The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-15
THE STAGE ASPIRANT
A HARD ROAD FOR MeoiocRIrT TO
TRAVEL.

Csn Tinss Too Many Applicants For the
Available Positions-How Inoompetsncy
Crowds Merit - Information For the
s0saxessrusks-pavy Crooksst's Advice.
"This thing Is wearing mo into the
ground"
Il was o theatrical manager who kad
tust dismissed young woman who had
been imploring him to engage her.
He was an unusually soft hearted
manager. The average one generally
gives . cynical grin and says. "Another
girl who wants to play Juliet"
Words may DO futile to stem the
torrent, but Just o few hard facts may
cause an aspirant here and there to
stop and consider.
Here In New York, this seething
Mecca Of the Thaspian. the situation is
actually tragic There are Just about
3. 900 actresses too many for the posi-
tiona Tho pity Of It Il the inoompetents
IRE In many cases crowding out tho O.
gable. experienced playera True, the
inoompetents sooner or later find their
level, but while they are finding it the
cspshles are out Of positions and the
wolf ID putting In his time st their ffth
diRht hall bedroom doors the critics
are guying, the manager is fuming. and
there Il . good deal Of unpleasant frio-
tion everywhera
I know Of ono thoroughly equipped
player who has sewed the soles upon her
ihoes repeatedly to keep them on ha
feet while she walked tho streets In
search Of IN engagement Another wash
q her clothes In the bathtub Of hsr
boarding house and dries them In her
room. Both these women have played
prominent parts In good companies An
other has lived for some time On ons
meal Q day. These women arc fair q
faoe-one Of them would be called
handsome-and all are thoroughly COM
petenk
The cases Of the young, inexperienced
ones that have come 10 mo hoping I
could help them are too many and too nd
They drift into typewriting.
copying and starvation. Many Of them
drift back homo Some become "ex-
tzaa" That means they 80 On the stage
% "gussts." oe tho mob. Just TO stand
around and ay nothing They must At
tsnd rehaGrsals, dress perhaps several
times during the evening and be regard.
Cd with scorn by those who have speak
ing parts, all for 81 . performance For
the chance to do this hundreds crowd
the stage entrances whenever there 10
Q call for "extra ladiea."
One young woman who made . short
Starring venture In tho west and who ID
undoubtedly possessed with talent, COM
hined with the beauty Of face and figure
which make up good stage presence,
came two years ago 70 New York 70
ssek an engagement She was armed
with letters Of introduction 10 many
prominent managers from Colonel Rob
srt @. ngefsoll, and the future seemed
rosy to her bright young eyea This In
auential man, who had seen her oct, sent
glowing words to tho Gotham magnates
but not one Of them gave her Q chanca
She has not stepped upon Q stage from
that day TO this
How has she lived? By doing en-.
bruidery for one Of the Large wholesale
houses She has bravely. kept her self
respect, and she has never given up Try
ing. She makes her rounds OF the agsn-
cies every little while, and she means
30 attain her end yet she VIII do II
too There In NO sort OF doubt thas
such pluck, eaznestness and persever-
ance viii win.
Before the young asptrant who 10 In
deadly earnest about entering the dra-
matic profession heaven forbid the writ
er should cast one straw Of discourage
msnt
There II not only room, but thefo "a
Q hungry demand, for the actress with .
strong dramatic instinct, brsinA sppli.
cation and . large capacity for work
Worki ! should like 70 write that
word in capitals Q foot high
Tho work which In the golden ase
was done % we'll because tho gods a.
ways nw must come back again 10
earth. Until IL does thers win still be
tears and agony and suicide In tho solv.
ing Of the LIE problem.
II Won love the art 90 that NO labor,
urivstion, rebufRs or hardship can stand
In your way, then you have Q right to
think that heaven meant you 70 aot
Do it thoueh the slries fall.
II Won want 20 no en- tho stare DIM
ply TO wear pretty clothes and attract
attention, don't do Il, for the end n
"a .,h..