The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-04

Some Glad to Take Humble Employment
NJ CODey Island Just Now.


Island, took advantage Of q hull in the
rush one day last week and strolled over to
the ticket tabsr.
| Found out what you're going with next
season." inquired the sailor lad Of the ticket
| taker.
Haven't signed yet," was the reply.
J "I'm going to get day off soon and make
! the round Of the agencies. You got any
thing yet?
Only an offer to play Juveniles with
Western stock company" said the
sailor. Thirty dollars week but I'm
! holding out for my figure"
You're making a mistake" faid the
ticket taker Grab the first thing you can
| get, and save money. II I'd done that last
season wouldn't be Spending the summer
at Coney"
| The sailor lad sighed.
Seen any one you know to-day?" he
inquired.
mot yet. and hope won't" answered
! the ticket taker.
just then the crowd began TO gather
and the sailor hurriedly resumed his place
at the main entrance.
| This way, trip to the sun. This way,
| trip to the sun. Best show at Coney Island.
Don't miss it. This way, trip to the sum-
he shouted, in voice which showed that
It's owner had it thoroughly under control
and knew something of the art Of elocution
and voice throwing
| The two men are actors-genuine actors,
OF standing in their profession. During
| the regular season either Of them can get
$50 or $40 week. They are good looking
| young fellows, and one OF them has voice
which has been heard In light opera. But
being without employment in summer and
being penniless they are glad to work for
$40 week for the Coney Island side show.
There are quite a number of actors in
| the same situation. A ticket taker at one
place Of amusement is a white-haired
man who Is an actor of no small reputation.
He once played with Booth and Barrett,
and during the regular season he always
has a good place, though ON account OF his
| age he does not receive salary 80 large
as formerly.
He has been ON the stage nearly thirty
| years. and he is now working al a ticket
taker for sl2 a week Dozens Of theatrical
people recognize him every day. During
the regular winter season his salary is not
less than $50 a week, and were 1t not for
| those dependent upon him he would not
have to work at Coney Island in summer.
! This veteran Of the stage has seen too
| many phases Of life to feel that his present
| role is beneath his talents
Il am working here for 8ie week." he
said, frankly, to a friend last week; but
isn't that better han walking Broadway
without a cent?
Some Of my friends express surprise that
! l should be working at what they consider
! a mental occupation Ny friend, let me
| tell you there il no occupation too mental
for man who is willing to work and who
! must work to earn his living.
| AS Mr.. Shakespeare said, all the world 8
| a stage, and all the men and WOMEN merely
| players And each man i'll his time plays
! many parts. As a man grows older upon
the stage, he must change his line,
| "Tbe Juvenile leading man of to-day
must become the first old man Of the next
| generation. Servants and doorkeepers
usually go to the first old man or the low
comedian. am playing the part Of a door
| keeper this summer. | am the first old man
Of the company.
| And. although the part is small one
| and the salary not as much as | am ac
! customed to receiving, l shall play my
part well and 20 the best Of INV abilities
until something better presents itself in
! the fall. And, certainly, IL ia better for me-
| 10 work here and pay my expenses this
summer, than 1t is to help wear out the
paving stones on upper Broadway, as SO
| many of my friends do every summer"
|: Most Of the actors employed at Coney
Island are comparative beginners. and
| fresh graduates from the dramatic schools
! of year Of two ago. Their friends proba-
| bly, believe they are spending the summer
| in Europe. Some Of these young actors
resort to strenuous methods to escape
| recognition; an oarsman who lnanpulates
I u boat on the t-the-chute, is a light
| comedian who is believed by his friends
to be spending the summer at his olive
| ranch In southern California.
When the season closed last May, the
young man found himself without sufficient
| money to reach California, where his
parents really live, though not upon all
olive ranch Being able to handle boat
| he had no difficulty in securing employ
| ment at Coney Island. He disguised him
| self partially by growing IA beard, and
| most OF this summer he has been navgat-
| ing one of the boats on the shoot-t he-chute.
Only once 30 far has he been recognized.
| This once was when one OF his own passen-
[ gers was young woman who ha appeared
| In the same company with him last season.
| The young actor was so annoyed that he
succeeded in being transferred from the
shoot -the-chute to the boats which travel
on the underground river. There ne felt
| himself more secure from observation, as
the boat passes through almost total dark
l oasa fhlrfnl the trim,