Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-29
[ LIFE--By Euelyr1 Nesbit TT
Iha1U

made in those early days to master such cias-
sizes as came my way had been a sort of men,
tai gymnastics which enabled me to secure a
sense of proportion, the one sense which spells
salvation to a girl upon whom is lavished the
subtle hattery OF publicity. This, and my own
taste for healthy openair life, enabled me to
take normal view of things. | 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 | am asked in what shirt I an
preached the stage and the career it offered
me I say I approached the stage as l would
a virgin forest, with a bubbling sense of hap
piness in the revelations which it would omen
TO me. | was not stage-struck in the accepted
sense | never thought of the audiences and
what charm l might exert over them. I did
not anticipate huge triumphs in floral tributes
handed across the footlights nor did dream
dreams Of laudatory newspaper notices. |
was supremely Indifferent as to the position
/ might occupy In the profession; It was enough
to me that l should be one with the people of
the new world, privy to their lives, their habits
of thought and speech 1 should be "in it."
There came offers TO me from all manner
Of people, promising me this and that success;
dazzling prospects OF distant fame were helG
before my eyes With the advertisement given
me by newspapers I should command high sal
aries, I should star l should be the most
talked-of woman In America-all these prom
AnOo' iAbAC-iiodAe Culy BlNcus EHll6 10 me- ana
remember that l was not impressed l was
only interested In the actual getting there"
One letter from manager asking for my ser.
vices at $50 a week would have .eclipsed all
other communications. l was sane enough to
realize that freakish 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 20 make double income. / could
uNde nv AaU aNA
The dollars counted horribly, for had tasted
privation and was anxious to put myself as
far distant from a repetition as I 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 inexorably in
the direction was to take
Every day the new life became q more tan
g1ble possibility, and when at length entered
the unpromising stage door It seemed less of
a new experience than an introduction 10 a
life with which was already familiar
l had letter from Mr.. Marks, who was n
theatrical manager. He was very anxious that
| 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
position in "Bloradora," and some time later
through girl knew, met him and secured
a letter Of introduction to John @. Fishell, who
was at that time the manager of the "Flora-
became a practical issue. overruled mother's
objections, and went with her one day to Nh
Fishelrs office He had a long look at me. He
was pleasant. genial man. blessed with a
sense Of humor, and he burst into 1T of
laughter
$50 you want to be an aotressr' he said, with
mock soemnity. Il am running a theater. not
a baby farm. Why" he went on, IF took
you in Floradora' should have the Gerry
Society on my back. No, my child, l can not
rob the cradle.
When got back to the office Mr. Fishell
asked me If could dance. l said, YES"
little fearfully. l had learned dancing at a
school In Ptttsburg. He sent for a woman who
came to the piano and played.
The stage manager was keep on my coming
into the theater, but Mr.. FsAen was not so
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
10 be 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"
mi