The Detroit times., 1912-09-16
|l8ZIILe BuxHe>
ON THE STAGE AS A VOCATION
BY siLllE BURKE.

bY ptGItG SSEsNS'
First word-For the girl who has
talent. the stage offers q splendid op'
bortnnity..
A number OF young persons, both
men and women, have written me
asking for advice about going on the
stare. While | cannot answer these
letters except in q general way
through the papers. would like to
say that for the young woman who
has talent. the stage today offers
@ereat possibilities: but here's the rub.
One, must be sure one has talent.
ri The path TO stardom is strewn with
bliahtet ambition and broken hearts.
ARfri sees her favorite actress on the
kiARe wearing beautiful clothes, hay-
inns nice part. and gaining vocifer-
Gus applause, and II is very natural
tiint. shc should think that she would
ike 70 have such an easy place in life,
Shs cannot know OF the discourage
faefts. the hard work, and the many
disaDpointments that this actress has
ibne, through before she reached her
place.
~ every year thousands OF girls go
sb,f sthe stage In the different com
bahias in England and in America.
and out OF the thousands probably one
will reach the top. IL you have health
energy and the right kind OF stamina
70 Withstand not only the temptations
that come TO every woman who goes
out In the world TO work. but the dis-
couragements that come perhaps
thicker and faster TO the would-be ac-
tress than to the girl In any other en-
ployment. then ! for one, would not
discourage YOU. III, however, you
'tllink only OF the adulation. the lights,
the howers, and the notoriety which
may come to you. you had better stay
away.
~ Al famous actress. when asked what
success in her profession meant, said:
..Hard work. and many tears" II Is
the one profession where the thing
that you succeed in counts little.
An actor friend OF mine said To me
recently--and he is man well mp in
his profession--'I sometimes think
will hire out In butcher shop. Al
,ter learning once To cut beef well. /
would probably be able to cut it well
4cver utter But having acted one part
successfully, I must begin a totally
dIfferent manner on the next part
tblcb b secure and there is always
me dreadful feeling on first night that
The TieAr public will turn down its
thanabsss
sa4 lEfowerer. the stage Is the only place
where q woman can get the same
hnount or money for the same kind OF
work In the field OF business or art
to-day. Indeed. a leading woman in
high-class company today gets more
money than the leading man OF that
company.
saeI always feel. though. when any one
tofkNs nte nae and asks how they shall
: 20 on the stage that they will not sue
coed, because the temperament which
asks advice In this matter Is not the
temperament that is Independent
enough TO work ont its own success.
Sincerity Is perhaps the greatest
sasset of the actor, and after that
comes observation. But one must add
TO these splendid health and unbound
ed energy II does not matter so
much u one have beauty; in fact. I am
not sure that great beauty is not
detriment. The greatest actresses mp
on the stage today are not beautiful
women
Jnsts One Last word---To you who
are thinking OF going on the stage.
let Bifiio Burke whisper. AH-at-
tress' life Is not all cakes and ale.
Ard please don't write me personal
letters asking advice on stage ambi.
tions.