The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-26
The Lure Of the Stage
CONTINUED From Page one.)

grandmother's axiom:
Vice is monster OF such
dreadful mein, that to be hated
needs but to be seen; but seen
too oft, familiar with her face,
first We pity. then endure, then
On the first day of our job
hunt Edythe had been instructed
to return to the office of the LET
fler-Bratton Co., who wanted
ponies" for their Buster
Brown" and THE Newlyweds"
So we went back. OIL
all the managers we had seen we
found these men the fairest and
most considerate. Edythe had
made an impression upon them,
and when she came back they
were willing to talk contract. Not
the least tremblingly the girl
sang and danced and talked be-
fore them. They inquired min
utely as to her age and her right
to leave home. Finally, being
satisfied with her, she was given
a paper to sign. and in short or
der our little girl was a member
of the famous "Newlyweds" bal
let. The company had been out
a part of last season, but expects
Its big run this year. Edythe is
to sing the "Boog-a-boo" song,
engage in a pillow fight, do a lit
tie minstrel stunt, dance and sing
and wear all sorts of abbreviated
costumes, six changes in all.
We went to ratty old hall in
w. 18th ST., where the company
is reahearsing without pay for
five weeks. We passed a drunk
en- blond woman, beautifully
dressed, in 34th st. and on Eighth
av. saw the house in which Elsie
Sigel was murdered by the China
man. Edythe looked with won
der at these things, but she was
as happy as child over her
great luck" and all of her self
confidence was now confirmed.
She is to get $40 per week,
have her railroad fare paid, and
all she will have to buy for stage
wear are shoes and common
stockings.
The S7th st. hall creaked un-
der the feet of 200 boys and girls
and grownups, members of two
musical companies, rehearsing.
1t sounded like a monkey house
at feeding time. One class was
rehearsing the music, gathered
about piano like country
singing school. The musical d.
rector who will travel with the
company was playing.
With infinite patience the di-
rector drilled his chorus. Each
member held the typewriter
song words and learned the mu-
sic from the piano. There are
few good soprano, alto, tenor and
bass voices in the chorus, and
they lead the commoner voices,
like Edythe's, the ensemble being
loud and effective.
Dozens of times the director,
standing at the keyboard, repeat
ed the unlearned strain. Will
ingfy and to the best of their
ability the chorus followed. Nov
give it to me strong" he would
say, and they would. ooh, rot
ten!" he'd say. Let me have
that bass; don't sing through
your noses, boys"
Our musical director was
pleasant fellow, but we have seen
some who are not. Ours didn't
swear at the girls; others do.
Zone, two, three; one, two,
three, now altogether-tra-la-la
Its fun to have supper out
doors, out doors, except when the
rain comes down"-and away the
chorus would go, only to be
stopped short and made to repeat
a single strain a score of times.
By the way, did you ever think
how foolish are the scare word
which carry the story of a musi-
cal comedy? The special songs
which do not relate to the comedy
bring out the encores.
Edythe is to try out dancing
next and have some new expert
ences, and she Is still unafraid.
| have told her that If her money
gives out will loan her a few
dollars, and she has seen a straw
stack hat in a Sixth av. shop
which she'd like to spend So for.
She says: "I'm the plainest
dressed girl in New York, Miss
Pollock-never mind, I'll have
nice clothes some day."
Nice clothes! Yes, my little
girl, but little do you know of the
souls that are sacrificed in the
name of nice clothes, of the flesh
that is bartered for the poor.
quickly perishing coverings which
such as you learn to prize above
honor and all else in life.
MISS POLLOCK'S STORY
WILL BE CONCLUDED IN To-
- Fr.v