Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-12-26
, Section in North Carolina.
:, FRIDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1890.
INTERVIEWED NARY ANDERSON.
H"w Reporter Played tie Part Of a Ben
Es.ay and Soerad = Beat.


Essy and Sosrad - i4eat.
Among the well known nlen about
toa II in Brooklyn is Frank Cooper. who
st one time promised to bs BARLEY Camp
bells right bower. Mr.. Cooper was for
mer1y a Chicago newspaper reporter,
and it was while acting III that capacity
that he had Il very singular adventure.
at the time Mr.. Cooper was very young
and very ambitious TO shine in his pro-
fession. and when Mary Anderson, who
was then the craze of the theatrical
world, reached town, he thought he saw
his chance to ascend the lrst few rungs
Of the ladder of fame. He would inter
view the noted actress.
This decision was reached in an instant,
but many days passed before the project
was put into execution. Miss Anderson's
stepfather. DR.. Hamilton Griffin, was
keeping his precious charge far from the
interviewer in those days. Nr. Cooper
finally decided to apply for the honorable
position Cd bell boy in the hotel at which
the Anderson party stopped. His youth
full appearance helped him and he soon
donned the appropriate uniform. Then
he lay in wait for ring from Miss Ander
sons room. For over twelve hours he
dashed about on erranGs and Carried
pitchers Of ice water and glasses flied
with something stronger before Misa
Anderson made up her mind that she
wanted anything. Then the little flap
covering the number Of ler room dropped
with a click. Cooper had lis eye on it.
and almost before the clerk could cry
'Front!' he was at the desk.
Number So and SoI' said the clerk.
quick"
The messengerspeeded no urging. bat
dew up the stairs. Tliis magnet wanted 4
scuttIc of coal and down Cooper ruGhed.
The next minute he WAS knocking at = IS
Anderson door with one hand and hold
;ng the bucket with The Other Onca i'll
side he made for the open CRATE, b;;t in
lis nervousness he spilled most Of the
coal on the carpet. Then he SIT down in
he midst Of the ruin he ha;d wrought and
looking up found the actress standing
over him.
What do you think of the future OF
The stage?' burst from his lips.
Miss Anderson was impressed with the
humorous side Of the situation at once
and began laughing. This rv4seureL the
iissuised reporter. and in few r-inutes
he was carrying ca a discussion with the
actress on matters pertaining TO her art.
This lasted for some tiIae. Miss Ander-
son expressing great surprise at the
knowledge displayed by bell boy, and
Cooper got an interview that t1l the old
hands in town had despaired Of being
able to procure. How he got out If the
room. he says. he never knew, but when
he reached the Office he threw Up his job
and rushed for his desk in the city de-
partment of local paper. The next day
his interview and n description OF the
scene appeared. 1t was the talk Of the
hour. 1t was copied far and wide. and
the author was assured that his future
would be a bright one.
g The next day he paid for his temer!ty.
His chief, the late Samuel Medill. q
brother Of the present owner Of the pa
per In question, was so Gckled at the
beat he had obtained that he insisted
that Cooper should meet DR.. Griffin. So
that night he took the youthful in1poster
down to the hotel, and, sending for DR..
Griffin, formally presented him For a
full minute DIR. Griffin looked the re-
porter straight in the eye, and then,
drawing back his hand, struck him in
the face. The blow was a hard one, and
Cooper reeled and would have fallen to
the floor had not Mr.. Medill caught him.
Before anything could be done DIR. Grit
fin had turned and left the room, and
Mr. Cooper never saw him again.-New
York Times.