The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-01
The THEATRE AS A VOCATION.
CLARA MORRIS ANSWERS A CUES
TION ASKED BY WOMEN.


gentle unknown, l ma thAt tne question
what advantage has the stage over other
occupations for womenf- II asked by q
Mrs. Someone more often than by the more
impulsive and less thoughtful girl writer.
and IL II put with frequency and earnest
mess.
or course, there II nothing authoritative
In the-- answers Of mine nothing absolute.
They are simply the opinions Of one woman.
founded upon personal experience and
observation. We must, OF cour-e. 10 begin
with. eliminate the glamour % the stage.
that strange false lustrc, az powerful a. Il
IL intangible, and consider acting m a prac-
teal occupation. like any other. And then
I find that In trying TO answer the question
asked, | am compelled after all "a turn to a
memory.
had BEEN on the stage two years, whsn
one day I met q schoolmate. Her father
had died and she. too. was working. but
| she was bitterly enyious Of my occupation.
I earnestly explained h demands stage
wardrobe made upon the extra pay ! drew
| tina, In actual fact abe had more money for
herself than | had. Again. | explained
that rehear-als. study and preparation Of
costumes required time almost equal to
her working hours, with the night work
besides. but she would not be- convinced.
-Oh, don't YOU see.' she cried. Il arm
At service, that means Tn a dependent,
I labor for another. You serve. yes. but
YOU labor for yourself and To- she had
placed her stubby little finger upon the
sore spot ia the working womAn's very
heart when shs had OWNED that In tho
indep-nd-nce Of an actress lay her great
advantage over other workers.
OF cour~s this independence il not alb
solute. but then how many men there
ar. already silver haired At desk or bench
or counter. who are still under the au-
thority Of an employer Like these men.
the actresses Independence " compare
tive. hut measured by the bondage 81
oth.r working women, II II very great.
We both have duties 10 perform for which
We receive a given wage. yet there II a
difference The working girl H. expected
tai H. subservient, she L. too often re-
garded "a "A mental. she II ordenod An
actress, even OF small characters. u con-
-idered "a necessary part Of the whole.
She assists. she attends, she obliges Truly
a difference.
Again, women shrink with passionate
repugnanco from receiving orders from
another woman, witness the rarity OF the
American domestic A PITY Yes, but
what els, can you expect' Tn Americans
az ~ uAfIIllfAlflN Jaw fN"F ~ lNAN
made ali classes too nearly equal for one
woman To END her neck willingly and
acc-pt th. yoke Of -eryitude offered 10y
another woman.
And even this IN spared TO the actress.
sincs her directions are more often re-
cpived from stage n or mRnag
than from a woman star. True, her life
l. hard. she has no home comforts, but
then She has no heavy duties To perform,
no hou-cwork, l-.dmaking. sweeping.
- I.- -. q AAH WAIaW
her work il done she is her own mistress
She gucs and comes NJ her own will, she
has time for self improvement. hut hs'-t
of all she has something To look forward
60. There h a gr@t advantage over girls
Of other occupations, who have u a
small chance Of advancement.
Some imTptuour Young reader who speaks
first and thinks sfterward may cry out
thai ! am not doing justice to the profession
Of acting. sven thu. | d~i-credit II. In thus
comparing II with humble and somewhat
mechanical vacations, 80 before ] go fur
Their, little enthusiasts. let me remind YOU
Of the wording Of this present question.
II does not ask what advantage has acting
over other professions, over other arts,
hut What advantage has II over other
occupations for women
A very sweeping inquiry. you see. hence
this nec'asary comparison with shop.
factory and oniCe work. As Ia the other
professions. taking, for instance, law or
Nv NA'lW ~ 49,
he very costly A girl puts her family
To a great strain to pay her college ex-
pen-es. or " some family friend advance.
fund.-. when she finally passes all the dreaded
examinations and has the legal night TO
hang out her shingle. she starts In the race
of lie handicapped With crushing debts.
The theatre u, | think the only place
where a salary - paid 10 students during
all tho time they are learning their pro-
fession. surely a great, a wonderful adj
Nan a. 30 nNCN Dfh.V Manifestations tn - aaf-
sustaining from the first.
Then the arts, hut. ah' life N short and
ART dear Lord ART j. long. almo- unto
eternity And she who serves II needs
help, much help. and then must wait. long
and YEARLY for thu worlds esponse and
recognition, that even N they come. are apt
10 be somewhat uncertain. unless they
can be cut on a marble tomb: then they are
quite positive and hearty. But In the art
~ acting tho response and recognition
come swift as lightning. sweet a. nectar,
while you are Young enough Ia enjoy and
"a make still greater efforts To improve
and advance.
so. IL seems to me the great advantage
~ acting over work ~ ones independence,
ones opportunity To improve oneself. lts
advantage over the professions h that IL
~ self sustaining from the start. lts adj
vantage over tho arts ~ it, swift reward
for earnest endravor
II must he very hard TO endure the con-
tempt So often bestowed upon the woman
who simply serves. ] had a little taste
Of IL once myself, and though u was given
mc by accident and apologies and laughter
followed. | remember quite well that even
that tiny taste was distinctly unpleasant,
yes, and bitter was abroad with some
very intimate friends and Mrs. y, an invalid.
owing tn n mirhap. was for some days with
out a maid We arrived In Paris hours
behind time. late at night. and ven straight
90 our reserved rooms. seeing no one but
some sleepy servants.
Fairly next morning going to my friends
apart ents. | came upon this pi,eous sight:
Mrs. =, who had a head of curly hair, was
not only without a maid. hut Vas also with
out the use Of her hight arm The fans
81 Charco, had brought her 90 Paris
Unless she brcakfarted alone. which shc
hated, her hair must t- arranged. b--
hold then the emergency for which her
husband, Col. p, had boldly. not TO say
rrckle~sly. offered his services
can 80 them nov She. with clenched
teeth of physical suffering and uplifted
eve 81 tho forgiving mari VI, eat In comhing
JACKIE, t-.forr him, AI.i he With the maid'
white apron gir tight about him jus, h~-
Meath his arm piis. had on hrs sold.efly
fac- an e,pr-~-ion - desperate resolve
that suggested tho b-sdins 81 . forlorn
hut- rpw ~ hair pins prctr1dinE sharply
from beneath hi- tightly clo-~d hp-, q
~tortoire shsll tack comb dangling from
one side 20 he full t~ard. wherr he had
- - a.. -. u.aA. NAk. ,.e.ssV