THE SACRIFICES OF ACTRESSES.

New Zealand Mail, 20 August 1902, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE SACRIFICES OF ACTRESSES.

A leading actress says: 1 never try to discourage persons who desire, to go upon the stage, possibly because 1 do not care to give advice of any sort. The ones who ought to get. discouraged generally come to that feeling, and those who have it in them to succeed will climb over warnings and much larger ob.

-fades. 1 think, however, that the writing of a few facts does not amount either to the giving of advice or a sermon. An actress is different from women in other walks of life, at least in this—her personal sacrifices are greater. Ail actor might say the same thing, blit I am not saying it: for him. Lam writing of the women of the stage, who in their instincts aie the same as women off the stage. Il i- only in the gratifying of them they are limited.

The first saciifice the actress makes is that of homo life. She lias to exist ton months for flic sake of living two months. If she is unmarried' it is the father and the mother or the brothers and the sisters of whose society she is deprived. T went: upon tile stage when 1 was la years old. and my heme life ended then. I was more fortunate, however, than man.v girls have been. But if the unmarried woman has to sacrifice many home ties, it is the wife who lias to give up most. When both lmsbaud and wife are players, the only time they can have for each other is the brief sum. mer vacation. It is rarely that the chance comes for the two to play in the same company, and if they are stars I am not sure it is the best thing artistically for either. When one is alone one has to think for one’s self, and so I believe will do what one had to do with more certainty. If my husband were playing opposite me T would be asking his opinion and wondering whether my interpretation of a scene had his approval. When I am alone I decide what to do and do it without any wavering. I think a mistake is better

Ilian tlie appearance of uncertainty I count my separation from my ;msband. however, the greatest of the sacrifices I have to make for my art. ami we both hope that some day we will be i aving together Married players to-day, however. Live causes enough for gratitude when t hey look linck to the past. There are limes each year when they can have some life and their social standing is what they themselves care to make it 1 have written of domestic sacrifices but many others could he named. The player loses much of the intellectual side of '•■•id. and some of the summer vacation time must he given over to cramming. T an not carry many hooks with me. and those I do carry must bo in small volume fern. And on the road T scarcely have the Line to read even if I have the books. There are countless things that have to he done daily, and the one or two hours of absolute rest the housekeeper or the working woman may have in the course of a day never comes to the actress. Her art is her task-mistress. But it’s worth it all.—" Woman.”