The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-29
ANNA HELD's COFFEE.
An Unpleasant Experience of the
Little Actress

1t is said that Anna Held's greatest
hobby is coffee making For the follow
ing story of one of the difficulties into
which indulgence in that hobby recently
led her there is no better authority than
the inevitable press agent.
Everybody who knows anything about
theatrical affairs is aware that Miss
Held spent the summer in Paris All the
year round the actress keeps her place
on the Faubourg St. Honore in order
that when vacation time comes she may
have ready a heTne in which to enter
tain herself and her friends. Just pre-
vious to her last visit the bestowed of
these friends, aware of the hobby men
toned, presented Miss Held with a pat
ent prepare in three minutes coffee pot.
1t was an imposing affair, constructed
entirely of nickel, with two brass ng-
ures holding its pivots. Settled in her
apartments, the fortunate possessor of
the contrivance gave it a position of
honor on her side-board and pointed it
out proudly to such of her guests as
were likely to be interested.
The pot had been on the sideboard a
month when Miss Held determined to
learn if it would prove as useful as it
was ornamental For the occasion of
the trial she selected an evening on
which a number of celebrities were to
call, and the afternoon preceding was
devoted to a minute study of the direc-
lions that had accompanied the gift
When the company had gathered around
the table the nickel and brass arrange
erently removed. Fragrant Java and
Mocha was sprea1 on the sieve in its
middle, hot water was put in the upper
compartment, the alcohol fire was lit
the vessel was turned over, and in
something less than five minutes a vol
cano-like eruption from the wide spout
announced that the pr nparation was
ready for pouring.
Miss Held poured it generously. the
while pronouncing verbal testimonials
Tor which the manufacturers of the in
vention would have paid handsomely
But, after each man and woman had re-
ceived his or her portion, it became evil
dent that the brewing was not nota-
pie success. The more polite of the guests
drank their cupfuls with tortured ex-
pressions and firmly declined to be
helped again. The less polite swore that
they never took coffee before retiring
not taste the mixture until her friends
had gone and the rooms were deserted
When she tasted it, she shrugged her
shoulders and made remarks in French.
Then she opened the pot '.Somesing ees
Wr-rongp she observed.
''Somesing'' was The turning ont af
the liquid revealed a mass of various
substances, and investigation establish
ed the fact that these substances were
not OF nature to improve ordinary
coHee. There were three moth balls in
the pile. There were two collar buttons
and safety pin. There was a section
or shoe lace And in addition there
were tiny rolls of paper, carpet tacks.
sewing cotton, steel pens, screws, match
eSs DOnbonS, and q wrapper containing
a half dissolved quinnine powder. Dur
ing its stay on the sideboard the pot
had been convenient receptacle for all
sorts of cast off bits, and these were the
Miss Held dismissed her maid
and wrote letters to the polite folk who
had attended. Or SO says her press
agent.