New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-26
ARMY OF STAGESTRUCK GIRLS
THIS IS THE TINE OF YEAR THEY DESCEND UPON
NEW YORK
Brooay Is Their Ghing Mecca but Only Sad Dusonent
in Wat There for Most of Them.

Copyright 1905 by Anna S. RIchardson)
Spring! Tree and bush in Central Park abloom
with uncertain, delicate greens Smart society
turning its face toward Europe or its country
estates! And from the North to the South,
from the golden West to rockbound New-Eng-
land, an army of stagestruck girls is turning it's
face and it's feet, it's little hopes and its big
ambitions. toward New-York on its annual pill
Brimage to Broadway and the Rialto
Broadway-Mecca Of the stagestruck grill
Rialto-Promsel Land, flowing with dramatic
milk and honey!
Steady going, homeloving citizens of PARKWAY
towns do not dream how many girls drift from
their ken to the theatrical colony of New-York
City. Occasionally they read of q neighbours
daughter who has risen suddenly to fame as a
singer or actress, and they bask contentedly IN
her reflected glory. They gossip somewhat
boastfully Of her diamonds. her automobile and
the money which she sends home to mother
and the girls" When her company plays at the
local theatre they crowd it TO the doors and ap
plaud Historically. But what do they know of
the girls who score not success, but failure
girls who slip away quietly and back again;
girls whose lips are sealed to all that happened
during that brief but strenuous absence? Only
those who work and live the Rialto or on
its edge, know this side of the picture.
Every Broadway manager Of any standing
poets that certain proportion Of his daily mail
will be pleas from stagestruck girls; and he has
a stock letter which his stenographer sends to
most OF these vague appeals. Many Of them
are slly-so silly that the manager who is.
above all things, practical and bUsinesslike,
turns from them in disgust. One writer an
nounces with amusing frankness that her par
ents are irrevocably opposed to the stage as
career, but deponent is entirely willing TO
In ant
style, If properly encouraged-in financial way.
The girl who tells the story of her life from
childhood up in seven pages. and devotes the
last to a description Of a charming dimple in
the cleft of her chin, is not missing. AS to any
evidence, seen unseen, of dramatic talent.
she has nothing TO say. But the girl who is just
now demonstrating the feminine acumen OF the
twentieth century is she who approaches the
manager by mail with financial clause.
WHAT HER CAPITAL CONSISTED OF
It was a Chicago girl who wrote a prominent
Broadway manager that she wished to go on
the stage and that her desire backed by
solid cash. She did not waste time such
trifes as good looks. fine stage presence, dra-
matte ability or undying ambition. She simply
talked money Now. there happened to be on
the managers staff very competent young
chap who was ambitious to strike out for him
self His chief, half jokingly. handed him this
letter and advised him to look into the matter
Perhaps the girl might have both talent and
financial backing. II so. the young fellow could
get his coveted start in this not unusual fashion
His heart beating high with hope. the would
be manager wrote 70 the young woman, and re-
ceived in reply some charming photographs and
more hints about the investment OF her capital.
After considerable correspondence the amount
Of her capital was ascertained. Her assets con-
sisted of S179 90. deposited in savings bank. as
the result of several years faithful service as
ladies' maid in a wealthy Chicago family.
manager had just had very hard and dis
astrous season, and was tottering on the edge Of
bankruptcy, when from Northern New-Ycrk
there came to his office an interesting appeal
from a stagestruck girl. Nou always a
girl on the stage) She wanted a place In the
chorus. and she could back her desire with a
certified check for 5000, to be invested in one
of his productions. The harassed manager
grasped at this letter even as the drowning man
at the proverbial straw. He wrote to the en-
bryonic star to come to New-York at once. He
would have rushed off to see her. but his af-
fairs were in such condition that ne did not
dare leave the scene.
She replied by wire and followed the wire in
person Then-for the manageable deluge.
This blushing maiden was a maiden indeed,
but the blush was artificial; so were her teeth
and the golden lights in her hair She walked
with slight limp and she had figure like an
exaggerated scantling. while her voice was as
musical as the tones of a small boy working the
familiar combination Of a comb and a sheet of
paper.
Mournfully the manager looked over his self
constituted partner. and there followed one of