The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
MATINEE GIRLS IDOL
FEW OF THE PASSIONATE "MASH
NOTES" TO CHAUNCEY OLCOTT.
Writers Range all the Way From
Guiding Some Religious Cranks.
New York Journal.

shares of worry in dealing with beggars
and cranks but their troubles are nothing
compared with those of the popular actor,
whose love is more in demand than the
rich mans gold. The young and handsome
actor who becomes popular with women
must expect to read on the average about
twenty love letters day This has been
the experience of actors who were matinee
idols long ago. and it is the experience that
Chauncey Olcott. the star in Sweet lnnis-
CARA" the latest hero, is encountering
just now. They come for the most part, of
course, from silly young girls, some of
them old enough, though. to know better,
who. in their innocent way, place the actor
far above the average man.
Occasionally, however, women, in middle
age, are carried away with the gilt and tim
sci that surrounds stage hero and don't
hesitate to tell him as much. But the chief
source of annoyance comes from the poetic,
sentimental kind.
Il feel sorry for these unknown admirers
of mine" said Mr.. Olcott. Il really feel
sorry for them. But they forget me in
day. Their love is not lasting. If these
girls knew that my mother is my only
sweetheart, and that it is she who reads
the letters instead of myself, they would
spare themselves as well as me.the trouble
l have never seriously regarded but one
letter from matinee girl. 1t is a delight
full little thing, and as you see, it is from
q child. Here It is:
Dear Mr.. Olcott-I am a little girl only
seven years old, and l cannot write very
well, but L love you very, very much.
cannot tell you how much. If / could it
would not be much, for mamma says what
we feel the most we can express the least
But, all the same, | love you very much
The reason why l love you dearly is be-
cause | saw you play. My mamma took
n N 81 Cni M O writ
to you If | liked. / love my mamma better
than any one in the world and that is
why | love you next. Because in the play
you love your mother-that made me love
you.
TRUTH FROM A CHILD.
Mamma says it is not your real mother
only a make-believe mother, but l am sure
you love her all the same, just as 1 love
my dear mamma. If 1 were your little girl
you would love me wouldn't you? for L love
you so much. And if 1 were your little girl
would you sing to me every day? Mamma
says you only sing on the stage but l do
not believe it. l know if were your lit
tie girl you would sing to me about the
little fly every time I asked you. G..
This one only came to-day. 1t has a
ring of sincerity about it that is lacking
in a majority of the others. See what it
offers:
OASOSN
life / presume you receive letters from silly
sentimental girls who tell you they
madly in love with you and long to make
your acquaintance. | am no silly stupid
caramel girl, but woman of the world to
whom love had become dream of the past
until fate led me to see you in Sweet In
niscarra.' Since then my soul has known
no peace. Your face is ever before me,
your voice is ever ringing in my ears. l
long to speak with you, to clasp your hand.
/ do not ask you to care for me, only let
me love you. Will you come to see me?
wealth. Marry me and will make you one
of the richest men in America. Tell me
that you will come and will send my car
riage for you tomorrow.
This woman" continued the actor lis
not woman of the world she wouldn't
be guilty of this. She would know better.
She was just carried away, like the young
ones, with the glamour that surrounds
a stage hero. She will regret tomorrow
that she sent the letter. and wonder how
she could have been so silly. But here are
others that are more in the usual strain:
:" Mr.. Olcott-I love you. How much you
will never know. l never expect to meet
YOU and you will never know my name.
Still. l want you to know that there is one
little woman in the world who has given
you her whole heart. | write this letter,
dear Mr.. Olcott. simply because l cannot
help it. Something in my heart tells me
writing it. You surely would not if you
knew my love for YOU. have only seen
you on the stage, but that was enough. !
loved you from the first. Your eyes seemed
to burn into my soul Try hard as / may
1 cannot forget you Oh. / am so unhappy
One word from you would make my life a
paradise.
Z" I never saw you until yesterday. When
you came on the stage my heart gave a
great bound-and l knew that l had found
my affinity. l love you, / feel that 1 could
worship you. My friends say | am good
looking. You may not think so. But will
you see me? viii you let me talk to you?
1t seems impossible that one could love so
hard without being loved in return Please
let me see you, please please do. For the
llfA-1n6 i
eighteen long years. know that I am in
love. You will call me a foolish, silly girl
saw you only yesterday L have been in a
whirl ever since. Waking or sleeping, your
face is always before me. Your sweet voice
is always making melody in my ears. Ah
if you could but kpow the depth of my
love! oh, if you could but know
Dear Mr.. Olcott-For weeks / have
worshiped you from a distance. / have
loved you from the moment I first saw your
face. Life is no longer worth living with
after the matinee on the corner of Sixth
avenue and Fifteenth street just in front
of the church steps? You will know me by
the bunch of red carnations in my left
hand. Fondly.
SIX GIRLS IN A BUNCH.
oh, Mr.. Olcott-Six of us girls have
saved up our money and bought a box for
the matinee to-day. We have all bought
flowers, which we are going to throw to
you. We are ali in love with you, but / am
just wild about you. 1 shall throw you
bunch of roses with a little note in it,
which I shall kiss hundred times for
you
- Mr.. Olcott-When you are on the stage
at to-day's matinee look in the box at the
right. l shall wear bunch of violets on
my breast. When you look at me / will
throw you the violets, to which will be fas-
tened note telling you where you can
meet me-
me silly when / tell you that | adore you.
| wish you would write me a letter. telling
me where | might meet you. Do you ride
the wheel? If so, meet me tomorrow at
p. m on the Boulevard and Sixty-ninth
street. | shall wear a blue suit and red
sailor hat. An American Beauty rose will
be pinned to my corsage. Lovingly
Dear Mr. Olcott-I have saved all my
spending money for the last six weeks to
buy matinee tickets to see you in Sweet In
niscarra." Since l first saw you l have
been haunted by your beautiful face and
your sweet voice still rings in my ears.
How | wish / dare speak to you. / have
waited outside the theateT after every mat
inee, determined TO speak to you, but when
1 saw you l had not the courage. To-day
me or just look into my eyes and / shall
be happy When you pass me l shall throw
Il white rose at your feet, that you may
know her who worships you
Love letters form only part of the
many missives / receive daily continued
the actor There are letters from religious
cranks asking me if in my prosperity I
have forgotten my God, if | am unmndful
of the fact that / owe one-half of my in
come to the church. Letters from men and
women who are interested in enterprises
which will make my everlasting fortune. If
7 will only invest a small in them