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Show GIRLS AND THE STAGE. Its Influenco Upon Them Discussed "by on Actress. Regarding the Influence of the stage on young girls, Katherlne Grey, who Is playing an engagement as leading lady In the Broadway Theater at Denver, says: "The Innocent yet persistent girl docs not know thut if she chooses dramatic art for her life work, In the struggle for success she must lose, ah, so many of her Ideals, so much of the gentleness nnd courtesy that Is given by and granted to women who do not work on an equal standing with men. The girl of Innocence and graco may find good friends, fine men and good and charitably charita-bly disposed women, for the stage Is adorned by some of the best Christian and lovable characters to be found under un-der the sun. If young girls who are knocking ro persistently at the stage door for admittance to a theatrical career, ca-reer, only had a definite Idea What stage life Is like. I have read many descriptions by Imaginative persons, but they do not ring true In my ears. A day In my early stage Hf might prove not without Interest. There Is nothing to do. It is a wild snowy day, and the rain after the snow makes a walk undesirable, If not Impossible. We arrive late at night after an all day's Journey In a crowded car, and we are to leave at midnight. There are no sleepers to be had; we must sit up nil night In an ordinary coach. There Is but one hotel, and that at the depot, where the noise of the trains coming and going disturb our rest. The rooms have uneven floors, are poorly furnished, fur-nished, badly lighted, and stoves are only In three or four of them, so most of the company Is left without heat, A feeling of loneliness or homesickness Is upon most of us. The younger members mem-bers of the company are trying to amuse themselves In the parlor, where there Is some heat. The men arc engaged en-gaged In their usual game. Even letters let-ters are delayed. There semes nothing bright or cheerful In the whole atmosphere. atmos-phere. "And on such a day as this a young girl comes to my room to talk to me of going on the stage. She has apparently appa-rently a frank, open nature perhaps a little shj' and she hears ridicule of all things, she tells me. She docs not realize real-ize that criticism from the stage manager man-ager frequently takes the form of burlesquing bur-lesquing some peculiarity of speech or manner, and that she must endure the 'guying' of her companions! ' As she talks I realize that her Innocence Is that of Ignorance, without understanding understand-ing the hypocrisy that exists. I know nothing of her ability, her strength of character fcnd her physique, and I scarcely know how to talk to her. The petty annoyances and discomforts of our life seem pitiably small when put into words, yet I know how they hurt a sensitive woman. I suppose in that way that 'misery loves company.' we have a certain fellow feeling for each other, but we are all really selfish Were it a question of charity each of us of the stage would put our hands in cur pockets, or play at a benefit willingly, were we asked, but we are all egotists, more or less, and only .very few. of us even 'splendid' ones. "To those on the threshold of life in the theator the realization of the hard work, the possible failure, or medium success is very difficult. They Imagine that because they know of what the world calls temptations on the stage, they are armed. But they cannot see, and no one can tell them, the dally trials, the loneliness. Occasionally when we are walking through the 'slough of despond" some great, good Influence In-fluence comes into our lives but more frequently so-called help Is given In such a way that It leaves one ultimately ultimate-ly In a worse position. Can one make the ambitious girl who aspires for histrionic his-trionic fame see things as we see them? Can she realize that in this life there can be little reliance on mother? She has no home nor the Influence which constantly surrounds and protects the child and watches hen grow. On th stage she must stand or fall on her own responsibility. Still, I would not advise ad-vise I would not say go or stay, to one who wishes to work In our ranks. To those who are strong of mind nnd board of character, the struggle gives added strength, but the weak must fall, hardened and discouraged. "My career has been one of struggles and vicissitudes, especially when I began be-gan to climb the ladder of fame. But with all I have managed with my sisters sis-ters to live down temptations, and have given as much to my religious duties as to pursuing my art. The stage Is a great Institution, especially when one follows the classics. It Is a career that will benefit the younger generation Immeasurably, Im-measurably, and will act as a great education to all." . i |