The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-18
SPOTLTGHTNl :5 8

money and I decided to go to Eu-
rope to study. I stayed a year and
then my money gave out. Dad
wouldn't give me any more and
couldn't tell him that l had been-er
-eXtravagant."
jim flushed suddenly. His money
had given out because he had
financed friend-but he couldn't
tell Sheila this.
GO you are one Of the Ethering-
- tons?' she murmured. She
had heard of the family Every
body had. They we're an old con-
servatiye family. And rich.
You don't mind my deceiving
you, Sheila?' jim asked humbly.
The name, jim Blaine, is-weu,
sort of mine. My middle name is
Jim and Dads name is Blaine.
"Etherington, Of course, was out
Of the question Every one would
have known that name. And I
didn't want to get this job through
pull
How did you get it?" sheila
asked.
why, I just asked for it," jim
grinned Then he explained quick
ly "Oh, it wasn't that easy!
came to New York and moved IN
TO an apartment near some friends
Of mine. But I began eating in
the places where show people eat.
A chap I met there" He paused.
Wisely Sheila nodded Il know"
she said. Some one you loaned
money TO-"
Anyhow" Jim went on, "this
chap told me they were trying
voices at Schumann's. I dropped
aro/ld. They weren't many men,
you know.
4 didn't know it until later" he
grinned, but they tried me out for
the chorus first. The what's-his-
name in the derby and shirt sleeves
said, ANY one unwilling to sing in
the ensemble will kindly leave!
L didn't connect that high sound
ing phrase with the chorus. just
thought it meant sing in groups,
you know. In fact, it didn't occur
to me that they would take me
at all!
"They did. They sent me over to
show that was rehearsing and I
hadn't stepped into the door be-
fore this chap from Mandrake's
handed me a contract Just like
that! Didn't even try me out"
THERE was pardonable pride in
Il his voice. IF I we're a girl"
he went on seriously, I'D lose coJr-
age in this business. If my living
my next meal maybe-depended
on landing Job, I think I'd go
crazy. Why, Sheila, I saw the most
beautiful girls"
Il know" she said nodding.
They had good voices, style, car
rage, grace, everything! And most
Of them were weeded out in a few
minutes. Dozens of them! Better
looking girls than I knew there
were anywhere"
you should go to a cali from
Greenfield for his 'Frivolities',"
Sheila told him wisely The girls
who answer those calls-of course.
all kinds do answer them-but some
of them are marvelous!"
"Ermine coats and all that sort
of thing?" asked Jim, relieved that
his little confession had gone over
so easily. yet also slightly piqued.
1t should have made more of an
impression.
Not at all! They wear tailored
suits-marvelous things. And slick
little hats. You never see such
clothes exhibited for sale-I mean
don't.
7 suppose they come from Fifty
seventh street shops. F'rilly blouses.
Beautiful shoes. And the complex
ions those girls achieve! and the
accents!
The ones who land the jobs GER
tainly earn all they get. They work
hours every day to keep their COM
pleXions and their figures perfect.
"One girl I know who weighed
los pounds used to weigh herself
every day (of course, they all do
thaD and if she had gained a single
ounce she would watch her diet like
hawk Her father and mother
were inclined to stoutness' she told
me-
Those girls even try not to think
because thinking can make wrinkles
They never go to other shows or
even read newspapers-eXcept pos
sibly the financial pages"
do they specuIate?"
(TO Be COntinued.)