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Show Women and the Stage Since the publication of an articlo entitled "Women and tho Stage," written writ-ten by David Belasco. which appeared in tho magazino section of the Now York Tribune recently, the ominent author-manager has boon the recipient of letters by tho score from leminino aspirants to tho foot-lights. Among othor things, Mr. Belasco said: "Two kiud3 of women go on the stage; ono through legitimato ambition; tho othor for the gratification of vanity. van-ity. Tho women prompted wholly by vanity is not to bo thought of seriously as a factor in tho profession; but she who is earnestly ambitious, provided sho is reasonably cquippod fpr tho work, is entitled to all consideration. "The futility of warning tho stago-struck stago-struck young woman against attempting attempt-ing tho drama is well known; thero-foro thero-foro I will not do so. I will simply suggest a few points for consideration. Lot hor reflect that thu career of the actress is the most strenuous of all carcors adopted by women tho most taxing on her brain and the most exhausting ex-hausting to hor nerves and body. Let her reflect that tho reward at tho beginning is small, and that tho glamor of tho footlights may not compensato for tho humiliation which lack of proficiency pro-ficiency may incur. "All this has been said many, many times. 1 do not urge these dishoart-aning dishoart-aning facts from tho lofty point of tho oracle. Obviously it is not my business to discourago aspirants to tho Btage. But goodness only knows how many trades dressmaking, professional nursing, stenograph, and tho like havo been robbed of actual stars by tho drama, which as a reward has relegated rele-gated them to obscure corners in the chorus! Still tho prizes offered by tho stage arc vastly greater than those of any other calling affected by women. 'Therefore L do not urge tho girl 'with ambitions' not to go on tho singe; but to study horsolf seriously aud well before she makes the attempt. Let her detach herself, as it were, and study her own personality from tho perspective of au outsider. Tf she docs this honostlv, I promise her that she will save horsolf much disappointment, much humiliation; sho will put herself in a moro plastic, pliable condition: sho will with proper' humility and gratitudo approach tho foot of the ladder as Iho means of gaining tho top to which sho asniros, insload of taking I a sudden jump from obscurity to fame. Plcaso to remombcr that tho fame acquired ac-quired over night almost never lasts unless it is deep rooted in experience. Also remember that sudden fame is the most disastrous thing that may happen to anybody. One must bo edu- j catcd to it, 5"st as one is educated to tho uso of a vast fortune. Iu fact, I sometimes think that mushroom celeb- , rity is more dangerous than sudden wealth. Preliminary Requirements. "To begin, the womau who would lake up tho stago as a profession should have youth, temperament, feeling, impulse, im-pulse, sinco theso deuoto individuality, Even cuprico is better than passivity. Beauty is important, but not essential. Tho most talented women of tho stage Raohol, Bernhardt, Dusc, Clara Morris, Mor-ris, and others were not beautiful, but their genius made tho audience-forgot audience-forgot tho fact. A passion for the stage, while u prime essential, is not of itself adoquato to succoss. "A woman should bo sound physically physi-cally and mentally. Let it be understood under-stood that T am not referring to genius sinco genius transcends all obstacles but to the woman who would look for reasonablo succoss on tho stage. 1 shall not rofer to tho ovcr-huclcneyod phase of morality, since morality is morality, on tho stage, iu the department depart-ment store, or in tho church. The aspirant should bo stagestruck, first, last, aud all tho time. Long before she applies to a mnnagcr she should indulge in-dulge her passion for the mimic art to the full. Tho soul of the theater must surgo and throb in her blood. Also sho must study to interpret human agonies and joys. While waiting for an opportunity, sho can best spend hor time reading, minutely observing everything every-thing that transpires about hor. Sho should study nature and the naturalness of things; "particularly animals, sinco these are void of self-consciousness, tho great obstacle to dramatic art." |