The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-25

| eral people wondered that | shoula coro
| 10 disguise myself an oil man with
siay hair tell you, it ism the rake.
| Up put the acting possibilities in n roll.
| "hich appeal TO me Then. too ,nvone
can play we'll dressed. manly lover that
proVldeo with pretty sayings by the
author but there Is Fascination I'm test
Ing ones versatility and PLAYING "a wide
variety OF parts"
Isn't stock work very hard?" I
! quered
| Yes. but 90 also is every branch OF
the theatrical profession Ii is a soft
doWny couch when one gets TO the too
out the earlier days are spent on cots OF
nara unrelenting wood. with many and
many splinter 10 discourage and dis
hearten the loiterers II is a long. hard
struggle. for anyone who is ambitious 10
reach the top and IN not content 20 fri
vol through the profession"
rs IL the case always? Does not tall
ert sometimes help to make the advance
ment OF a beginner rapid7"
"Oh. yes. sometimes. There are shoot
Ing stars, you know. But In most cases.
talent only helps TO keep one i'm the rum
ming. although when backed by ambition,
stick-to-it-iveness and much hard. un-
Interrupted work. II will materially aid
In reaching the upmost roundr
You speak from experience
Yes. I do. I've found the profession
very kind one after my feet found room
enough 10 be soidly planted. but how II
did resent my intrusion at first and how
had 10 struggle 10 wedge that one foot
In! But kept at II, and eventually got
In. In spite Of"
I'm spite OF what?" I urged as ne hesi-
tated
IL rs going to say In spite OF the fact
that ! was a complete stranger 10 the
field. my parents and ancestors never
having been connected with the theatri-
cal profession I'm any way whatever, but
can hear In imagination, your readers.
IL YOU quote this, saying they read;
on! Pshah. He isn't the real article at
ALI But. al l said my folks were not
connected with the theatre They were
not opposed to II. but opposed IL a
profession for me, who had been prom
ised 10 the law. My childhood was spent
I'm Texas, and one day. when | was about
l6 years old saw my first show IL was
piece called The Professor and fortu
nately for my early impressions, II was
played by some OF the foremost artists
OF that day. IL gave me my first Ideas
about the stage, and this dream lasted
until Frederick Ward came 10 the city
Then, then, I was certain that Fate had
decreed me for an actor.
I cherished this hope for couple OF
folks but AZ last announced my deter
mination 20 make try at the stage.
Every argument was offered 10 dissuade
me- and at last with nothing but the
money had saved myself. for my par
ents would not encourage me by giving
me any help started for New Orleans,
that being the nearest large theatrical /
centre I was only n green. raw hoy. and
the managers would not listen 70 the
pie adings OF a recruit who had seen. only
seen, two shows IN his life. ! STAYED .
there several months, but could fnd moth [
ing in the theatrical line TO employ me 7 /
dld odd kinds OF work. although my life
az homo had not trained me- to do many
kinds OF lucrative work but rather 10 ride
untamed horses on the plains OF Texas.
But even this couldn't add very much
TO my slender store and was too proud
suppose Il was pride-to write home for
aid. Al last. my funds we're exhausted,
md I was obliged to return home There
] worked for my father. receiving only
The same salary given To his other clerks.
1'hs Was merely n stepping stone as my
parents realized. and when had saved
enough money to get a fresh start, 1 tert
home. this time with New York aa my
objective point There the same struggle
Mas repeated, only that IL took more
money 70 live IN New York wa given
an ofrer 10 play Juvenile roles in small
company through the West
With no salary and only my board and
expenses paid. I refused, desiring TO get
nto company OF standing even N only
% say, MY Lord. the carriage waits. for
wanted 10 study capable actors
Well. one evening. during that fearful
blizzard Of 'S. I found myself With but ca
'ents In my pocket and an overwhelming
iesire TO see Otis Skinner In The Mid
'ummer Nights Dream. which was being