Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-02
MONEY PAvES WAY
TO STAGE GLORY
0VERCOMES DEFICIENCY IN
ABILITY
Jane oaker Talks of Necessity for
Financial Backing to Attain
Success Before the
Footllehts


ayers and to stage ideals as WE'LL 1 am
ready to assert most positively and
from personal observation, that big
bank account is of the greatest i'm
portance In pushing a girl forward in
dramatic career.
1T is in one way a short cut to fame,
If fame is to be ones portion. 1 don't
mean to say that a million, or even ten
millions, can put the soul of Clara
who has only the soul of-an heiress,
poor thing!-but l do mean to say
that a trunkful of imported toggery
will give the rich girl an opportunity
to appear in one of those coveted roles
that calls for no more talent than a
series of handsome gowns and man
ler,' when the same position would be
)eremptorily refused to modest gen.
iuS, unless she could borrow the neceS-
iary 6ne plumage.
II remember hearing that when Mar"
aret Anglin, in a somewhat shabby
black frock, applied for the privilege
Of walking on in society production
at the rate of one dollar perform
lnce she was curtly advised to go
oack home and keep house.
Genius Minus Money-AIas!
"The genius was there, but alas,
there lacked those fine trappings to he
procured only by vulgar lucre. Poor
Miss Anglin had a long and weary
.'oad to travel before her genius won
ecognition.
"An extra is not big role, but it
is the one opportunity of the society
girl to gain a footing upon the stage
Then all things equal, that is to say,
f she has intelligence, common sense,
industry and ambition, she finds what
sver wealth she may have at her dis
oosal of infinite advantage.
TT can buy her the best coaching,
the finest methods of exploiting her
self. Self-advertisement is almost
part of the profession nowadays; it
won't be ignored.
1T gives her the best managers. 1t
may be, and why should it not be So
that a society girl and a rich girl may
prove of sufficient talent to guarantee
the experiment of starring. In that
case she is in a position to purchase a
)lay suited to her temperament and
'alent
"Why, then, should wealth be de-
spised? / have seen many a pretty
girl grow haggard and unattractive
through sheer anxiety and lack Of
proper nourishment, and that while
she was looking for a position when
it was of vital importance to appear
at her best. There is cruel irony in
the blows of poverty. To the poor girl
who has nothing, her one chance will
be taken away; to the rich girl who has
much, much will be given because of
her plenty.
Society on the Stage
Nevertheless, 1 think the stage
| struck society girl is misunderstood.
know l am one of a representative type
the college girl, who, having acquired
too much or too little knowledge, be-
comes restless and dissatisfied with the
standards of the social whirl. Frivol-
Gus as 1T may appear it is a slavery
that binds one body and soul. l and
my type live in a condition of rebellion.
We seek for some escape. We are
beset by fever of unrest; college edu-
cation units the serious minded girl
for society; sooner or later it will pail
upon her.
II am afraid was greatly spoiled by
my parents. My mother never ques-
toned her children's wishes. She is a
bit old fashioned, and never quite
fathomed her up-to-date offspring. She
would only gaze at us disconsolately
when we suggested some new scheme
and say, Girls, in my day
my father, although apparently a
man wrapped up in his business affairs,
was intensely temperamental, an artist
and bohemian by n2ture, who had
through a sense of duty lived a life of
extraordinary self-repression. imagine
that in his secret heart he was de-
lighted to see me a little unlike other
girls of my set. l was always deep in
some new ism or 'osophy.' He never
encouraged me, he never opposed me.
Always Stage Struck
From my early girlhood I was stage
| -. l.
my intentions to living soul I deter
mined that somehow someway, I
would go upon the stage. 1 had in
herited my fathers gift for self-repres-
sion.
"After leaving school began first the
study of elocution, then I took lessons
in dramatic art. My resolution was
ripening. but still kept silent.
81 obtained permission from my
father to spend the winter in New
York with friends. / entered school
of drama and devoted the entire time
to study. One day, when my visit was
about drawing to close, I entered the
Office of a manager and applied for
position. I told my story frankly.
confessed I had decided to take up the
career without the knowledge of my
parents-that while they were wealthy
L liHBllB III NlCN VI eilly OppOSlllOI, ne
forced to support myself by what I
could earn in the most modest roles, for
once the step was taken 1 was deter
mined not to draw back.
Her First Engagement
ITO my amazement, the manager
made me an offer at once. That even
ing, in fear and trembling, 1 broke thu
news to my father. I expected to be
repudiated forever. 1t was a terrible
alternative, but 1 felt that my life was
my own, to work out as best could
even my father had not the right to
doom me to soul annihilation. In a few
days my fathers answer came. l wept