The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-05
Housefurnishings

to buy shoes. stockings. for :he production
pays car fare and must clothe herself at
tractively, as Il good appearance is impera-
tive.
She works a season of thirty weeks. if she
IS fortunate. part of the time in New York,
the rest "on the road where her expenses
are. at the very least. $40 and Sl2 a week.
Her season closed. she has two months OF
,dlentss. and. If she secures an enlargement
another six weeks rehearsal. This makes
an average Of about 81 a week the year
round with expenses twice as great as they
would be We're she earning 81 a week in
some steady position.
Many Moral Disadvantages.
These are hard facts. and are much more
easily disposed of than are the moral and
.ocial disadvantages might enumerate had
l the courage to give them. In this. a po-
lite era, it is considered better to let every
one find out for himself" This is just what
har!'ens. But how brutal conditions are
made for those so little fitted to lind on:
the right way for themselves.
MaEy children there are who are sent TO
vafch rehearsa!s and wait a chance to get
into the company. Allured by the life an!
meIrimeAt natural among a lot of young
Iecpi'. they -" only thu charm. and never
dream "f IN" canker that is COrruntins th2
whore each personality is more quickly
pia"e'i, or more surely stripped of all afcc-
tati"u, righteousness and illusion.
one girl ont of ii hundred is a success
upon her own merits. In that case ilcr tai
ent is recognized Immediately. and she is
NE'ISHi IpTNdiu dlu tlltJul LEtt. b''ddSt
there Is always a demand for real ability.
Persons of artistic value in operate lines
are usually the result of long years of
study. OF of practical experience in vaude-
vile or farce comedy work-they are not
graduates of the chorus.
Served an Apprenticeship.
At one time the chorus girl served a fairly
long apprenticeship in the ranks. and was
then considered eligible for small roles. but
the musical. as well as the dramatic. stage
is no longer a school. Conscientious work
IS not what is wanted. neither are slow
methods with a degree of certainty as to re-
suits.
The demand is for Il new face. Il new
song. a new mannerisri. soon. however. -
make way for effects still more new. II is
not possible 10 work up from the chorus.
one may spring up-or fly up-but never
work up.
If the ambition lie in that direction one
may easily become a show girl" distin-
guished from the practical working chorus
by a quantity of pretty dresses. expensive
1cwelry and flowers, with the increased sal
arr of SIS a week. The show girlS'-most
expressive title. for they. indeed. lend color
TO any surrounding-do rot wear as long as
their humble sister workers. for the life Is
too precarious. although most enticing.
Ire good and you viii he lonesome" is
nowhere more pathetically true than behind
the scenes.
Chorus Is Not Profitable.
To the girl of refinement and education,
who oniy looks to the chorus for Il llveli-
hood-and the numbers are increasing every
day-Can he only repeated that 1t Is quite
legitimate and quite honorable. but is not
profitable in any way. 1t at best can last
but ten years. :
But protests the lady, Il am clever. !
have a splendid voice. Every one says /
have temperament. Why should not l be 4
success?'
True, Only there are $50 ahead of you
with just those attributes: and two more
practical experience and abandon. They
will have the first show. The effort you
will have to make in order to reach their
,1,nn I.lia,Fn rp,a will cost ,arr MORO thai
the result is worth.
1t is not the first season which demon
strateS what the life really means. for at
first glance 1t Is "A very attractive and ire
-. nsible career. Only after many seasons
does one see what a ghastly failure she has
made of life.