Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-21
The kNrle Bellows.

from the Chicago Herald.
For long time before the Carter case came
into the courts the name of Kyrle Bellew had
become known throughout the country. The
gushing female correspondents in New York
dilated on his beauty, his influence on women,
and the fact that he was inundated with love
missives, and his performances thronged by
susceptible maidens, matrons, and old maids.
Later information is to the effect that he did
not hesitate to avail himself of this worship;
that his lialsons were frequent and notorious,
and that the names of several noted women
were associated with his in his unenviable noto-
riety. In brief, his reputation as a roue. Don
Juan, ''masher" is established beyond a
doubt. He has but to throw his handkerchief
at the feet of any one of the feminine devotes
bowling before his shrine to secure victim.
1t is a fact that. Notwithstanding this reputa-
ton, he is a social success. He is sought after
and admired. Crowds, mainly of women.
throng his performances He is the recipient
of a constant ovation in the shape of smiles,
amorous glances, bouquets. billets of invita-
ton and rapturous applause. His appearance
fills a house, not only with women of hbidinous
tendencies, but with chaste ones who are at
tracted by the mysterious charm of inspecting
danger and the curiosity of examining the for
hidden.
Primarily Bellew may not be responsible for
the position which he occupies. He was prob
ably lured into it, and lacks the strength to
resist. his VANITY Is grained DIV the aQuldtlOn
he receives; he has grown to believe that he is
invincible. and like the Minotaur, he has a
contract with society for the supply of his ap-
petite. While possibly not responsible for the
nletIer that he now pursues, he is more con-
temptible in that he continues to follow it. A
man may be pardoned for single offense if
led into it, but not if he then makes il a bust
ness.
The relations of this man are a scandaIous
reflection on the morals of the community in
which they are exploited. Something of the
same sort characteriZes the condition of every
prominent actor. John Mccullough was liter
ally hunted to insanity and death by women,
not all of whom were vile in thought or pro-
fession. They followed him; they threw them
selves in his way, chung to him with a peril
nacity that would not be denied The inner
history of his life, the details of his pursuit by
women, would constitute one of the most scan
dalous chapters in the clandestine records of
erotic literature.
Very much is charged against men in their
admiration of actresses but il is doubtful II the
worst phases of the masculine pursuit Of this
class is any more abominable and extended
than the feminine chase of popular actors.
When a woman descends to undertake an
iniquitous thing she far excels a man in reck-
lessness and in abandonment to the direction
of the worst motives.
These actors who are thus famous for their
iaisons are largely the product of the other
sex. Booth is far more gifted in genius and
beauty than Bellew. and yet he protects him.
self against the Establishments of the other SEX
and thus stands before the world without
blemish. This is true of Henry Irving. Salvini
and other great actors; they are too grand to
yield to enervating and degrading solicitations
of lewd women, whose embrace is final destruc-
ton, as in the case of John Mccullough, Bart
ley Campbell and many others.
To eliminate such nuisances as Kyrle Bellew
the cause must be obliterated in the silly
women who are responsible largely for their
existence. Let society make it an unpardon-
able offense to worship at the shrine of Ibid
inous actor and there will be a diminution, if
not cessation, of the custom.