The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21
Miss EdWardeS Denies That
Actresses Are Spendthrifts


GEAR be it from me to pose as
reformer, or to question the de-
auctions OF men who were studying
sociological conditions when / was
making mud pies in the pinafores my
mother used to make, but there Is one
term hurled at our profession which
would like to throttle-and that is
Mile. Actress, Spendthrift."
Thus Miss Paula Edwardes, the star
of "Winsome Winnie" which begins a
weeks engagement at the Metropolitan
Mile. Actress. Spendthrift.'
cit is said that the artistic tempera-
ment and the bump of economy are in
compatible. Nevertheless, l do not
think we women of the stage are as
bad flnanciers as we are painted. We
live for appearances. That is a habit
which you, who are not OF the stage
have taught us-in fact, you would
not approve OF us if we did not live
up to certain conditions which you
have laid down for us. You want us
to carry around in everyday life GER
tain glamor which envelops us be-
hind the footlights. We must not be
as other women, even in the matter of
spending money we earn. IL we were.
you would question our right to be in
the procession. We are supposed to be
geniuses-heaven save the mark! -
and a genius who knew the value of
money would not live up to tradition.
There are women-and women,
both on and off the stage. And you
will find thrifty women In our. pro-
fession as in all others. If Maude
Adams were never to play a role again,
she has investments in real estate and
stocks to keep her comfortably as long
as she lives. May Irwin has saved
enough to support herself and her sons
in luxury. Viola Allen is a wealthy
woman, and has made every dollar
through her art On the other hand,
there are Fay Templeton and Lillian
Russell, two women who probably
draw the heaviest salaries in the pro-
fession-and 1 doubt If either one
could tell what becomes of her money.
Both are generous to a fault, and both
like money just for the pleasure it
affords themselves and their friends.
Spends Much in Advertising.
Suppose we put the question plain
ly. How does the actress spend her
salary, which looks so munificent to
the clerk or stenogra pher? The major
part of it in advertising herself, just
as the business manager advertises his
wares. This Is a legitimate process
for the business man-it is counted as
mere love of dress and high living
with the actress. Yet the latter knows
that keeping up appearances in style
of living and dressing counts as just
so much advertising for her. The pub
lie expects it, and the manager de-
mandS it. When she Is chorus girl
she may stop at a dollar a-day hotel
and wear bargain counter suits. When
she receives the regulation increase of
salary which comes with a small part
she must move up to two-dOllar-a-
day house, and her walking suit must
come from fresh stock. When she has
her name in big type on the pro-
gramme, she must do as other stars
do-engage suite at the hotel and
have her gowns made by man tailor.
The chorus girl may walk to the the
alter, the moderately prominent actress
is privileged to ride in street cars, but
the star must and does ride in a car
riage.
1.-THE chorus girl is forgiven IL she
neglects to tip the waiter; the star
who does not pass around dollar bills
is regarded with suspicion. She is
judged not by the size of type in which
her name is printed, but by the ease
salary her manager is supposed to
pay her. The star never has profess
sional rates at a hotel. Rather she is
regarded as a good thing. to be given
the most expensive suite in the house.
Her advance representative usually
helps on this good work, because he Is
a believer in keeping up appearances.
Gives Forth Aroma of Success.
when a business man who is what
one might term a game sport, finds
| that things look squally, he does not
retrench. Rather, he does something
| to give the impression that he has
| suddenly acquired new backing. Per-
| haps his wife gives a brilliant social
| function. Now the actress lives up to
! just that principle every day of her
| life. She must give forth the aroma
| of success from the smallest partic-
ulars of her daily life. And oddly
| enough, no one is more deeply i'm
pressed by her faculty for doing this
| than the managers. A shrewd manager
| can spot last seasons. gown as quick
| ly as he sees an unfriendly criticism
| in the morning papers. He looks a
woman over critically before he lis
tens to her application. An ill-hang-
| ing gown may do more to hurt an APP
| plicants chances with a manager than
/ poorly chosen words.