The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-18
THE STAGE ASPIRANT
A HARD ROAD FOR MEDIocRlTY TO
TRAVEL.

Ten Times Too Many Applicants For the
Available Positions-How Incompetency
Crowds Merit - Information. For the
'.stagestruck"-Davy Crocketts Advice.
"This thing is wearing me into. the
ground" e..
It was theatrical manager who had
Just dismissed a young woman who had
been imploring him to engage her. q
He was an unusually soft hearted
manager. The average one generally
gives cynical grin and says, Another
girl who wants to play Juliet. "
Words may be futile to stem the
torrent, but just few hard facts may
cause an aspirant here and there to
stop and consider
Here in New York, this seething
Mecca Of the Thespian, the situation is
actually tragic. There are just about
5000 actresses too many for the posi-
tions The pity Of it is the Incompetence
are in many cases crowding out the ca
pable, experienced players. True, the
incompetents sooner or later find their
level, but while they are finding it the
capables are out of positions and the
wolf is putting in his time at their fifth
fight hall bedroom doors, the critics
are guying, the manager is fuming, and
there is good deal of unpleasant fric-
ton everywhere. r..
I know Of one thoroughly equipped
player who has sewed the soles upon her
shoes repeatedly to keep. them on he1
feet while she walked the streets in
search of an engagement Another wash
es her clothes in the bathtub Of her
boarding house and dries them in her
room. Both these women have played
prominent parts in good companies. An
other has lived for some time on one
meal day. These women are fair Of
face-one of them would be called
handsome-and all are thoroughly COM
petent.
The cases Of the young, inexperienced
ones that have come to me hoping ]
could help them are too many and too sad
to recount. They drift into typewriting,
copying and starvation. Many Of them
drift back home. Some, become eek
tras.;" That means they go on the stage
as "guests, or the mob, just to stand
around and say nothing. They must at
tend rehearsals, dress perhaps several
times during the evening and be regard
ed with scorn by those who have speak
ing parts, all for 81 q performance. For
the chance to do this hundreds crowd
the stage entrances whenever there is
call for "extra ladies"
One young woman who made short
starring venture in the west and who is
undoubtedly possessed with talent, COM
bined with the beauty Of face and figure
which make up good stage presence,
came two years ago to New York to
seek an engagement. She was armed
with letters Of introduction to many
prominent managers from Colonel Rob
ert G.. Ingersoll, and the future seemed
rosy to her bright young eyes This in
fuential man, who had seen her act, sent
glowing words to the Gotham magnates,
but not one cf them gave her chance.
She has not stepped upon a stage from
that day to this =
How has she lived? By doing en-
broidery for one of the large wholesale
houses She has brayely kept her self
respect, and she has never given up try
ing. She makes her rounds Of the agen-
cies every little while, and she means
to attain her end yet. She will do it
too. There is no sort of doubt that
such pluck, earnestness and persever-
ance will win. !.
Before the young aspirant who is in
deadly earnest about entering the dra-
matte profession heaven forbid the writ
or should cast one straw Of discourage
ment. .,..--,
There is not only room, but there is
hungry demand, for the actress with a
strong dramatic instinct, brains, appi-
cation and large capacity for work.
Work. I should like to write that
word in capitals foot high.
The work which in the golden age
was done SO well because the gods al
ways saw must come back again to
earth. Until it does there will still be
tears and agony and suicide in the solv-
ing Of the life problem.
If you love the art so that no labor,
privation, rebuffs or hardship can stand
in your way, then you have a right to
think that heaven meant you to act.
Do it though the skies fall.
IF you want to 90 on the stage sim
ply to wear pretty clothes and attract
attention, don't do it, for the end is
dust and ashes
If you want to be a professional"
because you "like the life, - don't do it.
You'll find the life full Of damp and
dirty dressing rooms, dinnerless jour-
neys, ioe cold beds, hard hearted land
lords and absoonding managers
If you want to be an actress because
you don't want. to be a typewriter or
q milliner or a saleswoman and the
stage seems to be a place where you can
earn the most money in the easiest way,
don't do it. There never yet has been
found real easy way for any woman
to earn money. All legitimate work
must mean an equivalent for the dollar.
In getting into this particular "easy"
place and getting out If it you'll find
larger crop Of heartaches, tears aud ago
nies than you ever could imagine would
be compressed into one small life.
IF you think that mediocrity, trifing
and laziness can succeed, let me tell
you that every case Of that sort existing
koday ia propped up somewhere against