The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-20
Confessions
Of A.'i.IlAetTess

1; II ~ * ~ Js-iisS x
| 6=]E@E-lo
Itts 50 seldom that tie hay public
gets any real idea Of the life behind
the tootHghts. We are either angels
or devils to the average playgoer. and
not one Of us seems to care about put.
ting the Ydear public" right. The &C.
tresses who write autobiographies
have great deal to say about kings
and queens and other famous people,
and very little about grease paint and
one-night stands: and the actresses
who get into the press because Of
other things are often disgraces to
the profession and their life stories
Horribly sbrdid and degrading.
That Is Why I should like to give
a plain. STRAIGHTFORWARD ACCOUNT Of
| my stage experiences. I think ! am
an average example Of the fairly sue
cessful actress. shall never be an
Ellen Terry or Sarah Bernhard:
but l get good parts every season In
broadway shows, have acted in the
FsIpport of some Of the best players
OF these times, and II get the atten.
ton OF one of the big managers l
may have my own electric signs yet.
Let me tell you about the thirteen
years have spent amusing the peo-
pie.
In 1897, when l first went on the
stage, was 20 years old. had a
high.school education, and for four
years | had been a stenographer, at
first for theatrical supply house and
then a public stenographer with office
room In o big building. Through my
old employers | got lots Of theatrical
business, circus stuff, bill.posting lists,
etc., and good many stage people
were regular customers Of mine. One
day our church society gave comic
opera-very amateurlsh. OF course,
but l made most Of the people |
knew buy tickets. After the, perform
ance, one man, the manager Of TO-
cal theatre, came up TO me. you
dance and sing too we'll for this sort
OF stutf," he said, CHUCK that type
writing and I'll get you job"
talked 1t over at home, my peo-
pie were willing to let me do what
ever wanted, and started out. !
never was crazy to go on the stage
| Just liked it. In fact, Id never been
very much Of a playgoer. Well. what
/ got was a chance to stand on the
back row Of the chorus In show a
friend OF my mans was putting out,
and to sing second soprano in some
eight songs. had speaking part
too. It was to step out with two 9TH
er girls and say. 1--WE know!" and
then again, 1--WE always thought So"
Heavy work there, wasn't it?
/ got $1S a week and my travelling
expenses: that did not include sleep
ers, of course, nor any other extras:
Our costumes were provided, but we
had to find our own shoes, stockings
and gloves. Eighteen dollars looked
sick about two days after the ghost
walked, l can tell you. We stayed
IN town three weeks end then We
started on the road. ...
Don't talk to me about travelling!
By the time we reached the other end
of the continent l wanted to live in
poorhouse rather than ever see
new city again. 1t was nothing but
one-night stands, and trains at 2
o'clock in the morning, and dirty coun'
try opera houses, and cheap food, and
blizzards without the money to buy
furs with. When the season was
over l went home as fast as I could
go; never wanted to leave typewrit-
ing again.
But when I thought It out, decid.
ed there was more ahead for me on
the stage; l would go back. Pretty
soon added, IF l can get back" |
think l saw every manager in New
York; it was a poor season and moth
Ing was doing. l couldn't act, any
way, and there were more chorus
girls out of jobs than flies on a fly
paper. didn't have any strenuous
experiences; not one wicked million
aire offered to be my angel. When
you're on the back row OF the chorus
and too tired to think, you don't have
to bother much about temptations"
That came later.
Well, went back home, and one
Of my theatrical friends got me an
other job. This time it was real act
ing in a second.rate stock company
that played rehashed plays made IA
nous by well.known actors. was
given chance to play ingenue parts.
and for some unknown reason l made
good. It was mighty fine training
everything from Barrie to sardou;
but the only time l had to myself was
from / to 9 in the morning, for we
changed plays every week, with NATL
nees every day (and two on holidays,
and rehearsal was called every morn:
ing at 10 o'clock. When May came
l was offered position with another
stock company IN a country town, but
$1,000 7 sUn1t krvn Tnonfho IN my