Stage Confidences | Page 3

upon whose altar is sacrificed all ambitious femininity. In
declaring that to be a mistaken idea, I do not for a moment imply that
managers are angels; for such a suggestion would beyond a doubt
secure me a quiet summer at some strictly private sanitarium; but I do
mean to say that, like the gentleman whom we all know by hearsay, but
not by sight, they are not so black as they are painted.
Indeed, the manager is more often the pursued than the pursuer.
Women there are, attractive, well-looking, well-dressed, some of whom,
alas! in their determination to succeed, cast morality overboard, as an
aeronaut casts over ballast, that they may rise more quickly. Now while
these women bestow their adulation and delicate flattery upon the
manager, he is not likely to disturb the modest and retiring newcomer
in his company by unwelcome attentions. And should the young

stranger prove earnest and bright, she would be doubly safe; for then
she would have for the manager a commercial value, and he would be
the last man to hurt or anger her by a too warmly expressed admiration,
and so drive her into another theatre, taking all her possible future
popularity and drawing power with her.
One other and better word I wish to add. If the unprotected young
beginner finds herself the victim of some odious creature's persistent
advances, letters, etc., let her not fret and weep and worry, but let her
go quietly to her manager and lay her trouble before him, and, my word
for it, he will find a way of freeing her from her tormentor. Yes, the
manager is, generally speaking, a kindly, cheery, sharp business man,
and no Moloch at all.
As for the "public," no self-respecting girl need be in danger from the
"public." Admiring young rakes no longer have coaches waiting round
the corner, into which they thrust their favourite actress as she leaves
the theatre. If a man sends an actress extravagant letters or flowers,
anonymously, she can of course do nothing, but equally of course she
will not wear his flowers and so encourage him boldly to step up and
speak to her some day. If the gentleman sends her jewellery or valuable
gifts of any kind, rest assured his name will accompany the offering;
then the actress has but one thing to do, send the object back at once. If
the infatuated one is a gentleman and worthy of her notice, he will
surely find a perfectly correct and honourable way of making her
acquaintance, otherwise she is well rid of him. No, I see no danger
threatening a young actress from the "public."
There is danger in drifting at any time, so it may be well to warn young
actresses against drifting into a too strong friendship. No matter how
handsome or clever a man may be, if he approaches a modest girl with
coarse familiarity, with brutalities on his lips, she is shocked, repelled,
certainly not tempted. But let us say that the young actress feels rather
strange and uncomfortable in her surroundings, that she is only on a
smiling "good morning and good evening" footing with the company,
and she has been promised a certain small part, and then at the last
moment the part is given to some one else. The disappointment is cruel,

and the suspicion that people are laughing in their sleeves over the
slight put upon her makes her feel sick and faint with shame, and just
then a friendly hand places a chair for her and a kind voice says: "I'm
awfully sorry you missed that chance, for I'm quite sure you would do
the part far and away better than that milliner's block will. But don't
distress yourself, your chance will come, and you will know how to
make the most of it--I am sure."
And all the time the plain, perhaps the elderly man is speaking, he is
shielding her from the eyes of the other people, and from her very soul
she is grateful to him, and she holds up her head and smiles bravely.
Not long after, perhaps, she does get a chance, and with joyous eyes
she watches for the coming of the man who comforted her, that she
may tell him of her good luck. And his pleasure is plain, and he assures
her that she will succeed. And he, an experienced actor, waits in the
entrance to see her play her small part, and shakes her hand and
congratulates her when she comes off, and even tells her what to do
next time at such a point, and her heart warms within her and is filled
with gratitude for this "sympathetic friend," who helps her and has faith
in her future. The poor child little dreams