Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-22
Copyright, 1907 BY Thomas Il. Mckee
BY ANNA ALICE CHAPLIN.

DlOuSeS DSOAA
mourning the fact that they could afford nothing
new until they got engagement now lifted up
their curled heads and rejoiced Those who had
brayely invested their all in new fall suits in which
to impress the managers dragged themselves along
the line with smiling scarlet faces halfsuocated by
the heat but deahlessy proud of their unreasonable
fnery.
The Hopeful Girl from the Provinces walked very
quickly up the Rialto--at least, quickly as she
could. The crowds Of hungry looking actors ranged
about every street corner discouraged locomo-
tion at times She felt nervous and alone. 1t was
one thing to consider seriously in her country
bedroom the trials of stage life, quite another to
live them. She had said to herself:
"It isn't as though l didn't know Just what am
going into-the drudgery and dscouragement and
difficulty Haven't read Of that in every interview
with every actress and every article by every play
wright for the last five years? OF course know and
l shall be quite content with a maids part-which
Miss Morris says is the test of real dramatic amb-
tion" (She wouldn't have said "Clara Morris for
the world The Miss" seemed more intimate, some
howl
Poor little Hopeful Girl! She did not any longer
talk parrowise Of the thorny path of the ambitious
She had been to eight managers Offices. Three of the
managers had declined to be interviewed Three more
had laughed at her. and said that they had no room
for beginners The other two had told her briefly to
call in every week; they might place her in chorus
or among the extras, later on The humble vision
of he maids part had grown to look as big as Juliet
or Magda and just about attainable.
The Hopeful Girl looked anxiously at the street
numbers as she walked on. New York still new
to her and she did not want to pass her next goal
the Office of dramatic agent who had told her to
look in about four-thrty each afternoon.
When she reached the Office entrance-it in a
big theatre building-she felt little breathless and
dizzy from the heat She had to wait a minute be-
fore climbing the stairway, leaning against the side
of the door rather white and limp
"Do anything for you?" asked bluff comedy man
In plaid suit.
She shook her head
An electric hanson stopped at the door and q
pretty rouged woman feather boa that smelled Of
vioets sprang out Her face was anxious and eager;
she pulled nervously at her gloves as she in.
She turned her big dark eyes the Girl with sort
of babyish, startled stare.
''Ill?" she exclaimed. "On, I'm so sorry! One
passed hastily on. The Girl felt little culver run
through her. The woman was Miss Masters, John
Cannisters leading woman.
"How lovely she Isl" murmured the Girl, as she
slowly and rather dizzily mounted the two fights
that led up to Cornwall Summers Office The little
waiting-room was full of people, men and women. A
buzz of conversation was going ont reminded the
Hopeful Girl of afternoon tea in Monktown, Massa-
chusetts The sweet-faced gray-hared woman who
sat near the window writing in big book and open
ing letters looked up and smiled at the Girl she
came in. Two men made way for her to pass, and
she crossed the room and stood wearily by the
gray-haired woman's desk. There was chair left
unoccupied in the
'It's hot, isn't it?" said the woman.
"oh, yes" answered the Girl, hastily. grateful for
the meeting
"Ycu're lucky not to be rehearsingP said the
gray-hared woman, comfortingly. She was the type
Of woman whose only idea of condoling is to con-
graduate you on your escape from worse ills
woman who sat near laughed sarcastically. "Great
luck!" she remarked, dryly. "oh, yes Gee yes!
We're all just getting down on our knees, thanking
Providence we're not rehearsingl Who'd rehearse
this weather, anyhow? Only know"-she drawled
this out in a anguid fashion-'Tm beastly afraid
the managers won't let me rest comfortably! They
just poster to death
There general laugh at this. and the gray
haired woman smiled indugently. You're a cheer
full girl, ILL., she said "It always does me good to
see you. Nothing seems to down you"
"oh, well, say! What's the use?" said Lii
She was very pretty, very thin, and much nade-up;
her soft, abundant hair dressed exaggeratedly;
her clothes were becoming but in bad TASTE
"If that isn't, Jimmie Sears!' she cried, suddenly
springing up 1--WE were in The Sins of the Fathers