The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-14
SOME STAGE
FLIRTATIONS,
Theodore de BanvilIe Writes of
One With Curious Results.
The Charming Lady With the Valise Who
Was In for Fun-The Love Let ers Received
BY Theatrical Juvenile Men.
Special to THE SUNDAY CALL.

pSsoplidi 1uoiibiNo' buN oSAOiJ W NV
position they hold in their profession which
makes of them, for women in general, sort
of visible idea. That excellent actor, Feb
vra, one day explained this idea to me with
very subtle good sense, and, in support of
his argument, related the following an
ecdote:
"Lafontaine," said he, latter having
made his brilliant creation of the hero in
A Romance of Poor Young Man, found
waiting at the theater for him every evening
4 certain number, always the same, of love
letters. But he quilted the Vaudeville a
long while before the success of the drama
was exhausted. Temporarily 1 replaced
him in his role, and then L received the
same letters which he had received in equal
number and with perfect regularity. But
that was not all. In the course of the repre-
sensations l fell sick and was unable to
play for three days. The piece In vogue had
TO be kept on the bill The manager, who
had no choice, took a country actor, the first
who happened 10 come along, stumbling,
awkward and with a gin voice. From the
very first night this man received the same
number of letters as If their delivery had
been daily service organized by the man
agtment. You See," added Febvre, THAT
he had no occasion to be very proud. since
what the ladies' adore in us is but the feath-
ers OF the peacock"
THE LADY WITH THE VALISE.
1t sometimes occurs that the juvenile man
makes fool of himself with one or more of
the cklesS writers Of these love letters, and
of this we have lately had quite a remark
able example. BoiSmore, who when made
mp as stage lover, is one OF the handSomest
aud most delightful of our comedla ns, was
making a tour in company with Partisan
ion FaoIic Or oh H.
said right here that these two Intimate
friends, though not like each other, had
sufhcIent resemblance 10 be taken for each
other twenty times q day by superficial OBJ
servers. Last Thursday they were in Brus-
sells. Toward noon. as they came down
stairway of the Hotel de Bellevue. lady
who held Ill her hand very small vallse.
Tall, elegant and slender, wearing her prln-
cess dress like prime esS. this lady, evidently
PariSlenne, had grand bearing as superior
TO what we term distinction as genius is
superior to talent and a handsome visage
but at the same time singular and attrac-
tive one, which is the perfection of art. She
cast upon the two friends sharp and de-
clsVe glance of domination, as if to take
possession OF them and mark them with her
initial. Then she passed on.
In the evening Boismore playeds" Ruy
Bias" at the Theater des Galleries Saint
Hubert. AS he was recting the beautiful
speech of the first act, ''Alas it was the
dawn! he noticed that a very handsome
brunette was making eyes at him in the
audience and that this very handsome bru-
nette was no other than the lady he and his
friend had met that morning on the stair
way of the MOTEL. She was evidently bold
aud practiced hand at theatrical filtration,
for when the actor made his exit after his
scene he received a tender aud compliment.
airy little note from her. But as weary of
such things as his friend could possibly be
OF news papers and copy, he instantly en-
tered into conspiracy with Esclavy and
coldly planned what he thought would be a
rafting farce. He replied to her note and
the correspondence continued all through
the tragedy. Nine. Pauline Cristol. for she
braveIy signed her name, harmed In this way
that Boismore was going to Antwerp and
would take the train with Esclavy inimedi-
ately after the play. She offered herself to
them as travelling companion.
THE ANALOGOUS DECEPTION.
The trio met only at the moment of taking
the train. Hardly had they entered their
compartment when Nine. Cristol began to
congratulate Boismore on his marvellous
talent and almost supernatural youth; but
Esclavy, audaciously entering into his
friends skin, bowed with a charming smile
and replied to these praises with the most
perfect modeSty. a strange look came over
Pauline's face and a wicked flash shot from
her eyes; however, she seemed to believe
this brazen deception, and there was not
even smile at the corner of her lips when
the actor. using great deal more emphasis
than was necessary, called Esclavy every
i've minutes My dear BosmoreW
Besides she was a prodigiously smart
woman. She knew how to talk and how to
listen; her voice was in perfect harmony
with the night, the stars, the country and
the dark splendors of the sky. She said
gay, profound, serious and unexpected
things. She was like perfect Tyre. all the
strings OF which quivered and yibrated.
From the quantities of ideas and images she
had awakened in them, the two friends on
their arrival at Antwerp might have thought
that the little journey of an hour and a half
had lasted whole night, and yet she had
so thoroughly charmed them that it had
seemed TO them to be over in five minutes.
They left their baggage at the depot and got
her little yalise, gave the address of the
Hotel st. Antoine on the Place.Verte.
On arriving, BOismere asked the hotel
keeper, who lad not gone to bed, if he could
furnish them with some sort OF supper, to
Which he made answer that nothing was
easier. In fact, as soon as the travellers
came down stairs after having taken pos
session Of their rooms, he himself led them
II small salon, adorned with jolly mytho-
logical pictures. where the tables were set
and the glass and silverware upon it sparkled
cath the twenty candles of an antique
Flemish chandelier.
Escaut fish, pate de foie gras from Stras-
bourg, Russian salad, stalks of asparagus,
huge Holsters, pastry, fruits and confections
succeeded each other as at the most ire
proachable Partisan supper, and were washed
down with iced Cliquot served in elegant
champagne glasses. The two friends did
not think OF being surprised that such a re-
past had been prepared In few minutes,
Tor by dlnt OF living in an ideal world, amid
legends, fairy tales, the past and the entire
a yaoin tf,f
not beng astonished at the most astonish-
ing things.
SOME STRANGE BEHAVIOR.
The only anomaly which seemrd singular
to them was that Nine. CristoI offered them
the dishes, selecting for them the choice
pieces, exactly as il she had been the mistress
of the house and at her own home. But they
took this for an amiable familiarity aud
thought it very jolly that this unknown
should do them the hOnOrs Of their own sup
per. Besides. she subjugated them by the
sound OF her musical voice and her brilliant
wit. Shrewd, indeed, would he have been
who could have told to what circle OF So
ciety this woman belonged, for she spoke as
if thoroughly posted of what was taking
place in The highest social spheres and at the
same time knew all the corners and Sums of
Paris. like a Livingstone of that curious
Africa, more savage than the other.
She listened with an Intelligence and
sympathy that made the speaker eloquent.
Esciayy. the better to sustain the deception
he was practicing, spoke like the heroes of
Racine. Initiating as best he could the in
donations which, at the theater, had made
his friends fortune. Pauline Cristol
answered in the same fashion as if to show
that every style was familiar TO her, even
that of the Imogens and Juliets. Bots
more, who by this time was thoroughly
jealous Of his friend, sat listening and TAX
ing genuine lesson in comedy. He COW
cred his eyes with his hands, and when he
removed them the mysterious daughter of
Eve had arisen from the table and was bid
ding the friends goodnight.
But it is not enough to play good joke;
one must have little fun at the expense of
the victim! Hence when. the next morning,
Pauline Cristol advanced toward the two
friends. who we're idIing in the courtyard
of the hotel, Esclavy, making believe not to
have seen her, affected to speak of the rep
resentation which was to take place in the
evening at the Theater Royal, aud several
times called B0ismore very loudly by his
name Then, feigning to eaten sight of
the lady, lie initiated embarrassment and
surprise and made the gesture of guilty