New-York tribune., 1912-03-31

Harriet had 10 write home to her uncle
moved UP to the floor above, where the
for 500 more He sent her $50, and she
rent was 80 cents a week cheaper. II was
rep" company She spent the season
on the sleeper route, buoyed up with the
hope that next year she could book for
Broadway. Next season came, and after
becoming footsore along Broadway hunt
ing a place in New York cast, she was
glad at the last moment to sign up with
:, hy-by-nght company
Three seasons she played rep with Just
money enough left TO buy her dresses for
the next season. And two of these she had
to buy at misft parlors along Sixth ave
nue.. Her letters home grew further ano
further apart. She lost interest in the
home girls--lnaking d living was too sap
ping to spend energies that didn't directly
bring in money.
Signing with a company. she settled down
TO enjoy the two weeks before rehearsals
should begin. BY chance she looked over
the route one day. On ii was her own
town She was Mortified At home they
all thought her q leading lady in some big
cast. Going TO the manager she asked him
No" On the spot she resigned-with s.
in her pocket and no prospects of job in
sight
Harriet was in deep water. She tried
writing for the newspapers for while
and becoming discouraged, she started a.
business college. This she gave up after
months tuition. Now she IS "spottor
for a street car company. and once a week
goes out for a few blissful hours at some
restaurant where the ceiling lights glimmer
through clusters Of artificial grapes.
At a certain we'll known art school near
Broadway is a Saunt. worried looking WON
an who came 10 New York ten years ago
from a small lake town in Wisconsin. Her
purpose was to study illustrating. Now
her brow is taut with carnestnesS. and
around the corners of her mouth Is doggcd
determination One day in Z burst Of con
fdence she told the monitor Of her class
how she had taught school for SIX wears,
saving every possible penny the while that
she might become an artist. She Nas firm
in the belief that one year at an art scho d
would ht her for magazine Illustrating
She has spent ten years at IL, and no
larger magazine has yet used any oi her
work And the tragedy Of IL all Is tndt
she still keeps her faith in herself and
each wear believes that the next will see
her burst from the gloom of Obscurity INTO
the sunshine of popular recognition. Ten
wears she has lived in skyliSht room
cooking over the gas jet, wet cloth bound
around her hand. doing her few bits Of
linen in the washbowl, cutting her Neuf-
chatel with "A palette knife and hoping
biob No one dares tell her the uumblns
truth. instructors at the art school under
stand. and even when they issue sharp
reprjnsnds TO their most promising stu
dents they always remember To bc con
siderate with her.
Genius is often born with sharklrs II us-
to surmount obstacles, OF else II "ouldn.
. s.pius Very, very few grnius-s arc
l,r, with the pIOverbih gold spoon IA
,h.3r mouths. SO. more budding grniu-rs
ar. +, b. found on the third floor bah ia
Nav York than In apartment houses with
a uniformed autOmaton at the iron d"oi.
! Go into IT small eating sh0p-a beanery,
az il is technically called by the genius
rrof.yslon- and fall into conversation win
/ ,.,,,r rcirhbor. Even If his collar gaps and
hf. ,,.t bulgcs around the neck from too
f,.o,uont trips To the steam cleaners, hc
,.. i. worth whit, over his bowl "f
-,.,,r b.. ma, open his soul IN Sd 80
,,aLe ,oy ftcI mean and inconsrql J.
! 1be .ueed ~ hts mind may make your
! .ecn, 20 tramp IN uooden shoes.
such . one found one day IN Seventh
avenue A, ltne lunch house WHICH
enumerates its offerings in the front win.