The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
TRAPS FOR The STAGESTRUCK
WOMEN ESPECIALLY THE VIC
TINS OF SWINDLERS
The Case OF Mrs. Rihl Not Altogether
FXceptionaI--Rea Chances for Asri-
rants for the Stage-ChOrus Girls In
er Demand nj Present Than Ever.

The case Of the Philadelphia singer who
allowed herself to be robbed last week
by an obvious swindler who promised TO
get her an engagement in comic opera
is by no means exceptional As it might
seem Many other women have probably
had similar unfortunate experiences and
kept quiet about it,
The credulity Of the stagestruck woman
when there ia an opportunity to satisfy
her ambitions knows no limit.
Not day passes" one of the reputable
dramatic agents told SIN reporter yester
day. that some agent does not advertise
that he will secure a place for a woman
who wants to go on the stage or into raudc-
vile If she is able pay a certain SUN OF
money Now any woman nnGh; to know
that such an advertisement is not honest.
I'm most cases it is a mere swindlc, Man
ayers do not engage actresses in that way,
even il they are unknown beginners.
These tricks are, in one form or another
intended to part the stagestruck girl and
the money she has raised from her family
or some other source. One advertisement
recently offered girl chance to appear
in a vaudeville sketch If she had $500 and
a handsome ball gown. gudgeon bit
and found herself dealing with an actor
OF little or no reputation, who told her
he could get her on the stage IL she would
pay $500 for the privilege.
"He told her 1t was positively settled
that she should appear first at one Of the
large variety theatres. He would coach
her in the part she was to play and teach
her how to make up and to come through
the six etch with such success that managers
would certainly want her.
4The girl raised the money. The actor
said that slOO OF it went to the man who
wrote the SKETCH and half of that may
be true. The rest. he said, went for adj,
vertising. and none OF that was true.
He did teach the girl her part and get
her ready to act it. She bought new
dress in addition to the 5000.
There were many delays about the
settled that the sketch was to be acted.
To the girls establishment, she was told
to report at the vaudeville theatre at 10
o'clock in the morning That seemed
very early hour, but the actor explained
hat new sketches were always tried at
that time.
-Only two or three persons were in the
dark theatre when the two began to act.
1t was nothing more than a trial OF the
sketch.
He IhudKeI ploiHptIy Itluseu W 'hhc ~
and, although the actor talked much of
subsequent productions Of the piece, there
was never even another trial The actor
minated very, plainly, that an extra 5000
or even 500 might make il possible to get
n hearing that would certainly lead to an
engagement. But the deluded girl could
not now have raised that amount il she
had been willing 10 give any more money
TO further her theatrical ambitions.
Another advertisement which offered to
put a talented amateur on the stage il
she could produce $500 in cash showed
on investigation that she was to pose while
a lot Of doves nestled on her after they
had been released from cage. The doves
were detained for their board bill by
cruel bird dealer. who would not release
them. That seemed to be little too far
down the ladder for an advance OF $500 in
cash.
Mrs. Rihl, the woman who was carried
in her innocence to remote Harlem saloons
TO meet prominent New York managers,
wanted to be O singer in comic opera, and
her difficulties should therefore have been
less than those Of the woman who wants to