Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-09-02
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
The Passing of the Imaginative Press
Agent-Lucky May vokes-Julia
Cooper and Cooper Union.
[special Correspondence.l


Especial Correspondence.l
Is the ubiquitous energetic. imagi-
native and hitherto supposedly indis-
pensable press agent doomed to disap-
pear from the theatrical world? There
are certain signs which seem to indi-
cate that he is doomed, and, strange
to say, il is the appreciation of the
work which he has been hired to do
which will work his undoing if it
should come at all. For many years it
was difficult matter to have any item
relating to the plans of managers or
actors published in the newspapers. IL
anything emanated from theatrical cir
Giles, 1t was at once regarded with sus-
picion, and the hidden advertisement
was carefully looked for. Later, with
the employment of press agents by the
theateIs, there was no secret made Of
the fact that the news contributed was
primarily designed for the purpose Of
keeping the public informed of the do
ings of its favorites and those who were
willing TO be regarded in that light.
The newspaper proprietors of this city
were surprised at the avidity with
which their readers devoured this sort
of news and naturally tried to give
them all of it they could get, only keep
ing out that which was too bald faced to
deceive "a lunatic. The show people
were not slow TO take advantage of this
suddenly developed tendency on the
part of the newspapers, and the press
agent became less valuable when no
special effort was required to give pub
licity TO desired items. Theatrical news
was at a premium, and almost nybody
with fair knowledge of English could
become a successful press agent.
Passing of the Press Agent.
Oscar Hammerstein was the first Of
the managers here to come to "a realiza-
ton of the fact that the newspaper men
would come after the news, and he ac-
cordingly dispensed with the services Of
the high salaried official whose duty it
was to disseminate information among
the various methods of publicity. The
press agent had succeeded in making his
ware so attractive that he was no Ion
ger an Indispensable TO its distribution.
To paraphrase the patent medicine ad-
vertisements, 'They all cried for it,"
with the result that the festive press
agent is now looked upon as a sort of
unnecessary evil. 1t is currently report
ed that many managers will follow the
plan Of Hammerstein, which has APP
peared to work splendidly.
Still there is little probability that
the press agent will not be able to find
employment for his peculiar abilities,
for there is in this city number of
persons on the outer edges of good So
ciety who employ these fellows to get
their names into the papers whenever it
is possible to do so. Then the land COM
panies and the railroad corporations will
have constant need of their services, and
it is therefore not likely that his kind
will cease to exist for many years to
come.
Lucky May Vokes.
There are more actresses financially
interested in plays than the average
public dreams Of May Vokes is one Of
the lucky ones. For moderate sum she
obtained one-third interest in my
Friend From India" and was to q
large extent responsible for the produc-
ton 1t was good investment for her,
as her percentage reaches tidy amount.
In addition she received good salary
for playing the part Of the servant girl.
Next season she is to play the leading
character role in the new play to be
launched by Smyth 81 Rice Miss Vokes
was at one time IA farce comedy star in
the west.
Determined to Wed.
Human nature is pretty much the
same the whole world over, and the fol
lowing true story simply goes to show
that when two young persons make up
their minds to marry they will not per-
NIT themselves TO be diverted from their
purpose by obstacles which would dis
concert people in the commonplace
transactions of life.
When Magistrate Wentworth reached
his home at 40 West Fifty-ninth street
at midnight recently, he found a young
man and n young woman sitting on his
stoop.
The young man said he wanted the
magistrate to marry him and his com
panion and wanted the ceremony per
formed right away.
''You see. judge" he said, 1--WE left
our homes to get married, despite the
objection Of our parents, and we cannot
go home until the knot is tied. I"
The magistrate said he would like to
be accommodating, but he had no legal
forms at his home, and that if they
would call at the Yorkville police court
the next morning he would make them
man and wife. They told him they had
been sitting on the stoop for over two
hours waiting for him and promised to
be at court early and left.
Promptly on Hand.
They kept their promise and were
conducted to the magistrates private
room, wher, the legal ceremony was
performed, Clerk Charles Adams act
ing as best man and two friends as wit
nesses.
When the two had been made one,
the bride stepped up to the magistrate.
Wont you-er-kiss me?" she ask
ed, and che turned up her cheek with a
blush.
"Eh? What did you oh, certainly,
madam, but hope my wife won't hear