The Washington times., 1911-06-19
Veteran Actress at Belasco
Enthusiastic Over Her
Profession.
CALLSIT ONE OF THE
BEST OCCUPATIONS
Urges Parents to Let Stage-Struck
Daughters Have Their
, Chance.
By JULIA MURDOCH.

For some reason not explained by
psychologists, 1t is almost the invaria BILE
custom for those who have achieved
signal success in any particular profess
sion, to warn others. seeking a like sue
cess, against 1t. Whether 1t is because
having arrived at the top of the ladder,
they fear that their sure footing will be
be Jostled or that the admiration of the
public will be divided, has never been
discovered.
A refreshing departure from this al
most universal state of affairs is seen
in the case of Adelaide Stanhope
Wheatcroft. who is now playing a sum
mer engagement with the Belasco Stock
Company. With her It is not the case
Of there amt going to be no core"
She is willing that everybody shall have
generous bite of the big, juicy, red
checked apple of good fortune that fate
has kindly proffered her: not to keep 1t
all 10 herself.
so when one meets in the professions
that anomaly-a woman who is willing
TO give other women a chance, 1t is
hats off to her. And when she an
nounces that she is not only willing,
but Is anxious to give the weaker mem
DNAS IA iACI JlIl, dlOHR with
the chance. one is almost tempted to
rub ones eyes, and. like the small child
in the story, wonder If II is not all a
dream.
Mrs. Wheatcroft says there is plenty
of room on the American. stage for
every girl who wishes to adopt the
drama Tor afprofession. The stage will
never be overcrowded," she says, for
the very excellent reason that the idIers
will drop out"
Some Essentials
To Success on Stage.
In a painfully clean. and sanitary
dressing room of the Belasco Theater.
a room that resembIed a hall bedroom
in regard 10 its homelike qualities, and
while rehearsal was in progress on the
darkened and nearly bare stage, Mrs.
Wheatcroft told of some of the essen
tials TO success on the stage.
had begun the interview by asking
her a hypothetical question: Would she
advise a mother with only one daugh-
ter to place her upon the stage?
by all means" she answered in a
iiffY. One of the verv best occupations
for girl is the stage. either for the
girl who. Is compelled to make her own
living. or FOR tie girl ip comfortable
/ asked hor, to- tell me her reasons, so
that / might pass them on to the hum
dreds OF stage-struck girls who eagerly
devOur the words tDat fall from the
lips Of those who have been successful
in the drama.
There are any number of reasons"
she answered. In the first place, the
stage opens endless possibilities for the
girl who Is willing TO work: who will
divest herself Of every distracting in
tiuence, and mass her energies on the
work Of making good. In the second
place. the girl will have the culture of
contact that is to be derived from good
companies. and the means of education
she will make COR herself will give her
larger horizon than she could pos
sihlv have under almost anv other con-
ditions. Then, toe. success comes more
quickly, and the pay is better.
las for the temptations that beset
girls of the stage. l do not believe they
are more to be feared than those that
come 10 the average city girl in any
ordinary walk Of life
Disappointments
Same as in other Walks.
How about the disappointments that
come with hunting an engagement"
was the next question.
We'll, of course. that must come, but
the same disappointment comes to the