The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-03
RICH GIRL ON THE STAGE.
BY JANE OAkER.

yXT 1TH all due respect to stage man
 w agers and to stage ideals as
 we'll l am ready to assert most positively and from personal observation that big bank account is of the great est importance in pushing a girl forward in a dramatic career. It Is in one way a short cut to fame if fame Is to be ones portion. l don't mean to say that a mil lion, or even ten millions, can put the soul of a Clara Morris into the keeping of an heiress, who has only the soul of an heiress-poor thing!-but I do mean to say that a trunkful of imported tog gerry will give the rich girl an oppor- tunity to appear in one of those coveted roles that calls for no more talent than a series of handsome gowns, and q man ner," when the same position would be peremptorily refused to a modest genius, unless she could borrow the necessary fine plumage. l remember hearing that when Margaret Anglin, in a somewhat shabby black frock. applied for the privi- lege of walking on' in a society pro- duction at the rate of one dollar a per formance she was curtly advised to go back home and keep house." The genius was there, but alas, lacked those fine trappngs to be procured only by lucre. Poor Miss Anglin had long and weary road to travel before her genius won rec ogntion.
 An extra" is not a big role. but 1t is the one opportunity of the society girl to gain a footing upon the stage. Then, all things equal-that Is to say, if she has intelligence, common sense. industry and ambition-she finds whatever wealth she may have at her disposal of infinite ad |. ing the finest methods of exploiting her self. Self-advertisement is almost q part of the profession nowadays-it won't be ignored.
 It gives her the best managers. It may be, and why should 1t not be so that Il society girl and rich girl may prove of sufficient talent to guarantee the eX- pertinent of starring. In that case she is in q position to purchase a play suited to her temperament and talents. Why, then, should wealth be desp,sed? I have seen many pretty girl grow haSgard and unattra ctive through sheer anxiety and lack of proper nourishment, and that while she was looking for a position. when it was of vital importance to ap- pear at her best. There is d 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.
 Nevertheless I think the stage-struck society girl is misunderstood. 1 know am one of a representative type-the col ege girl. who. having acquired too much Or too little knowledge, becomes restless and dissatisfied with the standards of the social whrl. Frivolous 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 un- rest: college education units the seri- ous-mnded girl for society; sooner or later it will pail upon her.
 I am afraid l was greatly spoiled by my parents. My mother never questioned 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 sug- gested some new scheme and say: Girls, in my day"
 My father, although. apparently man wrapped up in his business affairs, was intensely temperamental. an artist and bohemian by nature who had through a senses of duty lived a lifc of extraordi- nary self-repression. I imagine that in his secret heart he was delighted 10 see me little unlike other girls of my set was always deep in some new ism or 'osophy" He never cncoura ged me; he lever opposed me.
 From my early grlhood I was stage iiruck." and although I never breathed my intentions to living soul, l deter