TRYING TO BE AN ACTOR.
"Have you inquired for work?" asked Rupert.
"Yes."
"What kind of work?"
"I wanted to be an actor. So I applied at Palmer's Theatre and Daly's
this forenoon, and this afternoon I went to others."
"How were you received?" asked Rupert, in considerable curiosity.
"They wouldn't talk with me," answered Leslie, indignantly. "One of the
managers laughed at me when I asked if he would let me speak a piece, so
that he might judge of my ability."
"Perhaps they had no vacancy," suggested Rupert, trying to keep his
countenance.
"They asked me if I had ever acted. Of course I can't till I get the
chance. I told him I would be willing to work for five dollars a week
till I got some experience. I told them they might try me in small
parts. One of them asked me if I had ever played Hamlet. He must have
been in fun."
"I should think so."
"Of course great actors like Booth must have served an apprenticeship. I
was reading an account of Booth's early life lately, and he began just
as I want to begin."
"I expect the profession must be crowded. There was an actor staying at
the hotel last week. He is out of employment, and I think he must be out
of funds, for he got me to go out and pawn an overcoat for him."
"I am sure I could succeed if I only had a show," continued Leslie. "You
don't happen to know any manager, do you?"
"No. Perhaps you would stand a better chance of getting into a variety
theatre. Can you sing or dance?"
"No; I should not be willing to. I don't think Booth ever did, or
Irving, or Forrest."
"No. I don't think they did."
"And I'll get some time to be a famous actor, so I wouldn't like to
have it mentioned in my biographies that I ever played in a variety
theatre."
"Are you going to make any more applications, Leslie?"
"I shall apply to every manager in the city," answered Leslie,
energetically.
"I like your pluck. You deserve to succeed."
"Didn't you ever think of being an actor?"
"No; I don't think I have any talent for it."
"Don't you like to speak pieces?"
"Pretty well, but I like to write compositions better. How long do you
expect to stay in the city?"
"Well, I'll tell you how I am situated. I had twelve dollars in a
savings bank in Newark, and I took it out without letting my father
know. I was sure he wouldn't approve it, especially if he thought I was
trying to go on the stage. You see he doesn't approve of theatres. It is
very strange, considering that the greatest man that ever lived was an
actor and dramatic author."
"You mean Shakespeare?"
"Yes. However, father is old-fashioned in his ideas. I should like to
become a great actor, and make piles of money. Then he might be proud of
me."
Leslie's face flushed and his voice trembled, he was so carried away by
the thought of becoming a dramatic star.
"You said you had twelve dollars?" remarked Rupert, by way of bringing
him back to solid ground.
"Yes; but I have spent four dollars, though I have tried to be
economical. I pay seventy-five cents a day for my room, and that counts
up."
"Yes, so it does. If you were going to stop long in the city I think I
could get a room for you at two dollars a week."
"I should like that, but I can't pay even that if I don't get something
to do."
"In that case I suppose you would go home."
"I should have to. I suppose my father is very angry at me."
"Did you leave home without letting him know?"
"Yes; I knew he wouldn't let me come if he knew my plans."
"Didn't you leave a note for him?"
"Yes. I'll tell you what I wrote. I have a copy of it here."
Leslie drew from his pocket a half sheet of note paper, and read aloud
the following words:
"DEAR FATHER--
"When you read these words I shall be far from home. I suppose I
ought not to go, but I am tired of the country, and I want to win
fame and fortune. I have a plan in view which I have considered for
years. I won't tell you what it is now, for though strictly
honorable, you might not approve it. I think I understand myself
better than you do, though you are my father. I will let you hear
from me soon. Your son,
LESLIE WATERS."
"Of course you don't know how this was received by your father?"
"I met a boy from Rahway this morning. He told me that father was mad,
and said he washed his hands of me, that I was a fool, and would very
soon find it out."
"Then you don't think he will pursue you?"
"No, he isn't that kind of a man."
"It will be rather awkward for you to go home."
"Yes. I wouldn't like to do that."
"Suppose you don't get a chance to go on the stage, would you be willing
to take a business place?"
"Yes, I would rather do that than go home. Here I should be in the midst
of life, and if I bided my time I might get a chance to go on the stage
after all."
"That is true. Now I will tell you why I asked. One of the bell-boys
here is going to leave. I might get the position for you."
"You are a bell-boy, are you not?"
"Yes."
"How much do you get?"
"Five dollars a week and my meals. I have to hire a room outside."
"And you say I can get a room for two dollars a week?"
"Yes. Perhaps for a dollar and a half."
"Then I could get along."
"You might not like the duties of a bell-boy."
"What are they?"
Rupert explained.
"How early should I get off at night?"
"At six o'clock. The bell-boy who is about to leave is on through the
day like myself."
"That would suit me. I could go to the theatre in the evening."
"True."
"If I don't get a chance to act to-day I will take the place if you can
get it for me. It will be much better than going back to Rahway.
Besides, my father will think better of me if he hears that I have found
a place where I can make my expenses."
"Does he know that you have had thoughts of becoming an actor?"
"No; I never told him, but my mother knows it."
"What does she say to it?"
"She thinks I am smart enough to succeed, but fears I might get into bad
company."
"There is danger of that."
"Not for me. I don't care for drinking, and I belong to the temperance
society."
"So do I."
"When a boy is ambitious to be great I don't think he is likely to get
dissipated."
"Perhaps you are right. One thing I must say to you, Leslie. If you take
the place of bell-boy you must try to give satisfaction."
"I will, for it will keep me in the city. In Rahway there is no chance
of my rising in life."
Rupert foresaw that there was very little chance of his new friend
getting a position in any theatre, and he spoke at once to the manager
of the hotel about giving a place as bell-boy to Leslie.
"Is he a friend of yours, Rupert?" asked the manager.
"Yes, sir."
"Have you known him long?"
"Not long enough to be sure that he will be satisfactory. Still you
might be willing to take him on trial."
"I will try him for a week. If at the end of that time he suits me
moderately well I will retain him."
"I will coach him a little and instruct him in his duties."
"That will help."
In the evening Leslie came home just before Rupert got through his day's
work. He did not look as if he had succeeded. Still he was not as sober
as the day before.
"Well?" said Rupert. "What luck?"
"I don't get a place. In some of the theatres they did not treat me
respectfully, though one manager admitted that he went on the stage
earlier than I did."
"Where was that?"
"In Brooklyn."
"Then I suppose you will be ready to accept the place of bell-boy?"
"Yes; but if a chance should come of my going on the stage I should want
to resign it."
"You had better not say anything about that. Wait till the chance
comes."
"I have one piece of good news," said Leslie, more cheerfully. "In two
weeks a spectacular piece will be put on the stage at Niblo's, and they
have promised me a place as supe."
"How much will you be paid?"
"Only twenty-five cents a night, but it will be a beginning. I shall
have a place behind the footlights. More than one actor has made his
start in that way."
"I am glad for you. I will go and see you when you make your first
appearance."