Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-11

was concerned, the New York theatrical
manager might have been a myth, I
never even saw one at q distance. -,
There was always the same half polite,
half mocking Office boy who looked me
up and down with his prematurely
shrewd and appraising glance, only to
inform me that Mr.. So and So was en-
gagged, or out, or, worse still, had made
all his arrangements for the coming
season.
I realized, naturally, that had se-
lected-if / could be said to have Sc
lected 1.-THE worst possible time OF
year for getting an engagement. Sum-
mer was at hand. And, at the time OF
which l write, the New York theatres
did not make so many important pro-
ductions as they do nowadays, nor did
the season begin SO early in the fall
Even if / could have found an engage
ment for the coming year, it would have
been something to bank on. ! might
have contrived to earn enough some
other way to carry me through the sum-
mer. There must be somewhere / could
utilize my musical gift, or even my
knack with my needle. At the various
theatrical agencies / met with the same
known. / learned to be unknown was
the worst and most stupid crime that
one could commit. In vain l asked my
self how others got their start. Some of
the present day stars must have been
unknown at the beginning. But to this
question l found no answer. l began
to believe that no one had ever heard Of
the little town where ] had served my
apprenticeship, nor of the Henry Irving
Theatre, nor even of Beaver Face.
But at length l did find one man to
whom my late manager was not un-
known.
He actually seemed to take some
slight interest in me; questioned me as
to hGv long l had been with the COM
pany, and as to what sort of parts l
had played. He did not seem to think
it of any great consequence that / had
never played "leads.'' He took down
nv name and address, and promised to
let me hear from him. For the first
time for days, went home with light
heart.
told Mrs. Burkstadt my good news.
could not have concealed from her II
would the fact that l was fast get :
ting discouraged. She had seen enough
of the seamy side of life herself to en-
able her to read the signs of failure.
Fortunately, l had always been able to
pay my room rent promptly. Rather
unwisely l had kept my large room
foolishly choosing to practice my econo'
mics in other directions. / had become
an adept at choosing the most filing
dishes, as we'll as the cheapest. But
either the food I selected was not nour'
ishing or the anxiety under which
labored prevented their proper assimila
,, ton. was daily losing flesh and color
One morning. when the warm sun wal
streaming into my room, l actually saw
that those disfguring lines known a
"crow's feet were beginning to form
round my eyes, which looked large
than ever in my pale, drawn face.
hastened to improve my appearance b.
throwing myself on the bed and cryinl
until my poor eyes looked like boile,
gooseberries! Needless to say that
did not present myself at any ones offic
that day. l waited for ten days. Ever,
time the postman's whistle sounded o1
the block. / was down at the door b
friendly agent. How hard hope dies
With each fresh disappointment,
famed up anew. Next time, wout
surely have news. But when day fol
lowed day without bringing me any
thing, / concluded that the letter ha
been lost or misdirected.
On a day of driving rain, presente
. myself once more at the office. Th
manager was out, no one could say ex
actly when he would be back. Mumbiin
that would return. I went out agai
into the wet streets and managed I
pass a half hour over cup of tea ]
a Childs restaurant When I returned
he haJ not yet come back. waite
another dreary hour, and went hon
desolate.
went five different times with tn
same result. The Office boy and I'll
stenographer looked at me in pecu
liar manner, or / fancied so.
Not the least of the demoralizin
effects of i'll luck is that 1t gradual
makes one suspicious of all the worlt
On the last visit, the manager bcir
still out, a statement which | had lon
ceased to believe, an unsealed note VIZ
handed to me by the grinning boy.
am still convinced that he had alread
made himself master of its content
The gist of 1t was that l need nc
trouble TO call again. The report frol
my former manager had been exceed
ingly unfavOrable. In view of said re
, port. the manager regretted that
would be impossible for him TO plar
me. In this fashion Beaver Face wa
taking his revenge.
~ ITO Be Continued TBporow