The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-08-30
THE DIARY OF
Merry ETHEL

chorus girl. And how ! fell into the
job is more than / can say. 1t was
case of nerve and luck, pure and sim
pie, for I'm not long on looks and
voice.
But how got it doesn't interest me
as much as the fact that | didn't have
to break my record and do turn at
loafing.
The America is putting on a show to
run through the summer and applied
for try-out in the chorus. The man
ager said I'd go all right for filler-in
and won't have much to do but stand
around and look pleasant. The folks
at home think it's from the frying
pan into the fire" to kick at being
demonstrator and then do the chorus
girl stunt.
But they don't see the other side OF
1t. Some of the SWEETEST girls go into
the chorus and who knows but some
day may get to be the whole thing
or have a millionaire fall in love
with me.
But unless he's as nice as Charley
Clark I'd just as soon he wouldn't.
I'm afraid to tell him about my being
on the stage. My doesn't thai sound
grand, ! hope they'll give me some
swell clothes to wear Well. were to
have our first rehearsal tomorrow and
l guess I'll find out what I'm up
against.
Tuesday-Hully gee! I'm afraid
I've bitten Off more than can chew
this time. But I'm going to try and
stick it out. If can just keep them
from tumbling to the fact that l can't
sing worth shucks maybe can bluff
1t through.
ID 80
the girls can sing out o. sight. There
wasn't very much doing to-day be-
cause there were a good many dubs
like me who didn't know the first
thing about the business.
We stood around like so many wood |
en- Indians and looked as II we had
lost our best friends we had on earth.
while the manager kept saying,
brighten up; SMILE"
And that's the main thing I learned
to-day; that you've got to wear the
smile that won't come off," and look
happy. even If your shoes are pinch.
ing you or your head aching as II it
would split.
I'm too tired tonight to see the
funny side. But I guess a great many
queer things do happen.
Wednesday-Of course got my reg
ular calldown to-day, but so did nearly
everybody else. so didn't mind. They
hauled out the costumes this morning
and logged me up for an oriental
queen. The rig | had on was twice
too big for me and i felt like per-
feet trump. l guess l wasn't in any
too good a humor, and when the man
ager began to drill us in Little
Egypt stunt | baked. He called me to
S,t, q tLnt I xt.hn r
could do II 1. didn't like the job and to
make up my mind quick or he'd make
It up for me. My nerve went back on
ME for once in my life and 1 sneaked
back into line without saying a word.
Thursday-Hurrah for me! was
boosted up into the front row today.
The manager said he liked the way
put on my clothes. Some of the girls
are awful sloppy weather and / tell
you there's mighty little he dosen't
see. He said to me this morning:
Come out here. grille" l sidled up to
the front. scared to death, and he
said: Now, here's girl that knows
how to put her buds on; her skirts
hang nice and even. Some of you
look like you had a lot OF dragging
tail feathers. But see here, grille.
what's the matter with your wig? l
HlStue graz lot lily neSu ana IOunQ
that my pompadour was dangling over
one ear. l told him l had been in a
hurry and had drawn one that didn't
fit me. He tod me to do better than
that next time and to take my place
in the front row.
l could feel myself getting chesty
and l was SO excited that of course
/ fell all over myself when 1 turned
back into line.
1t sure is a strenuous life and it's
sided from swinging on one foot SO
much and with all this waving of my
arms I'm ready to turn into a wind
mill.
Friday Another rumpuS with
Charles. And this time nearly
brought him to terms. I'm tired of
his monkey business: keeping me on
the anxious seat. He's either got to
show his hand or else get out of the
game. He went right up in the air
when he found out what / was doing
this week. l told him | didn't see
what right he had to keep butting in
with my affairs and that If he didn't
like it he could cut me off his visit
Ing list. He saw l was mad and began
to draw in his horns He said he liked
me too we'll to see me up against this
kind of stunt and that before long
he was going to make 1t his business
l didn't promise to leave the chorus