The Washington herald., 1918-07-09

New York. July Shalt the world
wants to go on the stage and the
other half wants to write plays. This
is the dictum of worldweary
theatrical manager. Following grad
| uation days there Is always a rush
! of young girls to secure theatrical
| engagements. Very few land as they
present their abilities by letters to
Belasco. the Shuberts. Klaw and
Erlanger and others. The letters are
generally waste-basketed.
The other day talked to q theatrf-
cal manager who has developed many
stars. i asked him what he consid-
cred the best way for a young giri
to secure a theatrical engagement.
After a moment of thoughtfulness,
he said: Courage Is the most essen
tial thing. Next comes confidence.
Courage to Withstand the fluctuations.
Confidence In the aspirant's ability"
The truth Is that most of the young
women who have reached the dizzy
heights OF stardom are products Of
small town stock companies Laurette
Taylor, Clara Joel and Fay BANTER
came out OF the West unknown and
soon saw their names hung up IN
electric lights against the Broadway
skies. They learned to act in the
small stock companies.
A few stars have been picked from
the dramatic schools but actual ex-
perience seems to be the only open
door. A well educated young girl has
written me from the Far West to
know IL stardom is reached by using
the chorus as a stepping stone.
This question also put to a mana
ger. His reply is interesting. The
chorus girl Of Broadway rarely be-
comes a star. She nearly always gets
married before she has a chance to
develop. As a stepping stone to mar
riage should say that the chorus is
the greatest institution in the world.
II seems to be q chronic desire on the
part of certain rich young New York
ers to acquire chorus girl brides.
There were five new girls on
Broadway in a production Of mine
last season. They came from smaller
cities and showed promise. 1 was
keeping an eye on them. In three
months all were married. And all
married men OF more than the aver
age wealth. They might all have
been stars but in my opinion they are
happier as they are"
Not more than ten years ago a man
could have the back of his neck
shaved and still be among the scog-
noscenti, but times have changed.
One of Broadway's well-known fash
ion plates went into a Fifth Avenue
barber shop, TO be trimmed. The bar
Der was from the wilds Of Connecticut
and when his customer fell asleep he
shaved the back OF his neck.
1t is well to draw the curtain down
upon the scene when the customer
came back to the land of reality. He
almost wrecked the shop. apd before
he left the amazed hair c6tter was
shivering with fright atop the barber
pole in front
Tho Broadwayite retired to his little
50-room dugout on the Sound and
is living the life OF a hermit until the
back of his neck again becomes pre-
sentable-
He is Y. NJ. c. A. worker, and Is
back from "over there" He tells of
the spiritual influence that Is spread
ing among the soldiers. Men going
into battle find great comfort In the
fact that the folk back home are
praying for hem, and II is not unusual
to see soldiers kneeling reverently in
prayer In their trenches. Apropos Of
all this. the men around New York
camps are singing different jingles
from those they sang earlier in the
war. Round Her Neck She Wore a
Yaller Ribbon" is being discarded for
God, Spare Our Boys Over There"
1t is the new army and navy song
prayer. The chorus runs God, spare
our boys over there; keep them in
your tender care; mothers are kneel-
ing, loved ones appealing; angels, pro-
| tect them everywhere. Hear our fer
vent prayer. On bended knee, hear
our hearts rosary, and spare our boys
| over there"