Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust ArenaJennings, John J. (John Joseph)
History
Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust Arena
Jennings, John J. (John Joseph)
Circus; Theater -- United States
DEAR SIR: I saw your advertisement in this morning's
_Globe-Democrat_, asking for three or four young ladies to join a
travelling theatrical company, and as I am desirous of going on
the stage, and am of good form and pretty fair appearance, and
have a pretty good voice, I would wish to join your company. I
have never appeared on any regular stage, but made several amateur
appearances, which were pronounced very successful. I have an
ambition for the stage, and think I would succeed. I am seventeen
years of age, and medium height, with black hair and dark eyes, and
am a tasty dresser. I hope you will not pass over my application,
but will receive it favorably. Anxiously awaiting an early reply, I
remain, respectfully yours, etc.,
LIZZIE HILGER.
P. S.--Address your reply to me to the post-office.
These and the others were all calculated to make the "manager" feel
that he had captured a whole shoal of gudgeons. He would certainly
reply to such unsophisticated notes as these, and he did. The letters
were placed in the newspaper office box on Wednesday afternoon, and
bright and early on Thursday morning, I went around to the post-office,
presented my string of names, and met with no little opposition from
the gentlemanly delivery clerk, at first, who naturally did not like
to give an armful of mail for females to one who was not a female.
The situation was explained, however, and a half dozen rose-tinted
envelopes, all properly backed and stamped, and each containing an
epistle, was the result. They were opened one after another, and the
rose-tinted and perfumed pages of each told, in a bold running hand
exactly the same story--"pass the corner of Eighth and Locust Streets,"
at hours varying from noon to sundown on Thursday afternoon. It was
just what had been expected. Ettie Holan, the petite blonde, who could
play the guitar, was answered as follows:--
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 6, 1878.
MISS ETTIE HOLAN: Your letter through the _G.-D._ at hand.
We desire to engage several young ladies for the company now
travelling, and among numerous applicants note yours, and think it
possible to fix an engagement both for yourself and lady friend. As
you are very particular about your folks, you might possibly object
to coming to our office, so if you desire the engagement, please
pass the corner of Locust and Eighth Streets with your lady friend
about four (4) o'clock P. M. to-morrow (Thursday), the 7th.
Yours, respectfully,
HARRY RUSSELL.
And Lizzie Hilger, with nothing to recommend her but a voice and figure
that she had recommended herself, was encouraged in her ambitious
aspirations in the following manner:--
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 6, 1878.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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