The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04
DUCHESS AS REAL EMPRESS Bad Conditions of Actors and Actresses in
 Austria
By EMIL ANDRossy

Vienna. February 3.-(Special.)--A re- port which reaches here from Berlin has caused fiutter in the highest social cir cles. It Is to the effect that the German Kaiser has assured the Archduke Franz Ferdinand that after he has ascended the throne upon his first visit to Berlin, his morganatic wife. the Duchess of IIohen- berg, will be received and entertained at the German court ns though she was tho Empress of Austria.
 This report. if true, Is taken to mean that 1t Is the purpose of the heir to Inc throne to legitimize his marriage to the fair Hungarian immediately he comes to the throne.
 And this may not he long. I learn that despite the optimistic reports con- corning the old Emperor's health which are officially given out, that it Is common knowledge in diplomatic circles that his condition is causing the gravest concern to his physicians, so much so, indeed that all the members of the royal family have been told not 10 absent themselves from the immediate vicinity of the castle any length of time.
 Difficulties meet the American actor and actress, but things appear to be much worse in Austria. Special inquiries into conditions in the latter country have been made for the "Neuses Wiener Journal and some extraordinary statements are published in the columns of that news paper State organization has apparently done little to advance the conditions un- der which the members of the profession earn their living. Bribery still exists SO that it is sometimes necessary Tor tnc artist who hopes to obtain an engagement to pledge himself 10 pay well for their chance A remarkable experience is TO- lated of the way in which an actress wno declined to be mulcted of the usual fees was i'll treated There are still stages erected on the most primitive supports. and a description is given of circum- stances little better than those Of media val times The season lasts under SIX months, an dthe average of the rate or payment shows that allowing for con siderable number of actors who are realty well paid, a certain percentage of me1 must exist on less than two and half kronen. s2la cents a day. In a good many instances they support their wives on thls sum- In cases where the wives are ac- tresses, they have to provide their own dresses. and must frequently appear be- fore the public in the parts of society ladies or clothed in historic dresses or handsome cut and btNle. IT hds bf'ii reckoned that some of the men are keep ing body and soul together on a monthly salary of so kronen G2o), and the maxi mum for the beginner is 150 kronen 937.5, month
 If conditions for men are bad, It need hardly be stated that women fare much worse. Misery indeed, has reached such a point that an actress association has been founded and is expected soon to he in working order A costume fund has been organized. This will help ni-rvcs- to buy stage dresses at the cheapest pos sibIe rate. Payment may be made month- lv and at so moderate a figure that some times as little as 2 crowns (50 cents) month will be accepted. The money s tc be kept back from the salary of the debtor perhaps with a view to sparing her the temptation of forgetting to duly render her regular payments. Activity on many sides is awakened by the suferings of sections of the community who merit much niger reward for the laoorious tasks they perform. If the members Of the association succeed in improving the conditions nnder which the profession work, they will then set about further alteration of the mediaeyal idea that hold good as to the social position of men and women who earn their living on the stage.