for my three
recitations.
Il was to make my appearance at 8
o'clock, but | got behind the scenes as
early as Z, with my sister as dresser.
Oh, what state of excitement we were
inr
"The tip seemed to have gone around
that was an experiment, for received
many quizzical glances from the perform
ers, who were made up and attired as
negroes. hod carriers, acrobats, SOU
brettcs, clowns, dancers and the like.
AT $40 the manager tapped at my
dressing room door and then entered. He
sat down without removing his hat and
sized me up rather sourly.
"'You're never going to wear that
skirt. are you| he asked.
"'Ycs, sir. Why not?"
"'Oh, it's too long! You've got to hit
'em when you first come on. Cut about
three inches off that skirt, and you'll
have it right
1--WE were both distressed and indig-
nant
al shouldn't like to do that falter-
ed
You'll have to do good many things
you don't like if you're going to stay in
this business he said shortly as he rose
to go. L know my audiences.
"Then he went out.
Lets so home said my sister, whose
face was now very pale. This is no
place for you
"'What could earn here in n week
would pay our rent for a month"; said
firmly. "Get the scissors, needle and
thread Then, despite her remonstrances,
turned up two inches of the skirt
stitched it and put it on. Then looked
at myself in long mirror
"'You look lovely sighed my sister,
but. oh, I'm so ashamedr
$50 was l, but | felt that I'd rather
face a friendly audience than an un-
friendly landlord, so up stairs / went and
stood at the wings waiting my turn in
an agony of nervousness.
"a tall pretty contortion dancer had
just come off the stage and lay pantiGg
for breath ON 4 mass of old carpet She
smiled family and asked between her
gasps:
"'Dancer?
81 shook my head.
"'You can thank God for that she
whispered. for it means death. I've got
consumption
Here the stage manager came up.
Your turn next he said. when those
"knockouts" get through. They take
two encores. This is their last
"Oh, the agony Of waiting for those
men to finish and the fear that they
would! How they worked! They knock
cd each other down with barrels, pulled
noses, cracked each other over the head
with tin trays, trippcd and fell over each
other and staggered off past me in a
state of wreckage and perspiration that
was dire to see.
"Then | saw the page draw out two
signs and put in two others. Then my
music sounded-it seemed miles away
and the stage manager gave me gentle
push.
"That's you,' he said Go on, and
don't be afraid. Throw it at 'em hard
mo criminal going to execution ever
felt as | did when ] walked out among
those people.
''There was a smart round of applause.
"'That's for the short skirt | thought
and felt like sitting down in shame. |
reached the center of the stage in some
way-oh, how can actors and actresses
fight for such an uncomfortable posi-
tion-and, fixing my eyes in self defense
on the pianist, began my recitation.
81 was vaguely conscious that the man
of music was accompanying me and nod
ding and winking encouragement at the.
same time My voice sounded faint and
far away, and felt myself wondering if
/ should ever recover from this horrible
experience Then the futter Of pro-
gramme distracted my attention, and my
eyes fell upon the front row.
'There sat four people whom | knew
very well indeed-people who had fire.
quently called upon us in better days.
They were looking at me and my legs in
amazement and horror, then disputing
with each other and referring to the pro-
gramme.
"The words died on my lips, and !
rushed Historically from the stage, seized
n cloak that my sister was holding for
al Il. -.