The Washington herald., 1914-03-29

| In spite Of tango teas, moving picture
houses, and cabarets, the stage still
offers alluring careers, according to Miss
Blanche Ring. Walls have gone up from
hundreds OF young women that these new
Entertainments are spelling their pro-
fession. and to answer queries Of would
be actresses 1 called on her the other
night and this is what she had to say:
IF a girl has real talent. a magnetic
personality, and good looks, she is GER
tain to succeed. l, myself, come of a
| theatrical family, for the Rings have
been in this business for many genera
| tions. But this fact did not get me be-
yond by first position. It gave me
chance in the Boston Museum when
Was fourteen years old, where with other
Boston girls 1 played very small parts
In those days the curtain went up at
S o'clock and rang down at 10, so that we
easily managed to attend school in the
daytime and play in the evening.
Il was never stage struck. but that was
probably because it was a taken-for-
granted matter that should go on the
stage as soon as was old enough
Otherwise l probably should have gone
| through the usual stage-struck period
| that comes into nearly every girls life.
Many people regard beauty as the
chief requisite for the successful actress.
In this 1 think they are mistaken 1t is
very necessary asset, of course, but !
place 1t third in the category. Talent
comes first 1t is absolutely necessary
No matter what great influences are
brought to bear to bring a performer be-
fore the public. unless she has genuine
talent the public will have none OF her,
Tut will in a short time freeze her by
,rusty silence. Personal magnetism is i.
strong second. An actress must be
a5.. . make a very Individual personal
ag-ea. her audience in order to win its
sHt.@sia.''c applause. Then. third. comes
.oTufr. - .wever, the good-looking young
'"-.'aa .-0 ed of great magnetism will
4 " ..f s'on OF much greater at
ira ..s.r.. -.- Ser more beautiful sis
ter W. NJ D.
THE .I ing for a stage aspirant
Is the STAG, 4. No schools can teach
her so well T. 80 rapidly to acquire that
something which is approved of on the
stage and which brings large sums to the
box office.
'As 1 said, I got my first training In
the stock company Of the Boston Mu-
scum, and there I worked hard, willing
to take any part assigned to me. Had
they offered me the leading part at that
time I should cheerfuIIy have made a
stab at it However, they omitted to
do this, and it was some time before I
got a chance to show the public what
could really do. There are many men
and women on the stage who would
make a big success II only they got the
chance. II they keep a keen eye on
every opportunity it will be sure to come
along
For a short time I was in vaudeville,
and I consider that this was splendid
training. It is, OF course, very much
more difficult to get your audience in a
ten-minute performance than it is when
you have two and a half hours and the
assistance OF a big company. In vaude-
VILE you must focus all your powers all
the time on the audience and accept its
dare to be amused. However. it is a
splendid opportunity to show your ahil-
ity, and is a very good way to obtain
recognition IL you have the talent.
IL was while I was playing in The
Defender that my chance came along,
as I had always been sure II would
some day. One Of the leading parts was
being played by an actress who did not
satisfy the management, and / was asked
IL I thought could do anything with
the part All I asked was chance to
prove that I could. I got It. and kept
on from that time getting bigger parts
until I was starred
In the words of one Of the songs in
my present piece, 1T Is a Grand Old Life.
/ think it is the greatest in the world
One of the marked advantages of the |
stage over other occupations is that an
actress has all her days to herself; 1t is |
not necessary to be cooped up in a build |
ing all day long, away from good air and
bright sunshine. Then she has a splendid |
opportunity to see the world, which is a |
great education in itself The life is a |
very happy one. although a hard one. |
But then success is never gained easily |
in any branch Of work. |
Optimism is another necessity in an |
actress makeup. She must always be |
looking for the bright side OF things. She |
must express in her personality that Joy |
of living which is waited over the foot
lights and makes her audiences forget all |