New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-02
THE MATINEE GIRLS LETTERS.
THEY CANNOT BE FORWARDED BY THE
TRIBUNE-A FEW PEARLS OF THOUGHT
on THE SUBJECT.

The following communication has reached The
Tribune;
he editor
Dear Sir
VIII you obligs ne by putting this notice
IN the theatrical notes in the supplement,
AS cannot meet Mr.. - wish TO tell him by
the paper how much I enjoy his acting X. z.
Is It necessary 20 say that the handwriting IS
feminine? There is no need Of waiting for the
Sunday Supplement-. Such a matter demands at
tsnuon at once. II is even important enough 10
warrant the disregard Of the usually excellent rule
against taking any notice OF an anonymous letter.
Nor Is Il right 20 let the note appear less worthy
o. attention because the first sentence IN II ends
with period instead OF an Interrogation marx. or
because the last sentence is written as quotation
which begins but never ends. or because the name
o. tbs actor. suppressed IN the copy given here,
'ssns With small letter IN the note. The whole
ansr remarkable. not SO much for these things
as that the note should be sent 10 a newspaper
instead Of 10 the theatre.
The letters TX. T." are not the ones which are
'taIy signed 70 the note. but with that exception
ana The suppression OF the actors name II is re-
produced exactly. The theatrical notes IN the
sunday Supplement- Of The Tribune are not In
,hoed for the conveying OF private messages.
ssither Is this column. Hence the suppression Of
@s name and the initials. The actor named IN
ne note Is one Of fair ability. but Of exceptional
'"eFs' Some say that he is good looking, and he
certainly what his fellows call matinee actor"
mai IS 10 say. one VINO draws after him into the
aeaue by the way Of the box office a crowd Of
IONS. ''lsh little girls Ike X H. and also. alas! many
".sh women Sho are old enough 10 know better.
-' note VIII not be forwarded TO him. He would
~ De grateful Il Is understood that he Is obliged
sPena part Of his salary for private secre-
:, - 10Y The express purpose Of opening all notes
p. ~, soft and destroying them. The only reason
-. opening them at all is that they sometimes
IAN enclosures Of value which Il IS desirable 10
- - 70 the senders. II is fortunate for X. T.
a., cue cannot meet Mr.. -" for II she could
So "ouh probably say something much more silly
,.'. us note This IS not A silly one as mash let
so-ior the actors have name for the kind OF
hs =. 'Us' as they have for the kind OF actor who
ro, A forced upon him. They do not usually
IT,, '.h Admiration Of acting.
,sSet Of the alteration Of the matinee actor
II 49,. Yet IL II would accomplish anything
grA,,.- worth while 10 discuss II again at
tb,ns snsh But it would not accomplish any
ters =. 4he very schoolgirls who write these let
nav. pSs the young men-the "Johnuios"-they
by e" name. too-who wait at the stage door
rs,o, means IN such large numbers as is commonly
oa, 10 see their favorite members Of the ballet
AZ, Hr DO the matinee girls realize that they
O., ~y The feminine gender OF the same noun?
csr.,1E not see that what they do is just as
4, Ny and unTomanly as what the young men
b. :. 1N"iahly' II they feel irresistibly attracted
ro,a n'ah acting, let them so 10 see H. and
,hs,.', 10 them: but II they wish the respect OF
,,eS Or anybody else they will do better TO
nL rom writing these silly missives which, as
rs,, "oOooy scorns for their irdelicacy and their
c.y.s aouiation more than the actor who re-