The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-20
FROM ONE WHO KNOWS
4 YELL KNOWN ACTRESS
TALKS OUT

Her Own struggles in u Manner
That suggests the Truth-fIer Pres
ent Condition Happy.
If the stage struck girl would only
ask the moderately successful and not
the very successful actresses their adj
vice as to entering the pecilous pro
fession" good deal OF suffering might
be spared the aspirant for histrionic
honors. The very successful actress
| triumphs outweigh any of the early
trials and struggles that she recounts
to warn the ambitious one from the
path that sometimes leads to glory via
the footlights. And it must be remem-
| bered that the moderately successful
| actress is often as clever as her more
| fortunate sister.
An actress who is well known, but
who will probably never be famous or
rich, told recently a straightforward
story of her career and its compensa-
| tions.
LAS a rule" she said, provision is
made for the salary of one genius or
popular favorite only in the cast of an
| average play. The other persons rep
resented are drawn from a class which
I think l fairly represent. The plain
facts of nay career may be instructive.
/ was described the other day believe
without prejudice as a goodlooking
woman of IS. am, In fact, 40; make
up an apparent 80 for business pur-
poses. A scrupulously careful life has
maintained a figure that was never
my weak point I am not a popular
favorite. 1 am well known and my
photographs and sketches of my career
have appeared in various papers and
magazines, but have never created a
furore and / am not a born actress.
| do not even recall spontaneous incep-
tive to the stage. 1t just occurred as a
convenient and not distasteful occupa-
ton. l applied myself to it with indus
| try, may I say with intelligence? A
casual commentor would probably
describe me as comfortably earning
$4,000 year. If you applied to any of
the managers for whom l have worked
I am sure they would say that l was
an experienced, competent apd in vari-
Gus respects acceptable practitioner Of
my art. / have aided materially in the
success of several productions. /
know that I am accredited in the bust
ness as a clever, reliable woman. do
not cavil at any part, and come to
the first rehearsal with my words per-
fleet. 1 am punctual. I accept the
discipline of the theate. don't tipp!e.
And where am I?
II will have been on the stage %
years next Christmas, and / shall prob
ably celebrate the anniversary out of
work; for I have got into the rut of
the road again. Last Sunday was my
birthday. I spent it traveling-12 hours
with the sustenance of sandwiches and
water. A young reporter who had in
terview me came to see me Off He
bought me a few roses, bless him, and
a magazine, in which 1 read an article
denying humor to women.
IT own the furniture of two small
rooms. have $40 in the savings bank
-12 weeks out of work in the summer
depleted my slender store. hope to
make it 800 ere come home. Then,
with health, shall manage till Feb
ruary, when certain work awaits me,
thank God. We resume this tour.
assure you there are hundreds and
hundreds of actresses who would cite
my case with envy. During my %
years Of stage life have worked on aIs
average eight months in the year. My
average earning has been SIS week.
Would that it had been SIS weekly. /
shudder when recall those gaps; and
l fear to think of them in the future.
My largest salary was $75 week, dur
ling the nine weeks run of popular
success. But that was lightly come,
lightly gone / thought my capeer
would continue on those lines--with
Iyears came wisdom. For eight months
in 1900 was out of work. How l lived
/ do not know. A landlady let me owe
her $40, and 1 cried with gratitude
when paid her--for, it proved, the
good creature was nearly as poor as 1.
"a woman Is limited in the choice of
professionalism limitations were still
more cruel in my time. / chose the
stage, and still l am not going to say
that I regret 1t. Having to earn my
living am not at all sure could have
made better living. In birth and
education I suppose I am fair speci-
men of the actress of my day and gen.
GRAFTON. My father was managing
clerk to a firm of lawyers, earning
$500 year. The experience of my
elder sister, who chose the profession
of marriage. did not encourage me to
follow her example. My younger sis
ter is now, at 49, earnig $500 or 5000 g.
year by imparting the higher educa-
ton. AS she says it is regular l was
a year or two head of girls high
schools. At II l had achieved the 'fin-
ish' Of private seminary. Meanwhile,
reading, not deliberately Of rubbish,
has been my chief pleasure.
II have said that was never stage
struck. The opportunity to play fairy
|. queen in an amateur production led to
an engagement with a professional
company. l had fair voice, not un-
cultivated. There We're a few lines to
speak and a ballad to be sung. l got
$40 week. / was retained, and during
twelve months learning my business.
played few Shakespearian parts
such as Celia and the Queen in Ham
let" Lady Teazle, and Cynisca in
"Pygmalion and Galatea," and many
parts in melo-drama you never heard
-, of built up my repertory.
Then, for three years I was with a
road company, playing the insipid
twin heroine of domestic comedy. |
was reading an article the other day
on the detriment to art of long runs.
To me it meant regular work such as I