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CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS 115 sants, would not give much to possess "stockings to match" every gown in her wardrobe! Then, "for special," Helen confided, one silver pair of hose, one gold pair — not "really truly gold"—of course not; one fish- net pair meshed with tiny steel beads, and a well-nigh-priceless pair of silk- lace stockings, embroidered with tiniest seed pearls which—whisper it —she is saving for her trousseau! (Then she's nut married? No, boys, 1 saved this for a surprise.) Then, here is the fancy. Miss Helen Marten didn't tell me this. 1 got it from other sources. Every now and then, when she has a spare a crip- afternoon, Helen goes off to pled children's or blind babies' or other home where she can find unfortunate youngsters, and sings for them; or cuts paper dollies; or feeds them goodies; or does any other tiling that can possibly make the poor little ones forget their mis- fortunes. Isn't this being a real Lady Bountiful? Helen fancies this as a pet diversion. Now, then, we are getting serious, for we have reached the fact: Miss Marten's mail includes very many letters from girls all over the coun- try who want her assistance in "acting just as you do." The apparent ease of it appears to he its appeal to them. T shall let her speak of this for her diminutive self: "Since the Motion Pic- ture Maga- zine reaches at• . least a million ]) e o p 1 e , surely many of the girls w li o have written to me will see my answer here. I want to tell them collectively what I would tell each one individually if my time permitte d. Being a film actress is far f r o m being 'the easiest way' to earn a livelihood. It requires almost super- human effort to get an op- portunity to enter the field; il re- quires daily action which has every element of physical danger; and, above all, it requires constant study, not only to keep pace with the growing demands of the camera, but ahead of the horde of com- petitors who push every actor, great or small, for his place. I, like most co-players who have succeeded in at- taining a film personality, owe it more to mere chance than to the hard apprentice- ship I served. The theatrical profession, whether on the stage or behind the camera, is so thoroly subjected to chance, that I cannot sin- cerely advise any girl, blinded by its glamour, to leave tlie security of her home en- vironment for the hard fight and bit- ter disappointments which would be- set her path as an actress. You may wonder, then, why I am here; and the others with me. Frankly, I think most of us saw dazedly, blinded by the glamour then, as you are now. And none could see the unceasing struggle that tomorrow held for us. Money could not compensate us for the dangers we must undergo. It is your appreciation, as it comes, often- times in a simple, sincere note, that tells of the happiness our work—my work—has given you; how it has helped you forget, for awhile, dark care as it bestrode your shoulders.''