The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-16

beauty ana the olSslDcuOn OF an uu piah.h-
ton name to the chorus at the PLAY
House"
She is related to the Lvingstones Of New
York.
BY MRS. CHARLES RUSSELL HONE.
!, Talent should in every case decide the
question OF any woman's going on the stage,
whether she belongs to what Is termed so
| c.ety' or not.
| Unfortunately. this qualification seldom
enters into her calculations.
Love of notoriety too often leads a wom-
an who has met with misfortune to make
a career for herself on the professional
| boards.
Salaries, except for those who are at the
top of the profession, are too small to be
considered an inducement to a woman who
has to earn her own living
The work is always more or less OF a lot
terry.
The earnings of a single week or even a
month are frequently swallowed up in the
purchase OF a single costume
II must be that the desire for fame is re-
sponsible for this remarkable increase in
numbers of well-born women who have re-
Gently gone on The stage.
Most of US are born with this craving for
glory and success, and the little star which
symbolizes so much that is dear to US
wrinkles ever before, sometimes just be-
, yond our reach.
"A rev women. many. III IdCl, are content
with Fame'S tawdry substitute, notoriety.
and IL is these who turn at once to the
stage when work of any kind suggests it
self to their minds.
Besides offering a chance to gain noto-
riety there is still another attraction about
this profession which has no small influence
in the matter of gaining recruits.
The public seems to have invested this
profession with a glorifisd superiority.
A trade, no matter how substantial It
may be, or how well 1t pays, to their minds
stands upon a much lower plane than any
profession.
For the sake Of being counted among
these elect ~personages in the professional
world. some women are foolish enough to
throw away rare good talents in other lines
OF work In order to go on the stage.
They seem to overlook the fact that a
natural dramatic or musical gift is the only
capital that shows an increase In the end.
1t is an excellent rule for every woman to
follow of doing that which she can do
best. If this were put In practice there
would be an astonishing elimination In the
atrical equations.
However. since women possess tastes
which do not always coincide with their
natural abilities 1t is reasonable to suppose
that some influence is at work to attract
them TO the stage.
Granted that this profession, being a pro-
fession. offers unique inducements in the
way of social prestige, there Ia. besides.
the attraction of living behind the scenes
which cannot be found in any other walk in
life.
Greater minds dwell upon the possibilities
of reaching a point where one crearure
sways the minds and feelings OF thousands,
where one name is on every lip where ad-
miration. even alteration. greetS one at
every turn.
I This is the ultimate hope of every woman
who begins a stage career from very love
Of work.
1t is possible TO supplement theatrical
thereby broadening the feminine mind. max
ing a woman's life fuller and more COM
plete than It might otherwise be. \
Though love of notoriety is certainly fore
most in the influences which are tending to
increase stage recruits from society's ranks.
it RAY be said that there are many worthy
and legitimate considerations which sway
the mind OF women in this direction.
i BY MRS. ROBERT OSBORN.
To quote from Tommy Rot" Il can't
understand why any one with money should
go on the stage" It's my opinion that So
ciety women. and all women for that mat
ter. who possess even a small degree OF .al-
ent for the stage. find 1t the most saufac-
tory way to earn moncy-that is. II they
are forced TO do some kind of worS for a
living.
Stage work is comparatively easy. salaries
are unusually good and there is an undeni-
able fascination about the life that proves
one of its strongest cards. / can't explain II
myself, but I do know that in this line OF
work Is to be found LIES greatest pleas
ures, as well as excitements-
/ The most important point IN favor OF
choosing the stage as a means OF livelihood
, lies In the fact that scarcely any prepasa-