The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-17

! actresses who drop in and who remem-
| Der Macready and have no opinion of
| the people of today; therefore they Sc
verely criticise all the young actors.
| who to them are sticks. Yet they are
nice, kindly old souls. who left the
stage while they were in their prime
and whose names appear in the history
of the American theater.
If an actor dies, the reporters think
| nothing of ringing Aunt Louisa up at >
o'clock in the morning TO find out
whether he was first old man with For
rest. played Juveniles with the elder
Booth or voted the straight Democrat
ic ticket. A little later on Aunt Louisa
will be using her influence with the act
ors' fund TO get il to do something for
the widow and children: and she will
have stuff dyed black so that the poor
souls may be in decent mourning. and
she will nearly run her legs off looking
after the interests of this tribe who. up
TO the time of the late lamented's death.
was unknown to her.
However. there is one day in the
year when Aunt Louisa is literally
queen OF the May. This is on the Sun
day night after Christmas. when every
small tot connected with the stage is
taught what Christmas means by hav-
ing his little tum-tum well filled. his
little body we'll covered and his poor
little heart delighted by the very gift
that he wanted most.
For weeks before Aunt Louisa and
Tony Pastor work together. as only
real ministering angels do. and then.
when the festivity takes place, Aunt
Louisa, dressed IN her finest frock. is
simply one magnificent smile and
doesn't look a dag over q. Mr.. Grease
Paint. whose son, II years old. Is train
ing for the legitimate. is made happy
by hearing him recite Hamlet's solil-
oouy: the small niece of Miss Puff-and
Powder (whose likeness 10 Miss Puff
and Powder is sufficiently great to make
unkind people shrug their shoulders)
does a skirt dance. while the small boy
whose grandfather was Edwin For
rests dresser makes a stump speech.
Aunt Louisa is too tender hearted TO re-
fuse TO allow any child 20 make fool
Of itself. and everybody knows that the
theatrical child is never happy unless
il is following in the steps OF it's more
or less artistic predecessors. The chill
dren have their innings in one way.
then. before tho well spread table. they
have II in another. and then the Christ-
mas gifts are distributed.
Earlier in the day there has been
meeting OF mothers and children az the
Hotel Eldridge. when warm fannels.
shoes and stockings. good topcoats.
hats. everything OF anything that can
make a child comfortable in the way
Of clothes is given out 70 the poor 1T
tie bits Of humanity who know what =
means 20 be cold
These are the times when rniilionalrss
are writing 10 Aunt Louisa. when
EibridEe Gerry sends his check and tells
her that Il comes from him with great |
pleasure. when Mrs George Gould gives !
hs- contribution: when everybody -
glad 10 give as much as he can 80 tia. !
the little people q the stage may have /
a happy Christmas And they wouldn't I.
Be so generous. these Esiilionzirss. = u 4
were rot for Aunt Louisa El6ridge- /
They know ner sincerity. and they 4
know her honesty. and they are sure i
tina; every dollar given an hs spent
10 make sore stage chiid happy
Aunt Louisa kaoEs more pretty girl. I
than a mill 1nafre GuSe. AMI she's az 4
rnu-h interested IL tn@ love affair G. .
Efttla Nfss Soprace as u she ksdnt iiE- s
tened u these stores q tTue iore year
n and year cut Ard zszs gives god .
advice. does Aunt Louisa But. s-ss- +
:Ee pretty glrls cca't alT2Es t2<s -.