The evening world., 1912-12-21
She Has a Mission in Life,
But Feels She Can't
Carry II Out at Weber
& Fields, end So May
Leave the Music Hall.
BY CHARLES DARNTON.

T'HDRE are moments that seem
almost sacred. II was In such
. moment . hush falling
upon her voice and new light shin.
ing IN her eyes. that she said with
deep conviction:
II fol I have Q mission in life"
And then Miss Marie Drsssler sat In
silence. her steadfast gass fixed upon O
green hatbox In q corner OF her dress-
ing-room at Weber and Fselds's music
hall. Past the open door tr1pped earnest
workers In the chorus. some In sweaters,
others In nothing to speak OF. and not
infreQuentiy one wrapped In trailing
furs. But they passed unhssded. even
az chickens cross the street. A watch
licked fatofuliy. rheu q sigh swept the
room.
"Y'up," resumed Miss Dresden, Il be-
ievs I was put on earth for a definite
purpose. I'm the outlet for the tired
mans brain. He sees me come slobbing
on and says, I'm glad I came. He
finds relaxation In seeing me make a
fool OF myself. II did something else =
II I becasps intensely dramatio--hSd be
saying 80 himself. My God! how'll I
meet that bill?' And yet the other day
when I recited a touching little poem
at the Plaza I had everybody In th hall
crying. After 1t was over all the women
grabbed me and said: Why don't you
do something big?' But l won't insult
my audience. I won't disappomt It. I
know what 1t expects me to do. and I
do Il. ] don't believe there II another
performer in the world who feels about
an audience as l do. IL man should
walk In here now and give me fifty
dollar bill. saying. I'm coming every
Thursday afternoon to hear YOU stng.
"a be right here ready to sing for him
every Thursday. But I haven't even
song Of my own in this piece. Heaven
knows I'm not a prima donna-thots not
II. But / feel that I'm not playing fair
with my audiences because It Is impos-
sible to give them what they expect with
the material that has been given me.
So rye decided to leave"
could only bring out an astonished
What"
sHE'e GOING TO HAND IN HER
NOTICE MONDAY.
"I'm going to hand In my two weeks
notice on Monday" she declared. 1--WE
tod the boys how / feel about my per-
formance, and both Weber ana Fields
have looked at me blankly and said:
Well. Marie. what can We do" I'm
sorry about It, and l don't want to bur-
den you with my hard luck story. But
you happen TO have walked right into
II. I feel tina. l owe something more
TO my friends than ! am able TO give
them a. matters stand now. I've not
forgotten the friends who stood by me
when things we're very hard for me-"
Her eyes filled until the tears ran
down her cheeks. This was more than
I had bargained for. Marie Dressler in
tear was not a funny sight. 1t was a
relief to see her dry her eyer as she
said:
II don't object to legitimate horse
play, but hate II when It's dragged
In. And can't help feeling that every
thins I am doing now is dragged In. I'm
psrS>otly willing to fall into an auto
mobile or out of It. but ! don't Ike
doing Il merely as stunt And then
should like to come on bit later on II
the chow, when the late diners are II
thSlr seats, instead Of being Obliged 4
work without results while people arr
stiIl coming in When | go on ! wan
TO like everybody. You can't tell nj
you can't carry your own atmosphere
I never fight with the orchestra leaie
and ! like all the chorus girls. but
can't be myself when conditions are un
favorable. Yes" she agreed momen
later. all this may be changed. IL vii