The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-18
THE PLAYER FOLK.


comedy, in the garb OF villagers usually
on their way to the wedding CT the most
enchanting specimen of femininity in the
neighborhood, or else contribute their
dramatic talents to the intrfcacies Of the
Amazonian march in the various guises
in which it is presented by modern stage
directors.
IN the opinion of some of Manager Per
Iey's chorus girls, the condition of their
companions IL art-not The Chaperons"
companions. it should be understood-is
not exactly what it should be. There have
been numerous cases where trusting
young women have accompanied unrelia-
BE managers to the wilds Of Kalamazoo
and other centres of population and cul-
ture with financial results that have had
a tendency to shake their faith ii MAJ
agyrial promise And too, OF late there
has been 2. disposition on the part Of
some anu sene1ts directors to employ
these volatile young women at salaries
that are not deemed sufficiently large to
permit of the many Injuries that the av-
erage chorus girl fancies is hers by right
Of her occupation Then. there IS the
generally obnoxious but very necessary
stage manager, a cruel exacting, unap-
precietive person who evidently believes
a young girl trying her level best to eIe-
Yate ms stage is merely OF use as tar
get Tor his satiricaI reprirnands.
It is for the purpose of doing away with
these many hardships that the cherrs
girls Of The ChaDerons" have formed a
union, and have sent communications to
their friends in other musical companies
With view to making the organization a
general one. with a membership that viii
incIu,le all of the unImportant members
81 evssy company employing these young
asPiTaats for stage honoFs-for it should
be remembered, all Of the famous stars
Of TIE comic opera stage Of today are
graduates from the ranks of the merry.
chorus Lillian Russell chanted her first
songs as member Of the front rank.
! Lulu Chaser was IN the chorus when her
opportunity came; so was Alice Nielsen;
even little Nellie FCIlis. of The Chape-
rons" company, was one Of these hard
working. UEappTeciated chorus maidens
until week or so ago when 4 vacancy
occurred IN enc OF the speaking parts
and she vas promoted. While. OF course.
, Il Is possible for young woman TO at
tain the prominence Of principal IN a
musical organization without undergoing
the iaboriCus apprenticeship Of the chorus.
still II IS hardly probable and the records
! OF the stage contain but very few in
stances where the dizzy heights were
scaled without the manifold discourage
ments and hardshiPs attendant upon a
salary nf SIS per week
50 three Of Manager PeTley's company
Nellie victoria. Ruby Paine and C5erslda
Malone lac set about u ameliorate the
conditions OF their associates Of the
chorus The first steps toward the or
ganization were taken during the PEIiia
deIpbia engagement and almost the very
first thing this trio Of charitabIy Inclined
/ young women did upon reaching Wash
I ineton last week was 10 hasten 20 the
! Office Of Samuel Gompers- at the head
/ quarters OF the American Federation Of
! Labor. They wanted the advice Of the
/ labor leader as TO whether The Federation
would recognize the Chorus Girls Tnion-
/ The stage mechanics have = labor OTgani-
/ Zation that IS very strong and the sd-
/ vance agents are discussing the advisa-
/ biIity Of forming en- order and applying
| for recognition, and they believe tks
/ chorus girls should have the moral sup
I port. al least Of the labor unions. Mr..
! GOmpsrs was at Scranton attending the
annual convention of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. so his secretary in
/ formed the Members OF The ChapeTons
| committee and would not be back until
this week Inasmuch as Misses Vict0ria
Paine and Malone wiu be in Washington
( during the week. they propose 70 call
/ again on Mr.. Gonpers and lay before hin
| their plan OF organizing the chorus girls
/ OF America. and get his advice on the
| matter
The young women are very earnest ans
/ have adopted q badge and decided uPoT
! white as the eolors OF the order. so il
| anybody should happen 10 notice loi
OF snartIy gowned girls with bunch OF
white ribbon on their coats on the streets
of the Capital during the remainder o.
the week it viii be a comparative SAT-
matter - mentally set them down q:
members of the Frank Periey ChaPeron:
company
James X Hackatt laid of the week be
fore Christmas which is usually dull FOL
strictly dramatic attractions. and tool
this opportunity TO indulge in his IA
vovite sport, hunting At Cambridge, Md
down the Chesapeake-the celebrated
haunt of the canvas back-he found thr
ducks. and although not flying as pIenti
fully as in past seasons owing BrobabL
TO the unusually open winter managed [,
fiji several fine bags Manager Rapley, o
the National Theatre. where Mr. Hacket
will resume his tour next week, has re
ceived q consignment Of game sHficien
to relieve him OF all fears OF famine dur
I ing the holidays.
Mr.. Hackett-s only regret is that hi
wife. Mary Mannering. who is touring
westward IN Janice Meredith could nc
join him on this hunting trip Miss Man
neriug is an enthusiastic sportswoman
and an excellent shot with rife or shot
gun. Last fall she and 8Ir. Hackett wen
down the Delaware after reed birds tn
Blue Her State has very stringent gam
laws. and although Mr. Hackett procure
permits for himself and wife. Mrs Hack
ett's license was made out in the mans Q
Mar Mannering- Just as they were en-
| toying the sport an offieious game wardel
appeared and demanded their permits
Here they are, said Ar- Haeket,
handing out the documents, FOR mysel
and my wife
Bat this here Is made out fer Mar
Mannering.' said the official.
That's all right, explained Haekett
| she is my wife
But this here license says Miss Mar
M5nnering, pusued the warden. with
| suspicious look.
-sOh. that's her stage name, expiaine
| Hackett rather petulantly-
But how can she be your wife whe
she is Miss, persisted the fox
guardian of DeIaware's gaaa- "1oul
have to explain this to the justice, or pa
a fine for shooting under somebody else
license.