Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-05-09

1 ANshhN1 bHNh w AFCW YIN lac bhOW
wouldn't do" and even the cleo.
tricians knew there was no use trying
1t out any further.
What "Friend" Means.
Three weeks later | got my first
regular employment. 1t was think
ing part in one of the big Broadway
successes of the year We played at
one theater 200 times, and during that
time ! played the leading womans
part three times. | resembled her in
face and figure. and had been made
her understudy. l got $40 a week.
Let me say right here that was as
high as l ever got.
In the spring four companies play
ing this success were made up to go
on the road. / was selected for the
company that was TO play the south,
and my hopes rose high, as l felt sure
that | would be given the lead. When
the time for rehearsing came
preached this idea of mine to the man.
ager, who was to take out the south
ern company.
Nav" said he, "a friend of IS
1.-THE owner of the show is going to
have that"
WHY" asked. "You know the
part is made for me-"
81 know it is" he agreed, land you
ought to have it. But | amt heard
no friend of yours putting in spiel
for you. The new girl is IS friend;
don't you get me?"
do you mean to say that influence
is all that counts in case like this?"
l asked.
1T counts enough to say that you
don't get no boost till you get some
pull" he said. you could get it
easy, too; you're young and look good
to me-"
1t cost me my job to tell him what
thought Of him and the methods of
the owner, but felt better when it
was over. Experience No. g. The road
to quick preference was not one l
could follow.
Talent Not Key to Success.
So determined to make my talent
win me my way. For the next two
months ! had a series of experiences
that Disguised me. | sought employ
ment steadily. but 1t was in the sea-
son when only cheap companies were
being given work, and the two posi-
tons offered me were so much lower
than the one | had just left that
could not accept them
Finally | went on the road with
light comedy. My part was one that
fitted me eXcellently, and made
| tbat nI1od II
cost me something in pride to do It,,
because the leading man was drunk
every night and persisted in Fostering
me with his attention.
He said he would marry me as soon
as his wife got divorce. In the mean
time | laughed at him and told him
to take his pleas elsewhere. For the
rest of the tour he did everything he
could to spoil my scenes, but in spite
Of him came TO New York with
something Of a reputation.
TOO cia.Sashiooed.
That was all the good Il did me.
Managers acknowledged that was
competent far beyond the ordinary,
and several of them had good parts
that were made for me; but what
right had to expect one of themf |
wasn't star. Who was putting IN a
, word for me? Where was my pull?
My only qualification was my abil-
; ity to play the parts successfully, and
, that wasn't enough. This is not say
ing that ability has not some small
chance of winning recognition by
itself on the stage But my experience
showed me that they are so small as
to be the merest kind of gamble. and
that most opportunities for success
are not gained in this way alone.
The landlady in my rooming house
on Forty-eighth street put it all in Q
few words
You're old-fashioned, dearie. and
that's handicap in this business"
At the end Of three years of being
an actress sat down and began tc
figure up | was then twenty-five
years old. mature physically and men
tally, and, by the word of managers
a good actress. Yet l had never go
beyond minor parts at small salary
| had Internationally suffered-iI
| the long periods between engage
| ments, and so far as ! could see moth
| ing but some unforeseen STROKE o
| luck could bring me the advancement
| necessary for the chance of a success
| full career.
| Wrecks of Youth and Hope.
| All around me were the wrecks o
| youth and hope, women who wer
hanging on because they hoped an
hoped for that stroke of luck to strik
them. Beating them out in all line
! of the profession we're girls who wer
To willing to pay any price for prefe
ence-and who were paying it. sa'
before me years of continued strui
it giles, of long waits between engag
to ments when ny savings would
ed swallowed up, of constantly diminis'
ing hope.
nd Was it worth the struggle? Was
sensible way for girl to sper
her life?