The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08
A GIRL IN THE CHORUS.
she Is in No Danger from the "JOhn-
Mes If She Doesn't Wish Ii.

mics" If She Doesn't Wish Ii.
New York Evening Post.
This account OF the present-day chorus
girl, her ambitions and temptations, is
given by one who speaks from what she
knows, and OF course from the point Of
view or the chorus:
Between the old-time and the modern
chorus girl the difference IS marked. II
used 70 be exceptional to find one un-
der thirty years OF age, and grease palntl
Epangles. and electric lights were supposed
70 cover all the neglects OF nature IN the
way OF beauty, but that day has passed
indeed. II Is most exceptional 70 ma
young woman as old as thirty nov In any
nrst-class production. So many pretty girls
there are and so young, In every snow,
pretty ones. but rather the ugly ones. The
era of spangles and cheesecloth mas
passed. and to-day the chorus girl Is ar
rayed in gowns OF the best material ana
nake-silk stockings, tights; and gloves
and her shoes are always made 10 order.
In selecting a chorus for large produc-
lion, faces are not always the nrst consld-
Grafton, indeed, many managers note the
figures first. and if the face Is fairly good,
she viii do 1t is amusing to note the eX-
cltement when the manager appears on the
scene 70 choose the girls Tor new company
lie moves through the crowd there are
oIJen three and four hundred), touching
this that one on the arm or shoulder,
making pleasant remark TO one, a sar-
Castle remark TO another greeting an
olo timer with a laugh or JOKE, ana Hndlly
Oisappears-this Is the signal Tor the rest
4 90 and those he has chosen to gather
around the piano TO have their voices tried.
Inis trial depends on the manager. some
make II 4 farce, in fact, often cut II out
entirely.
"A musical production with a large
enOrus always rehearses from four to eight
Nteks-tnls means repetition OF music
twice and sometimes three times day,
tfes0me steps To practice and marches that
Keep the girls ON their feet for hours and
"
lowed 20 draw In advance during rehear-
ha-s FINALLY comes dress rehearsal night,
tHd all its wOrries-sOmebOdy elses dress,
the wrong trights, misit shOes-girls often
Eear shoes too small for them at dress re-
hedrsal TO stretch Them and frequently
iolnt from the pain-this last rehearsal Of
Ten lasts all night, and principals and
chorus mingle IN the scramble for sand
Nl.les and coffee between the scenes 80
The average chorus salary Is SIS, with
a. stage shoes sometimes four and five
PAIRS, stockings and gloves deducted SO
--tuCh each week, II desired The snow
60 often has one costume 10 buy, costing
.tCm Sl0O 20 $3.50. One can readily see that
t-e cHorus girl does not make any money
eii-esS the show has run, with these ue-
elcuuns from the first few weeks salary
Chorus life Is not necessarily an IN III
moral one. 1t offers few temptations 10 the
goCnS woman of good common sense no
more temptations than other callnss, dho
the evil associates tend TO disgust rather
than attract The stage door johnnie never
botners girl once he IS shown ne Is no., not
does 50 OF her own accord. College boys,
Particularly are not insistent, and the
easiest fellows in the world 10 ihdil@s
lee actors are not so attractive When you
know them
The stage-door mother though not as
much In evidcnce here as IN Europe. -
SUI well known. There are two dislincI
sPes-the one dowdy and GRABBED. VINO LVo
pes the young man, and the other VINO
openly encourages him TO meet het LIE Ia1 tsbo
Ter The theater is no place for girls Wt VII
cannot take care OF themselves, ana the
mother he's no right at the stage uoOr
whatever
The real tempter both on and on the
Stage Is the girl friend. she il is VINO pro-
poses dinners. suppers. etc--tells you noM
wealthy 80 and so is, OF the Princeiy pres.
ents ne avished on so and so, ana tha'
she knows he would just give you any
ming you wished. IL you only joined hlii,
httle. This friend Is generally KNOWN
ds good fellow but 10 her can De
charged the misfOrtunes OF many Dts t u =
shDltiOus-perhaps too ambitious-siitns.
sometimes she means no harm, Dut INC
,Mlse girl does well 70 steer clear OF hei
invitations.
Ehe young woman who Is finally pro-