The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-03
WOMEN WHO
WIN IN TRADE
Hiss Ada Humbert, Theatricu, Aren't
. Ada Humbert, Theatrical Agent
ny ISABEL STEPHEN.

oi Whet 'Hey want 10 DO. They usually
want TO earn their salary az easily as
possible; they want to find q position
in some office where they can sit around
and road movers ana leave for home
tho minute the clock points to official
CLOSING time. Few enter an office with
their eyes alert for every opportunity
which may afford them promotion
! Girls of the present day have splendid
chances for winning success, but they
arc too much inclined to yiold to case
and luxury"
This Is the arraignment of the mod
ern business girls made by Miss Ada
Humbert She certainly knows where
of sho speaks, for che herself has by
her own efforts risen from tho position
of ordinary stenographer in the mOsS
prominent theatrical agency in America
TO that of its part proprietor and man.
aGer Her name liz never seen gilt
tering with electric lights over n Thea
tire; still the part sho plays In the sue
cess of theatrical productions Is very
great.
Miss Humbert told the story of her
success. sitting In her bright, sunny
private office, i've stories above Broad
way, In hor own individually quiet.
direct manner
Il was born in Syracuse N. T." she
began. 81 passed through high school
there and then my family moved on to
New York. When we came hero / at
tended business college and studied
stenography. The first position which
j obtained was with Il small theatrical
agency. | knew great many people
in the business, and took consequently,
II great deal of interest in this special
line of work
Il worked there only a short time.
however, for tho agency did not have
enough work for me to do, but II was
through 1t that / connected with this
firm and l have remained uninterrupt-
eddy with it ever since
Il worked very hard and endeavored
TO learn the business thoroughly. When
/ had finished a task set me by my
employers | looked around for some
thing else TO do, and in this way learned
every branch of the business. 1t was
very hard work. ! never considered
whether I was working overtime or
not l just stayed on at night until
all my tasks were completed. When
my employer died she left me large
share in tho business, but I work no
harder now that tho business Is partly
mine than ! did before. for 1 always
made my employers interests my In
teroStS
And lack OF that trait is one OF the
greatest reasons why many gradu-
ates of business colleges never rise
above purely mechanical position.
They arc positively Ericved If you ask
them to work, and in an office like this
you have 90 work and work hard
There is n great deal TO learn in
this business, and II takes years be-
fore one can gain the necessary knowl-
edge OF the records and abilities OF
people who come TO you for work In
theatrica! productions. You must be
able to Judge very correctly the ability
and suitability OF certain men and
women for certain parts. In order TO
be able to do this. ono must apply one
self to the work very closely, for upon
her judgment and memory depends the
success of her agency. Managers want
TO be able 10 depend on the agency
from which they get their people"
Have YOU ever considered stage
career yourself, Miss Hurnbert"
asked surrounded as YOU are by the
| theatrical atmosphere, have there not
been times when you felt inclined to
| try your luck on the stagc?"
'NeVer!' answered Miss Humbert
! decidedly
From your years Of experience rs
theatrical agent. will YOU please give
me some advice to give girls who be-
licve that they are fitted to shine as
stage stars? VIII you tell them how
to begin? SO many believe that il
they could only get a foothold they
would make good.
We'll" answered Miss Humbert,
thoughtful!y, that's a difficult ques-
tion TO answer One things certain
and that Is that they can't get their
foothold' through II frst-class agency
Everybody we put on our books must
have at least three years experience.
in order 10 break into the business il
is necessary To have plenty OF courage
and perseverance, but tho manner in
breaking IN is altogether the girls
affair
She may enter ii as n graduate of
some good school of acting--these
schools are turning out some good peo-
pie--or she may work her way up from
very minor positions; some worry sue
cessful actresses have even graduated
from the chorus
The outside world, on the whole, has
very erroneous idea of the girl OF the
chorus. They picture her in their
1 imagination, with gay white ways,
/ champagne suppers and SO on. OF
! course. there is such class, but the
majority are quiet, sensible girls. who
I arc working for experience to suit them
( Tor some higher work. Stock work
1 is The best preparation in the world
! for an actress, but even for that she
I llluSl IlttNc SOillc HpeTlcIicc 10 Scl WORK.
However. have known girls who took
small parts In small stock companies.
! and before the end Of six months they
were playing good parts. 1t Is entirely
/ M to the girl
Many girls come 10 this office seek =
ing engagements who have no quallti-
I cations for stage career Even if a
girl can sing beautifully, she. must have
an exceptionally glorious voice to at
tract attention If she has n homely
face. TO break into the work in n
large city She must have something
specially attractive about her"
what are tho chances of success
for woman in your own field OF
work. asked he" finally.
I'm order to be q successful theatri-
cal agent one must spend years OF hard
work The financial returns vary with
the success of the theatrical year: If
the year Is q good one her returns arc
good; II II has been poor ono. her ro-
turns arc poor Every thing Is done on