Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-05-09

ance we packed our bags and sadly
fitted back to New York. The show
wouldn't do" and even the cleo
tricians knew there was no use trying
1t out any further.
What "Friend" Means.
Three weeks later l got my first
regular employment. 1t was a 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 woman's
part three times. | resembled her in
face and figure. and had been made
her understudy. | got $40 week.
Let me say right here that was as
high as | ever got.
In the spring four companies play
| ing this success were made UP to go
on the road. l was selected for the
company that was to play the south,
and my hopes rose high, as 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
(the owner of the show is going to
have that"
"Why?" l asked. "You know the
part is made for me-
81 know it is" he agreed. ''and 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?"
| 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
l thought OF him and the methods of
the owner, but / felt better when it
was over. Experience No. 2. The road
to quick preference was not one
could fellow.
Talent Not Key to Success.
So determined to make my talent
win me my way. For the next two
months l had series of experiences
that Disguised me. l sought employ
ment steadily, but it was in the sea-
son when only cheap companies we're
being given work, and the two posi-
tons offered me were go much lower
than the one / had just left that
could not accept them.
Finally / went on the road with a
light comedy. My part was one that
fitted me excellently, and / made
something that resembied hit. It
cost me something in pride to do 1t,
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 l 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 reputation.
Too old-Fashioned.
That was all the good It 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 l to expect one of them?
wasn't star. Who was putting IL 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 a
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 to
| figure up. / was then twenty-five
years. old, mature physically and men
tally, and, by the word of managers.
good actress. Yet / had never got
beyond minor parts at a small salary:
/ had suffered actually suffered-in
the long periods between engage
ments, and so far as could see moth
| ing but some unforeseen stroke of
luck could bring me the advancement
necessary for the chance of success
full career.
Wrecks Of Youth and Hope.
All around me were the wrecks of
youth and hope, women who were
hanging on because they hoped and
hoped for that stroke OF luck to strike
them. Beating them out in all lines
of the profession were girls who we're
| willing to nav any price for prefer