The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-07
Bright View.
Grace George Thinks Well of Acting
as a Profession.

Grace George. made optimistic by her
success in Pretty Peggy" holds very
different views from those of most act
resses on the subject OF the stage as
profession. She does not believe thai
the man with the hoe ranks with the
girl with the grease-paint as far as la
Dor is concerned; on the contrary she
thinks the histriOnic field offers great
opportunities to the young person.
II am perfectly aware she observes.
that II Is the fashion for players 10
discourage aspirants DESTROYS OF follow
ing In their footsteps. This bogy IS
trimmed with elaborate descriptions OF
nerve-racking rehearsals. embroidered
with stories OF one-night stands. and
terrifyingly decorated with tales Of the
scant reward awaiting the successful.
Any really ambitious persons who is
scared By these things probably would
fail; achievement on the stage means
what achievement means in any walk Of
life-hard work. difficulties. hardships.
\ Nevertheless. ! maintain that the the
alter offers unriyaled opportunities to the
man or woman with a certain amount
of brain. with some talent, but without
special training. This is particularly
true in the case Of women. for whom
personal appearance and other natural
advantages count much. From what
know Of both. I should advise the man
without profession TO take UP Journal
ism; the woman without a profession TO
take up acting. These professions. or
their technical points, are more easily
learned by simple experience than are
law or medicine Once learned. too. the
demand for capable people Is greater
n L.. Va
Shop Girl or Actor?
Annie Russell once said that the
average shop girl has a better time than
the average actress. II this is true if
Is because OF a difference in REQUIRE
ments in the state OF mind. One might
urge as Justly that al men would do
well to drive dump carts, because the
happiest man in the world probably Is
the Washington or Richmond negro on
his dumo cart
Let us suppose that Miss Smith. en-
dowed with a good high school educa-
ton. comes to New York with her
friend, Miss Jones. similarly fitted.
Miss Smith goes into shop or be-
comes a typewritist. In either case II
/ she is lucky, the end of three years will
find her making from SO TO SIS a week.
/ The very nature of her employment
/ prevents her rising. She works from
/ S or In the morning until at
night-work in which there Is little or
no chance for self-imPrOvement She Is
mental, who mt st account for her
very hour and every action. Socially
she is utterly without opportunities.
Miss Jones goes on the stage. For a
long time her future is probIematicaI
]
than with one. At the best, she PLAYS
small parts in a small company that
visits small cities Granted intelHgence
and ordinary luck, however, putting
forth half the effort of Miss Smith.
eventually she finds herself fairly an
actress.
Labor Which Is Educational.
From this time on her salary may
range from $40 10 800 u week HeI
work Is not hard. after the first few
weeks OF the annual production, and II
Is OF n sort to exercise and improve heI
mind. Close association with art and
artists gives her at least some degre,
| of culture. Her days. excepting those
OF which matinees occur, are her own
for recreation or study. She travel.
! throughout the country, enjoying tn,
broadening influence of travel. She 1!
responsible to no one for her where
abouts, save for an exceedingly shOr
/ time each day Finally she is received
in the best society and finds herself
ranking with men and women who's
early opportunities may have beer
larger.
Mind, 1 do not say that every person
can succeed on the stage. L do not be
lieve that every person can succeed a,