The San Francisco call., 1895-12-23
THE ACTRESS CHRISTMAS
Holidays Are Time of Hard
Work and Conducive of
Sad Memories.
Nav Irwin Talks of Her Mascot and
Her Football Trophy..-Death
to CrankS.

May Irwin is here-blonde dimpled, mag.
netic, slightly increased in ayoirdupois
since her last visit to the coast, but with
the old exuberance of spirit.
The star of the "Widow Jones" com
pany occupied box at the Baldwin last
evening and laughed gayly at Harlow S
womanish mannerisms. II ha We never
seen 1849,' " she remarked "Of course
am wild to see Dick Harlow. All the
ladies rave over him, you know. l know
him, but have never seen him on the
stage
"GIad to be in California? I'm de-
lighted" she said in a manner that car
rid conviction with it, 81 love San Fran
cisco. Indeed, | mean to live here some
time. Let me assure you that no one calls
it Jay town when I'm about.
people in New York are tired OF my
rawlings about San Francisco, but they have
to endure the inflictioE.
"Some one said at the breakfast table
this morning, Here we are 1000 miles
from New York, and 1 answered, Yes and
thank heaven for it..
Don't misunderstood me. New York
is all right. 1t gave me eighty nights OF
crowded houses al this Biiou Theater. 1t
allied Widow Jones tremendous sue
cess.
"YetI love San Francisco. It's audi
ences are loyal. San Francisco theater-
goers are less ficKle than any | know. [
cause | think they are OF me-"
The merry actress expression grew
sober when she was asked about a profes-
slonal's view of Christmas.
''It is time of hard work and sad
memories" she said gravely.
1T is the saddest time of the year to one
of the profession. We are far from home,
all of US, and the days are one long regret
that it is so. 1t has been so many, many
years since [ have spent the holidays with
my mother"
Miss Irwin has mascot. She carries
with her on her journey across the conti-
nent an ugly rubber doll. Some unknown
New Yorker sent it for illustration of her
song, "a New Bully" anG she finds it a
without it, she said, "In fact, am a lit
tie superstitious about it,"
She laughed heartily as she told the
story of the presentation to her of foot
ball with real gore" on it. She was
called before the curtain at Washington
on Thanksgiving day and the coach OF one
of the rival teams, who had carried on a
hot battle in the afternoon and occupied
djacent boxes in the evening, gravely
presented her with the dripping trophy.
1t is one of her treasures and occupies a
conspicuous place in the decorations OF
her room.
She dimpled charmingly when she told
the story of the cowboy she met on her
way to New Orleans. He had stopped in
her car ON his way to the diner, and as
serted his right to saw his fiddle, which
amusement had been forbidden him in
another car, because he found her playing
her banjo. HE entertained me with
moneymusk and all the country dances,
she said, land was very sorry that there
was not room enough to give me two or
three swings about the car, which he in
sisted he could do in spite of my size. l
noticed his Atlanta Exposition badge. and
asked him whether it was the insignia OF
some secret society. 1t was not, he said,
but he did belong to a new and much
needed club, society for the extermina-
ton of cranks."