The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-04-17
I'HE STAGE
-
ACTORS EUNp EAIR..
(By E. D. Price

: Why should the Actors Fund hold
a faira Why should a thousand earn
est women dragnet the town and the
whole country from coast to coast in
search Of donations and cash contrI
buttons for the enormous bazaar To
be given in the Metropolitan ope,a
House the week Of May 6? The q1es
ton has been seriously asked by PEG
pie who want to know why they arc
zbesought TO give. 1t should be an
swered.
Do you know what work the Actors
Fund aceompllshes and has accom-
plIshed for the past quarter of cen
fury? First let 1t be clearly under
stood what the Fund does not do. i
does not help the man or woman ply
sIcally capable Of professional endeav
or. 1t does not maintain the idle. II
does not put premium upon I'm
providence. You may say carelessly
or thoushtlessly-for you would moi
- well Informed, as you arc entitled
to be.
2 "0h, why should actors have bene
hts? They make plenty Of money. The
ztheaters arc crowded; their people gel
big salaries. will reserve my boun
sty for the worthy poor. will proba
Sbly go to the Fair, for 1t will be big
and brilliant, with music and excite
ment and crowds of pretty actresses
But why should | make a donation?'
This is the answer. There are none
poorer than the players In sickness
and adversely. There is no other pro
fessIon that offers so uncertain Q
means otllvellhood. An actor may re
hearse weeks for a failure that en-
dures but a fortnight and be idle
through no fault Of his own, for weeks
thereafter. There are capable PEG
pie who cannot secure engagements
for more than six, eight or a dozer
weeks out Of the theatrical year. which
only covers from thirty 10 fort,
n, weeks, The maturity n, actors oyor
when emnloyed nre .,ndor Tho hoov,
exnense n travel with often Tho ,,,d
"a burden M families 10 m,ir,,Ir an
save llttla
Ina. For Old AM.
1t is pretty hard for the rank AMI
file 10 acquire a substantial reserve
10 tide over the period Of enforced
idleness, or meet the sudden emer.en
Giles Of sickness. Then there IL the
stcalthy and dreaded approach OF oil
age, when physical and mental powcr.
. weaken God help the old actor upor
whom fortune has not ralned a Shove,
Of golden blessings.
There Is no conditions of life more
pltIable than that Of the aged and In
firm PLAYER, wholly untitled BY train
ing for any other ayocatalon than tho
precarious one that In Youth and
strength. he so eagerly and enthusIas
tically adopted. He is a human dere
g1!ct upon a sea Of misfortune, without
rudder or commas, and no ruIdlns
star but the Actors Fund.
Now. what docs this fund strive ,r
accomnlisb within lie means7 II hears
n message of comfort TO the sick bed
II bostows fond shelter and medical
attendance II provides decent buria'
when the last call comes II save,
tho noor worp.ou, busk or humauit,
from n pauper's grave II gives rest
ing Mace in the heautIful Greenwood
Mot dedicated to ,ts own. II saws tc
the faiptIur. broken veteran: "Yor
shall not become n penuIless wonderel
or an almsbouse inmate Int We inylt,
Won IN he nm bonored cuest in on,
charming home on Staten Island
where Won NAV. preserve your digplt,
and selt.respecl AMI composedly await
your final summons amid peace and
comfort and congenlal companion
ship.
That Is good, soud. practical human
tartan WORK Is II notp Inst hear In
selved BY men and women with hearts
mat IL Is carrleu on Dy oWcllis ol lh