Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-25
INTERVIEWED MARY ANDERSON.
How a Reporter Played the Part of "a Bell
Boy and Scored Beat.

How a Reporter Played the Part of "a Bell
Boy and Scored a Beat.
Among the well known men about
town in Brooklyn is Frank Cooper, who
at one time promised to be BARLEY Camp
BELLS right bower. Mr.. Cooper was for
merly a Chicago newspaper reporter,
and it was while acting in that capacity
that he had a 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 first 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, DIR. Hamilton Griffin, was
keeping his precious charge far from the
interviewer in those days Mr.. Cooper
finally decided to apply for the honorable
position of bell boy in the hotel at which
the Anderson party stopped. His youth
donned the appropriate uniform. Then
he lay in wait for ring from Miss Ander-
sons room. For over twelve hours he
dashed about on errands and carried
pitchers Of ice water and glasses filled
with something stronger before Miss
Anderson made up her mind that she
wanted anything. Then the little flap
II L
with a click. Cooper had his eye ON it,
and almost before the clerk could cry
Front" he was at the desk.
Number So and So!' said the clerk,
"quick."
The messenger needed no urging, but
flew up the stairs. His magnet wanted
scuttle of coal and down Cooper rushed.
The next minute he was knocking at Miss
Anderson's door with one hand and hold
ing the bucket with the other. Once in
side he made for the open CRATE, but in
his nervousness he spilled most of the
coal on the carpet. Then he sat down in
the midst of the ruin he had 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 reassurcd the
disguised reporter, and in few minutes
he was carrying on discussion with the
actress on matters pertaining to her art.
This lasted for some time, Miss Ander-
son expressing great surprise at the
knowledge displayed by a bell boy, and
Cooper got an interview that all the old
hands in town had despaired of being
able to procure. How he got out of 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 a local paper. The next day
his interview and a description of tk
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 bright one.
1.-THE next day he paid for his temerity.
His chief, the late Samuel Medill, a
brother of the present owner of the pa
per in question, was so tickled at the
"beat" he had obtained that he insisted
that Cooper should meet DR.. Griffin. So
that night he took the youthful imposter
down to the hotel and, sending for DIR.
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 hard one, and
Cooper reeled and would have fallen to
the floor had not Mr., Medill caught him.
Before anything could be done DR.. Grif-
fin had turned and left the room, and
Mr.. Cooper never saw him again. New
York Times.