The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-15


that the thing is overdone and the money value
of the gift is counted on more than the feeling
that prompts it
A complication regarding Christmas gift is
making one woman weep. one man quite equally
sorrowful and the rest of the boardsrs laugh, alta
fashionable hotel in this city. We will cali tae
principal actors Mr.. and Mrs. Brown. She was
especially desirous of thousand-doliar pair or
diamond earrings. She had gone so far as to
select them at a jewelry store. and had con-
suited with her husband He had urged poverty
as reason for not buying them, but had 1ntl.
mated that be could stand expenditure or
about $500 for the purpose. Then Mrs. Brown
had happy thought She went to the jeweler
and told him that if her husband came to look
at the rings, the price was TO be given TO him
as $500, and that if he purchased them she
would pay the remaining $500. The scheme was
carefully and successfully worked I'D to critical
point, and there 1t had mlsera ole failure. The
husband inspected the jewels according 20 the
programme, and he bought them, too; his wife
learned from the merchant of the sale, and paid
her half of the money according to agreement
But when Christmas came and she opened the
box containing her present she found only q
hundred-dollar bracelet instead of the coveted
earrings. She suppressed her fury for while
and calmly asked her husband why he
had not given the diamonds to
her. He replied that he had not been able
the jeweler who declared upon his honor that
MIR. Brown had paid $500 for the ear-rings--had
seemed TO regard unem as a gOOG Dargafn, ana
had taken them away. To whom had ne given
them? To a woman, surely. for they would be
of little use to masculine ears. Perhaps MIS-
Brown exhausted all private means of finding
out for whom she had contributed $500 out OF
her own pocket money. Anyhow. she has con-
fGed the perplexipg question TO several crones
in the hotel, and they in turn have told 1t to
Others and here it goes into publication.
The pursuit Of Kyrle Bellew, the actor. by
crafty sentimental woman in Boston. is gener-
ally smiled at advertising device because
Bellew is a chap who can be considered hand
some only by the most vivid imagin alton. But
it is q mania with a few women in New York to
to worship stage heroes anyhow, and SO it is no
wonoer that a foolish creature chased Bellew to
Boston Madame Ponisi, the stately old actress,
who has for very many years been in the Wal
lack company with Bellew and his predecessors
has been talking to me- about the craze Tor act
ing and for actors that possesses a few girls or
the present day. No one is better qualified TO
speak on this subject She has been
season after season in the company with such Ia
mous heart-breakers as Lester Wailack, Henry
j. Montague and later specimens OF stage heroes.
She has had to push through crowd OF their
adorers who blocked up the back door. to see
their idols enter or depart. She has faced with
them matinee audiences made up of enamored
idiots. She has read bushel of burning ehu-
sions Montague, the most besieged of the whole
army of theatric crushers used to receive hun
dred oveletters every month of his life, and on
such occasions New Year and Christmas. as
many came in a week. Madame Pouis said that
Montague did not pretend to read them. Ihe
back k-door.keeper would hand him batch
of which he would hastily Gull
the tender missives, aud. as he passed the
actresses dressing rooms. he would distribute
the curiosities for their amusement AS to Kyrie
Bellows fascinatlons, they appeal to the admira-
alton and affection Of the very young or the
very ancient. The mobs that stand aud wait
for him on the side street either use chewing
gum or wear spectacles Madame Ponsi told
how one sufferer from this form of dementia bit
upon a plan. She learned where the matronly
actress dwelt and asked for an interview Now,
if ever nobility of nature and dignity of woman
hood sat a womans head and radiated from
her fan. it is in Madame Ponisi's With
ner crown of silver hair, the honest eyes of
Irish blue. the complexion and teeth Pre-
served by health and contentsd
an effort to- efface wrinkle. -srsxn- bastss,t III
old this actress faced her visitor. A prIvats
carriage had brought her there. Her dress be-
tokened wealth. and everything that money
could DO TO make cid hen into spring
chicken had been done. Baby-frizzes were
pinned on her thin and faded locks. Rouge
of piano-keyes decorated her upper jaw
Fard Indien threw up her time -bleared eyes
Pads hid the ravases OF years IN her nGure AS AS
stately DANES antipodes. She had the advan
tage in years, but she had made such bad use of
them that she looked older than the actress in
her effort to be young.
''My dear madame" sighed the caller, lit is
matter of the heart which has impelled me to
call. A most ardent attachment for Mr.. kyrle
Bellew has taken possession of my"
Dear! dear" interrupted the artist, another
poor girl. Has your daughter ever met
s'My daughterl
'sDidn's you say your daughter2"
81 have no daughter" said the woman; II am
unmarried, and came to ask You to give
some particulars about Mr. on my own
count"
The actress was paralyzed. The euamored
spinster begged her to take her. as an intimate
friend, behind the scenes at Walack's, and in
troduce her the fascinating leading
1--WE do not take stranges behind the scenes"
was the reply. ''The idea of your having such
a feeling for this gentleman is preposterous. l
cannot help you in any way"
That foolish woman hung around and cried
and finally declared that no Jealous guardian
ship should keep her from knowing the love of
her life. for 'she would study and 60 upon the
stage; the tragedy queens who surrounded her
idol should not bar her out.
heard the other day of lady taking elocu
tiona-y lessons for ''a purpose she wouldn't di
vulge." said Madame Ponls perhaps it the
old actors struck lady who came to me last
SON" CLARA BELLE.
EXTRAVAGANCE IN FLOWERS