The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-07-13

Clara bsSssO Tells Soms SssstiinG
ThIa6s - PFsttv Girl VIcslms.

, ~ the New York American:
10 much has been said of the chorus
, girl by men and women Of the world.
and 20 mady attacks have been made on
the show girl, that Il is time she came
20 her defense. II has been her nisfOr-
tune Tor some time TO be represented as
q siren, whose sole occupation Ii the
deeoying and destruction Of the gilded
youth Of America.
i Like the vampire, one 10 accustomed
- think Of her as a creature Of evil,
with no beginning and apparently no
end. She ~ the everlasting pivot upon
i which men hang the thread-bare ex-
euses Of their moral laxitude-and the
symbol Of riOtOus license.
But the chorus girl has a beginning:
as 3 type in herself she Is easy to pic
ture.. a pretty, graceful, ambitious
girl facing q great white roadway, iIlu-
mined BY 30 many electric lights that it
seems almost impossible to make one
misstep, but-and this is what she so
seldom realizes, especially II she is ear
Dest--she 10 inevitably pOOri
1T Is NOT THE GIRL.
At the start It IL simple enough; she
has her way to make In the world. and
the stage affords more opportunity for
promotion than any other work she can
think Of. Sometimes there lie opposition
IN the shape Of the old uncle, who
shakes his head and croaks prophetically |
OF disgrace, but he does not lift a hand |
20 save her; her friends also can find |
much TO eriticise, but they cannot suR- |
gest anything 90 better her Condition.
In the end she is forced To take her way |
alone and unadvised. OF course there |
are exceptions to this type, but they |
nave no claim 70 sympathy
IL a mistake to think girl is stage |
struek and that any other kind of en-
ployment II distastefuI. She knows
there Is the same temptation to be met
IN the New York Offices and in every
Held that women have invaded.
u In not the girl, but the men!
MY own experience might be a con-
yinctnR example Of the influence of the
dOddering CrOesus upon the struggling
woman trying TO make q name and rep
utatiOn for herself
TRIUMPHs OF OTHER GIRLS.
] sought the stage at a time when
everything else failed, as | was not
equipped with practical education in
any other direction. A few friends
pointed out the advantages Of histri-
onic career, which was eager 20 en-
brace. was engaged by we'll known
theatrical manager for the chorus in {
large company, encouraged by a salary {
which seemed to me generous enough,
there was nothing to learn
that could not be accomplished in the ak [
weeks rehearsinR Later, ! found that 4
the twenty dollars a week in New York '
dwindled alarmingly when once we were +
on the road. marveled at the other I
girls, who seemed TO manage 30 much
more economically that they could afford a
10 live at the best hotels and wear pref
Ter clothes than /. They met rich men
who shOwered them with costly gifts. I
did not understand, and often looked n
he questions my lips never framed
ny own condition was In painful con- h
rast. r
RICH MAN MADE BLUNT OFFER. v
Alone In q strange city, with no con- y y
'enial friends saving my dressing room :.
mates, 1t was not long before discour- =,
cement and illness brought me to the r.
management for an advance of my sal :,
ny, These small sums, together with n
Promises from the management for an
nderStudy kept my interest alive. NV
ebts reached the knowledge of the /,
Wealthy baeker, who sent for me to - ~
ONE TO the office. "
my dear, ] am interested In you, " he u'
~ SV'astsH Stoiklt 10 lne point, IL
! should like to help YOU" For an in ~ ~
tant was overcome. 90
ITO help mel' re
As II for the first time the knowledge o.
{ my existence had dawned upon him. u'
nd there i had bCen working for n
hole season. 49,
Tell me about youraelf," ne said. ~
Thus encouraged, and with my ambi- III
on always uppermost In my heart, I III
oured out the whole tale of my str,iQ- 90
0s and ambitions, ending with, "You ~,
% interested in plays--tlOn't you think vo
ere would be a better chance for me
He waived the suggestion with n al
artling one Of his own. th'
why, you need hacker; why don't p&
~ get rich man interested In your" ke
said. cat
Il was a ccld-blooded attack, and one pu
at sent SILVER Of repulsiOn and hor- Du
over me. al had hoped to succeed ia
my own merits," said.
You never WILL" he bluntly said. ind
Viii you take supper with me, and we . Il
u talk Il over after the shown" lsh
hositated and finally consented the
NJ supper was the beginning of many pul
ong discussion between us Ind Ia sub
diplomatic, for my position weighed Bet
the balance, The mans attentions. A
viewer distaateful, had 10 DO endured "H
tie by little his insinuations sunk in neg