Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-25

those who have once listened 90
il. says the New York sun. It's
power was shown in the cas-, Of
a poo, chap Who died in Broadway The
other day
For the last five years OF his NO he
mad not moved iar away from that
sttcicn Of t.. street which is called
the Elalto. His professional duties had
ceased TO cali him away, for they were
nnegucut aud Of short duration
Hc became "a familiar sight, lie Was
always somewhere about and was no
mon, to- BE- ignored than the lamp tosD
hi, .d,oritc resting place was at the
corner OF raiuy-C.shta street ana
Broadway Ills iayorte promenade Vas
the block to the nor,h, II was bci"cch
these two cross streets that he was TO
te seen m fair weather ana foul. Whch
the rain came De retired TO the shelter
O! doorway, IN the fair hours he
hell his place on the cub.
Most Of he actors Who passed there
kuc, MIN. and sometimes tney stopped
To talk To him. The younger men in the
Lambs had heard OF him only by repu-
tauon and through the fate that had
ey,rtakon him. lac had better place
in his day than most OF them VIII even
have. but his day vas undenlably lu
Tive past
le. ae vas only a little over ij when
hp nrs, took his permanent place iu the
RialtO crowd lie grew shabbicr al the
time he stayed there. His trousers we've
iringcd ana his coat faded by rain and
SNOW.
Occasionally he went away for a few
days to play iu some OF the small conf
p8nies that went for a turkey snap
&c Thanksgiving. or descended on some
small town AT an appropriate season to
play East Lynne. These engagements
were brief, however
After a while even those who hal
known him ceased to bow. IL they could
avoid it; but he chung TO the street
making friends with any OF the younger
mon who would listen 20 him and were
likely to suggest drink, and trying to
olen the springs OF human kindness In
the hearts Of the old friends who had
not lost all sympathy for him. Every
month he looked shabbier and poorer.
yet he was never ashamed 10 come back
TO the only world De- knew,
\ few weeks ago he was so FAR gone
that he could scarcely walk about th-
hot stone sidewalks; but he had to stay
there for even the shabby room iu his
lodging house far over ON the West side
of town had been locked that nlght by
his landlady. So he fen down finally on
the spot he had loved best Broadway.
between Thirtieth and Thirty-cighth
streets-and the police sent for an am
bulance He died before they got him
10 the hospital-died with the call OF the
kidlto stiil ringing i'm his ears
Only few weeks before his turn
came another and an older man had fall
len IN the grasp OF death on the block
above. He lived until be was put 10
bec I'm the hospital, hut he died before
h. had long been separated from the
street TO which he had dragged himself
when strength had all but failed him.
Both OF these men had held high rank
i'm their profession. The younger was
/ considered al one time one Of the best
OF the younger tragic actors when ira.
sic actors were IN demand. he had
staged with the best OF the men and
women stars.
He was won't to account for his trou-
bles by saying that be was too good fot
the managers OF the day. who found no
use for actors Of his legitimate train-
/ ing and talent, The older man might
I have found better employment for his
! talents but for his ready response 10
| the call Of the Rialto and the worst that
7 that can mean
Is there no certainty that an actor
/ after having made "a reputation can
! continue 10 find work? Is such a play.
! err Ike the man who haunted the Rial
10 until he died there. liable TO find
| himself in the height OF his powers un-
able 10 get work because Of a change
in methods or fashions OF acting2 Does
! the record of a creditable career hold
no promise for the future?
"Nos. indeed said Mr.. Ellsworth.
manager Of the Actors society. which
annually makes hundreds OF engage
ments for the profession, answering
| the last question. THE actor who
[ finds himself 40 middle age unable To
get employment has something besides
his profession 90 blame.
He may be- unreliable. and usually
! II for one reason. lntcm9crauce may
ruin the career Of lawyer. a broker or
AN artist. Just as readily as that Of
an actor. ono actor that no manager
will engage Is the actor not 20 be- relied
on.
For the others there is always work.
In spite Of the opinion 90 the contrary.
the profession is not overcroWded.
There is plenty for capable men and
women 10 do, and there Is better pay
for them than they win get In mercan-
tile life
They can earn salaries that will en-
able them 10 live during the weeks
they aye engaged. have enough TO live
on AT other times and 10 save something
IN addition. / say this In spite Of the
fact that managers tell me the season
which has just come 10 a close was the
I worst known since 1883"
The case Of the man who had spent
so many years hanging about the ten
derlolu and found no occupation in
suite OF his record was cited 10 Mr..
| Ellsworth as an example of the dark
side o. the actors calling.
"He had only himself 10 blame" he
replied. "and there are many such
cases ! have on my desk a letter
that has just come 20 me from Canada.
a man whom ! know very well has
written asking me 20 try to find him a
/ sob Tor this winter. saying that ! know
/ how good an actor he Is. | do, and |
also know that 70 IS impossible for
I him 10 keep sober. So under the cir
/ cumstances I cannot afford TO recon-