The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-04

wv VI asIas ~ HESIsTg sTk'HF7
z ~ 4 7"''
Just to say 6o$ III you do, il moth.
Ing more. :"
well, that means q whole lot she
answered, WITH q seni-pathetlc smile
on her face. 4'I,m Just hilpgering fol
someone to talk 10; for II there Il
any individual on this earth who SUI.
| fers from lack Of companlonship, and
Is made miserable by the isolation Of
her position, that onetts d star
"You know, we women Of the stage
who have been unfortunate in being
made stars, pay an awful penalty for
what the world considers a reward for
such ability as wsapossess. and the
isolation OF our sltion; Is never so
much in evidence as during the time
between the matinee and evening per,
formances. generally stay in the
theater during that time, as !, am com
pletely worn out blythe part l play,
and the demands It makes on my ply
steal and nervous energy You know,
Just before you came On, ! was think;
ing about the hundreds OF women who
were in at the matinee this afternoon,
and thought Of how happy they must
be to go TO their homes where their
husbands, their children, or mothers
and fathers and dear friends, will meet
them, and how IggopId relish the
great gift OF intimate association with
those. whose Affections and express
sions of friendship are based on sin.
eege and suhssantial foundations;
where display of kindness is unalloyed
with motive; ,where,a, kindly; word Is
expressed without a!5sneer, or later
something to be asked in return. Oh,
1t must be happinessi personifed TO-
live a life that isf absqMteiy real. II
there Is a miserable saEsatare, who re-
ceives less for what she gives, 1t is a
star. What does she know OF home
life? Her compantods are few, be:
cause the less the public knows of her,
the more easy'tt Is 70 weave romance
about her, and tf1tlenej Is no romance
about a star, she; iaelSs9tAe drawing
quality which makes stars successful
from a money pointq,ef view. Her
every action must belstudied, for fear
of being misunderstood. She cannot
do, the things, that other women do,
because her public will think her COM
monplace. On, just 10 be an ordin.
airy woman, and so around from one
shop to another, ,drop. Into this hotel
and have a cup OF tea or in that
one to have luncheon With q friend, to
enjoy the liberty that our American
women enjoy, would more than
reeompense me. for the l9ss Of my
@tellar position. Even with my fel-
.Iow.players ] must hold myself a1oos.
| can't be free with them, as It will
tend to destroy discipline. In fact,
my daily life is laid down by rule.
and the denial OF all these things u
would love to have Is 'the price ]
haze 10 pay for having my name in
'eectr!c letters in front q, the theater,
and IN heavy type on the programme,
And what do get? In:the theater ]
have the best dressing room; when,I
am travelling. my physical comforts
are looked after; / receive a good
salary and an interest in the profits
out OF my playvbut that doesn't make
up for tine loss of home, and q, hus-
band. that would look up to, instead
of down on, as Is the case among many
marriages of professional people, l
long for the little Riddles that will
never have. because my life. on the
stage will not permit Of them; long
for the friends who are friends be-
cause OF the Joy OF friendship. not on
account OF the position, that | oeeGpy.
Well, suppose am getting no more
than asked for. q L chose this way OF
making my living. j have made my
bed, and must lie ontit,ss
just then a waiter from nearby
restaurant came ntiwIth her simple.
evening meal, and with a cheering
word / babe her good night" and
walked out into the street.
AS / went along / unused "yop
may be lsolated-you may be blue
and unhappy, but you have been sue
cessful in your work You are .
successful star, and there are ,thol-
ailds OF women who would trade
places with you right now women
with husbands, homes, children, and
girls surrounded with every luxury
that money can buy" Then the
thought came to me+ "ls,there anyone
in this world really happy and con-
tented?"
-------- No. -