Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-06

, From now on an existence of halloweh
labor.
All of which was very we'll. Only I
certainly did not picture myself as work
ing for any mere pittance. After care
full thought l decided to become a great
actress. My beauty and talents, though
exactly what these talents were l was
not sure, certainly ought to entitle me
to a conspicuous theatrical part. 1t was
all very we'll for stupid and ugly girls to
begin, as people said, at the bottom of
the ladder This, 1 felt, would not be
necessary for me.
1t was, therefore, with a general air
of doing everybody favor that went
to theatrical agency and told the man
whom 1 encountered that l was going
upon the stage"
Musical comedy" he asked me.
had practically no voice. so this was
out of the question for me.
mo" answered Importantly,
straight drama"
The man looked at me little within
sically.
whats your experience he asked.
CT have no actual eneatrical expert
ence," l told him, but as you see,
know how to wear my clothes we'll and
how to speak we'll. I do not think It
would be necessary for me to begin with
a small part"
As it happened, the man in the agency
to which 1 had gone was a fairly high
grade person. with some sense of humor.
"Oh," he said slowly, 80 you speak
well and dress well, do your
There was something in his tone that
made me flush.
YES" 1 answered haughtily.
That would help" he went on, "ff
you were going to be model in dry
goods store or else telephone operator.
But, YOU know, it's funny, but when man.
ayers engage young women for the stage
they sometimes like them to be able to
act"
This was easy.
II can act" l said in the same haugh-
ty tone.
"Sit down." suggested the agent alb
ruptIy. 81 want to tell you som ething.
You are very pretty girl, and evident
ly somebody has turned your head You
may be an actress some day dom
know. But you can't act now, my dear,
I may as we'll tell You, for the good of
your health, that a few moments ago,
when you said you could talk, you were
wrong! You haven't a very good pro-
nounciati ion and you don't use your voice
properly. 1t isn't what they call placed
You would have long row to hoe before
you could read any lines intelligen1y.'
II don't know what you mean about
reading linesw / broke in impatiently
''Of course you don't" agreed the
agent, which is one more reason why
YOU can't act You don't even know
enough about life yet to have sense
Of the value of situations"
1 arose impatiently.
wait a minute" said the agent, ar
resting the movement. Wait and III
insult you good and proper. Which may
do you good. Let me tell you, my dear
you are not exen enough of a lady to
know how a lady would behave on the
stage. You come in here with your head
| in the air, talking the way 70 do as
! though you were comforting favor on
me. That's how little you know. Let
me tell you something. If you want to
be a real actress get out and take any
old part you can, no matter how small
it is; keep your eyes open, and watch
your betters. If you are humble enough
some day you will get there-perhaps.
but I can't afford to begin with
7, small part!' 1 cried.
"Of course you can" answered the
man. Anybody dependent on you?"
1 shook my head in denial.
Then don't be afraid of the littlesl
part you can get" the agent told me
''work-thats the thing! And the
further down you begin the more solidly
you viii build your foundation. That
something to console yourself with
! I was too annoyed even to answer him
Again this terrible refrain of work
woodwork! Could there possibly De
anything init?