Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
Z LIFE--By Eve1yr Nesbit TT
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made in those early days TO master such cIas-
sizes as came my way had been a sort of mem
tai gymnastics which enabled me 70 secure a
sense of proportion, the one sense which SMELLS
salvation to girl upon whom is lavished the
subtle fattery of publicity. This, and my own
taste for healthy open-air life enabled me to
take a normal view of things. I have always
loved the fields and the woods and every beast
that walks or creeps or crawls There are no
phenomena of nature which are not beautiful
to me.
So when l am asked in what spirit I an
preached the stage and the career it offered
me, l say I approached the stage as l would
virgin forest, with bubbling sense of hap
piness In the revelations which it would open
to me. l was not stagestruck in the accented
sense. l never thought of the audiences and
what charm | might exert over them. | did
not anticipate huge triumphs in floral tributes
handed across the footlights, did | dream
dreams or laudatory newspaper notices l
was supremely Indifferent as to the position
might occupy in the profession; It was enough
to me that should be one with the people Of
the new world, privy to their lives, their habits
of thought and speech | should be 'in It"
There came offers to me from all manner
Of people, promising me this and that successi
dazzling prospects OF distant fame were held
before my eyes, With the advertisement given
me by newspapers | should command high SAL
aries, / should star, | should be the most.
ises, lightheartedly given, came to me, and
remember that | was not impressed. I was
only interested In the actual getting there"
One letter from manager asking for my ser.
vices at $40 week would have eclipsed all
other communications, was sane enough to
realize that a freaksh notoriety was not de-
sirable from any point Of view.
The greatest advancement, apart from an IN
born desire for enlargement Of life. lay in
the very material fact that the stage life would
enable me to make a double income I could
pose by day and appear on the stage by night
The dollars counted horribly. for had tasted
prtvation and was anxious TO put myself as
far distant from repetition as ! could,
| do not think that my mother was over
anxious for me TO adopt the stage as my pro-
fession. but fate was moving me lnexorably IN
the direction was to take.
Every day the new life became q more TIN
g1ble possibility, and when at length entered
the unpromisins stage door 1t seemed less Of
new experience than an introduction TO q
life with which was already familiar
l had letter from Mr.. Marks. who was q
theatrical manager. He was very anxious that
l should go on the stage and promised me that
he would do all he could to make me famous
These letters used to come addressed to US
but we paid little attention to them, but after
ward he wrote saying that he could get me q
position in "Floradora," and some time later
through a girl knew, met him and secured
letter Of Introduction to John G. Fishell who
was at that time the manager of the Flora,
dora" company. From thence onward the stags
became practical issue. | overruled mother'f
objections, and went with her one day to M
F1shells office. He had a long look at me- 81
was a pleasant genial man, blessed with g
sense of humor, and he burst into At a
laughter.
$50 you want to be an actress7'' he said, VT
mock solemnity. 81 am running a theater, no
q baby farm. Why" he went on, '1f tooA
you in 'F1oradora' l should have the Gerry
Society on my back. No, my child, l can noe
rob the cradle.
When l got back to the office Mr. FisheTk
asked me II could dance. said, YES" 4
little fearfully. / had learned dancing at 4
school in Pittsburg. He sent for a woman Wild
came to the piano and played
The stage manager was keen on my comina
into the theater but Mr.. Fishell was not sd
enthusiastic and said he would let me know
The fact is" he said frankly the only
chance of your coming on the stage is for you
to be a little reticent as to what your age is
II you like to do this am willing to give you
a trial; you can come tomorrow and rehearse"