The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-17
copyright. 1871

l0OpyIlSht 1oSt.l
From Maine to Florida and from New
York straight across to California,
everybody-that is everybody who
knows anything about theatricals-has
heard of Aunt Louisa" A first night
without her presence lacks the eachet
that should belong to 1t. while funeral
unattended by her sympathetic person
ality--that is, a theatrical funeral-can't
be right anyway you can fix it. Plenty
of people know Aunt Louisa by photo
graph Plenty more know her by sight
Half New York has a speaking ac-
quaintance with her, but you have to
know her well to realize that behind The
testing joyial manner and concealed by
the bright chatter is heart big enough
to take in all the sick and sorrowing
actors and actresses that ever, in n
good bad or Indifferent manner, played
their parts.
To see Aunt Louisa at her best YOU
must be able to call on her some Satur-
day morning. Her hours differ from
those of Mrs. Millionaire. Old Million
aires wife receives after 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon, while Aunt Louisa's hours
are from early morn up to IL high
noon. After that there are matinees.
Mrs Millionaire gives the usual after
noon tea, but Aunt Louisa ladies out,
as is required a sympathetic joke,
kind word or even more material treat
ment when called for. And it is very
often called for.
Everybody knows that, as a girl,
Aunt Louisa was great beauty. But
nowadays as the result of attending
to the affairs of the entire theatrical
profession. weeping with those who
weep and smiling with those who
smile, she has as a clever woman said.
lost the first flush of extreme youth,
that flush having been succeeded by
full hand. But such full hand!
Edont believe that there is human be-
ling so miserable that Aunt Louisa
{couldn't sympathize with him or her
and make a certain amount of happi-
ness take the place of some of the mis-
sery. And Aunt Louisa doesn't show
her sympathy merely in words.
Somebody said with truth that, while
the average theatrical agent made
money out of his business, Louisa Ed
ridge has an amateur charitable asso-
Seiation in active operation from which
she doesn't derive a dollar. but to which
she devotes her attention with the love-
Hest of sprits-one entirely devoid OF a
single mercenary thought.
y Go down there some Saturday-and by
there l mean the house in which Aunt
Louisa has dwelt for over 80 years.
This house was originally decidedly
aristocratic to look upon, but like most
earthly tenements it has tumbled from
grace and has not been improved by
the elevated railroad tearing along past
it's windows and making conversation
q continued effort. But no matter how
much noise there may be. Aunt Louisa
always hears the appeal for help.
Little Miss Puff and- Powder was on
hand when | went in the other day.
She had at last got an engagement
and had come to know If Aunt Louisa
bad anything in the shape of pink
satin skirt that she'd lend her until she
got her first weeks salary, when. she
would return it and get a new one.
Near her sat a tall, gaunt, CHASTITY
looking man, who wore his hair long
and his collar decollete and who needn't
have held so conspicuously that bundle
of manuscript to impress me that he
had come to read a play to Aunt Lou
lisa. He was willing not only to read it.
but to act it for her, making his voice
change to suit every part.
Aunt Louisa was not present as I en-
tered, though I heard her consulting
a message which had just come to her
c. o. d. Miss Fluffkins, who in her
palmy days last autumn wore no cos
tunes except those made in Paris, was
stranded in Colorado and had tele-