The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-18
DOES 1T PAY I?
Hillary Bell. in New York Press.

UUES III PAY
Hillary Bell, in New York Press.
About midnight on Monday the writer
stood in Proctor's Palm garden talking
with a singer who had just finished what
in vaudeville parlance Is called "a turn"
on the stage The refinement OF her fea-
lures and hands was In strange contrast
with the somewhat horsy appearance Of
her gown. Marks of care, perhaps worse,
had settled around her eyes, and I'm re-
pose there was a weary droop In her lips.
Her face was youthful, yet aged. The
stage paint still clung to her eyelids and
brows. Her voice was sweet and low and
educated In accent, but with u minor tone
of melancholy. Gowned and gloved as
befitted her, she would have been an arts
tocratic figure to be looked at and ad-
mired. The men drinking at the tables
looked at her. but with whispered COM
ment. a minute before she had been on
the stage singing ballads. Now, weary,
nervous, jaded, her hands and lips tremb-
ling, the life gone out of her. she had en-
tered the Palm garden with an actor to
forget her care. There was some moisture
in her eyes and unusual pathos in her
voice. MY husband died in Paris today"
said she simply. my first husband, Arthur
Padelford.' Then wearily, nervously, ap-
parentiy unconscious of the curious eyes
that followed them the actor and the
vaudeville singer sat down at table and
called for drinks. That was ,Bettina Ger
ard. Eight years ago she was the belle ot
fashionable society in Washington. the
petted daughter of General Ordway, the
bride of wealthy Arthur Padelford. Her
honeymoon was spent In tour OF Europe
and duke of the ancient nobility stood
It'll r.ttt
to this country the bride still maintained
her eminence as a famous beauty In fash
ionable circles and our most select famil-
les were glad to number among their
guests the lovely Mrs. Padeford. Then
scandals busy tongue began wagging. Ar
thur Padelford secured divorce and paid
soc 600 to his wife for quit claim on eV-
erything-her married name, her child
and her dover right in his estate. WITHIN
a period Of about five years Bettina Ger
ard has adventured all that woman
could to win success on the stage. Sha
has given up her social position, her ram.
ily her husband, her child. her fortune,
her youth, her beauty, her accustomed lux
ury-for what? To paint her face and
sing ballads on vaudeville stage. Her
husband left an estate worth 100000 TO
her child and hrs second wife. Yesterday
his first wife was one of the attractions or
a roof garden. Tomorrow-where?
Does 1t pay? One evening some years
ago the Dean of Jersey, an old, goou man
and preate of high dignity In the Church
of England, welcomed a storm-tossei
vachtsman to his home. The young sail
or. q handsome fellow of good family
and moderately wealthy, fell In love WIN
the deans daughter who was mouest
maid Of SURPRISING beauty. SO they We're
married. and as both had high social po-
s;tion their house in London was In
stantly included in the fashionable visit
ing list. The young husbands most intl-
mate friend, a baronet of ancient lineage
and knightly honor, fell In love with the
bride. and after he became weary OF MS
new whim he handed his lady over 10 tnat
royal gourmet, the Prince or Waies. or
Iohn Nillais was commissioned TO paint
her portrait and the picture, under its
caution of "A Jersey Lily" was the sensa,
ton that year of the Royal academN otni
the easy husband suspected nothihs anu
all might have been well, but IN an eAcess
~ snirits. yinous and natural, one nisht
Of a diner party the royal favorite slipped
a niece of ice out of her champagne glass
1own the collar of the future king OF Eng
land The Prince of Wales Is gentleman
of preat dignity. He said nothing, put
locked n Doomsday book. When the ice
had uly melted against the royai oa'H
ho arose silently, called his equerries ana
iaft tho house. Next afternoon the peau-
,ifu, bride was driving as usual IN RotteN
ROW. bowing and smiling 10 eVeryoo
with the patronizng air OF a royal ."VV,
ite. Suddenly the cry, MAKE way ior IL, @ ,,'o
Highness! The prince drives TO-DAY ine
hr;5e is exempt. Her costly equipage Keeps
head
ward ioyfully to receive the customary
Gallant greeting from the first gentleman
of england. The prince looks at hcr
b,ankly and drives past without recoghl-
tion Perhaps 1t was a mistake. ferhaps ne
was busy with the affairs of state ana uiu
not see her. The bride goes gayiy on
But Rotten Row, lately eager 10 pask III
her smiles. now cuts her dead. The prince
had set the fashion and his faithful SUBJ
iects follow it, The bride, awe STRICKEN
drives home. A sherifi's officer is already
in possession. The easy husband is in
bankruptcy through his wife's extrava-
gance. He disappears into cheap lodgings. |
She goes on the stage. Some years ago |
she drove along the ocean road at Long
Branch in her nightgown with party Of
boon companions similarly attired, all
in high spirits. Later her jaw was broken |
by the furious fist of her paramour |
sporting man of villainous repute. The |
deans daughter is rich, but could all her |
ill-gotten wealth buy back what she mas |
lost in order to become a curious spectacle !
on the stage? |
Il i
Does 1t pay? Mrs. Leslie Carter She |
knows what she is, but knows not what |
she may be. When the Farbank lawyers |
put her on the witness stand what unhap- |
py revelations may come forth! What old |
sores may be uncovered! Here IS another
who abandoned her home hus-
band, child, friends, fortune md social |
position for the feverlsh life Of - theater.
Owing to the fact that .,elasco wrote a
play for Mrs. Carter and trained her to
act in 1t, she has succeeded. Although |
arguing on the opposite side, we shall de-
tract In nothing from this players tr-
umph. She has done well. Mrs Leslie
Carter is the only society actress in the
world than can come near satisfying the
critics and the people. But II Belasco
should die or take up another pupil what
would become of Mrs. Carter? Is she
strong enough to stand alone? Can she
fight fortune as Duse. Bernhard, Rejane,
Terry. Cayvah. Rehan. Davenport. Mod
jeska and Clara Morris have fought It? If
not, what has she found In exchange for
what she has lost? After many years
spent In the study Of 1t we have discovered
al L.. ~