The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
THE STAGE ASPIRANT
A HARD ROAD FOR MEDlocRlTY TO
TRAVEL

Ton Tfmes Too Many Applicants For the
Available Positions-How Incompetoncy
Crowds Merit - Information For the
sstagestruck"-Davy Crockett's Advice.
"This thing is wearing me into the
ground"
It was a theatrical manager who hao
Just dismissed q young woman who had
been imploring him to engage her.
He was an unusually soft hearted
manager. The average n generally
gives a cynical grin and says, Another
girl who wants to play Juliet"
Words may be futile to stem the
torrent, but just a few hard facts may
cause an aspirant here and there to
stop and consider,
Here in New York, this seething
Mecca Of the Thespian, the situation is
actually tragic There are just about
5000 actresses too many for the posi-.
tions. The pity Of it is the incompetents
Are in many cases crowding out the "a
pable, experienced players True, the
inoompetents sooner or later find Their
level, but while they are finding it the
capables are out Of positions and the
wolf is putting in his time at their fifth
fight hall bedroom doors, the critics
are guying, the manager is Tuning, and
there is q good deal Of unpleasant fric-
ton everywhere.
I know Of one thoroughly equipped
player who has sewed the soles upon her
shoes repeatedly to keep them on her
feet while she walked the streets in
search of an engagement Another wash
Cd her clothes in the bathtub Of her
boarding house and dries them in her
room. Both these women have played
prominent parts in good companies. An.
other has lived for some time on one
meal a day. These women are fair Of
face-one Of them would be called
handsome-and all are thoroughly com.
petent
The cases Of the young, inexperienced
ones that have come to me hoping !
could help them ale too many and too sad
to recount. They drift into typewriting,
copying and starvation. Many Of them
drift back home. Some become "ex.
tras." That means they 90 on the stage
as "guests," or the mob. Just to stand
around aud say nothing. They must at
tend reheaisals, dress perhaps several
times during the evening and be regard.
cd with scorn by those who have speak.
Ing parts, all for 81 a performance Fo,
the chance to do this hundreds crowd
the stage entrances whenever there IL
Q call for "extra ladies'"
One young woman who made q short
starring venture in the west and who is
undoubtedly possessed with talent, COM
bined with the beauty of face and figure
which make up q good stage presence,
came two years ago to New York to
seek an engagement. She was armed
with letters Of introduction to many
prominent managers from Colonel Rob
ert G. Ingersoll, and the future seemed
rosy to her bright young eyes. This i'll
fuential man, who had seen her act, sent
glowing words to the Gotham magnates,
but not M Ct them gave her a chance.
She has not stepped upon q stage from
that day to this.
= How has she lived? By doing EN-.
broidery for one. Of the large wholesale
houses She hal bravely kept Ler self
respect, and abe has never given up try.
ing. She makes her rounds Of the agen-
ctes every little while, and she means
to attain her end yet. She will do it
too. There is no sort Of doubt that
such pluck, earnestness and persever
mot will win.
Before the young aspirant Who is il
deadly earnest about entering the dra-
matte profession heaven forbid the writ
ar should cast one straw Of discourage
ment.
& There is not only room, but there is
q hungry demand, for the actress with q
strong dramatic instinct, brains, appli-
cation and a large capacity for work.
Work! / should like to write that
word in capitals q foot high
The work which In the golden age
was done 50 well because the gods al
, ways san must come back again to
earth. Until it does there will still be
teas and agony and suicide in the solv.
ing Of the life problem
, II you love the art 80 that nc labor,
p~rivation, rebuffs or hardship can stand
In your way, then you have q right to
think that heaven meant you to act
Do it though the skies fail.
II you want to 60 on the stage sim
ply to wear pretty clothes and attract
attention, don't do it, for the end il
dust and ashes
II You want to be q professional"
because you like the life. don't do it.
You'll find the life full Of damp and
dirty dressing rooms, dinnerless jour
neys, ice cold beds, hard hearted land
\ lords and sbsconding managers
If you want to be an actress because
! you don't want to be a typewriter or
0 milliner or q saleswoman and the
] stage seems to be a place where you can
earn the most money in the easiest way,
; don't do it. There never yet has been
found o. real easy way for any woman
to earn money. All legitimate work
must mean an equivalent for the dollar.
In getting into this particular "easy"
place and getting out Of it you'll find a
larger crop OF heartaches, tears aud ago.
= mics than you ever could imagine would
he compressed into one small life.
= II you think that m~ediocrity, trihing
and laziness can succeed, let me tell