Evening star., 1901-09-21
A STAGE NUISANCE
What the "Masher" Really is and
Why He Exists.
NOT OFTEN THOUGHT DANGEROUS
Wants to Be Recognized as a
Fascinator of Women.
MUSIN G EXPERIEN n G S
Copyright, 1901. by S. S. Mcclure Coz

Copyright 1901, by S. S Mcclure Coz
Written fer The Evening Star by Clara Morris.
Thousands of persons who do not them
selves use slang understand and even APP
preciatc it. for the American brand is
generally pithy, compact and expressive
and not always vulgar. Slang is at its
worst in contemptuous epithets, and one
of these the one that is lowest and most
offensive, seems likely to become perma-
nent, recognized addition to the language.
No more vulgar term exists than mash
err and it is a distinct comfort to hnd
Webster ascribing the origin of the word
to England's reckless funmaker-Punch.
Beaux bucks Iady-killers, johnnies-all
these terms have been applied at different
periods to the self-proclaimed fascinator
of wonderland today we will use some one
any one of them rather than that
Nomination, "masher" Nor am l putin
IN scOllOps and frills,'' as the boys say
l know a good thing when l hear it-as
when a very much OVerdressed woman en-
Iered street car, and it's first sudden jerk
broke her gorgeous paTaSOl, while it's sec
ond flung her into the arms of the ugliest
tattest man present, and whirled her
pocket book out of the window knew
that the voice of conviction that slowly
said: well, she is up against it, slangily
expressed the unfortunate wOman's exact
lEttlCtNCnI. [. on. no. 1 m not putin OH
trilIS:" | am only objecting with all my
might and main to a term as well as to the
contemplate creature indicated by it,
''maSher"
In certain school. long ago. there was
Il very gentle, tender-hearted teacher who
was also the comforter and peacemaker
of her flock. Whenever there was trouble
at recess and some one pushed or some
else had their gathers torn out, or
III actual war, names were called and
mean thing and 'tattle-tale'' brought
sCbbing little maids TO the teachers arms,
or when loss and disaster in the way of
missing blocks of rubber, broken slate pen
ellis. or ink-stained reader covers, sent
floods of tears down small faces, this teach
er always came to the rescue and soothed
and patted and invariably wound up with
these exact words: There. there; don't let
say anything more about 1t, and then
We'll all be quite happy! l sure we all
thought that it the eleventh COM
mandment: Not to say anything more
about it,,
The "Sevens" BuSbear.
Now. every one of us suffered more or
less from our encounters with the multi
pliCation table OF course, fives and tens
were at a premium-even very stupid little
girls could get through them. and twos
were not so bad. but the rest of the tables
were tear washed daily Sevens were
however, my own especial nightmare
even to this day my fingers instinctively be-
gia to move when | multiply any figure
by seven. Standing in class on the plat
form, the 'seYens' one day fell to me. Be
ing charged to put my hands before me
that | should not by chance forget and
count by their aid, l staggered and reeled
through the table so far as seven times
seven, when mostening my lips, | hoarse-
ly whispered, "forty-nine," and the shock
of finding the answer correct destroyed me
utterly. Seven times eight was any old
thing they liked in figures. and so | reck-
lessly cried out: oh. sixty-two [ guess,'
and burst into tears. Recess came and
would not move from my desk and then
the teacher dried my tears on her own
cool. sweet handkerchief. and was COM
forting me as best she could when sud
denly / stole her thunder by pressing nv
damp cheek to hers and saying eagerly:
Don't let us ever say anything more
about the 'sevens' Miss Sands, and then
we'll all be quite happy"
The Taddy Masher
Poor little tots! Poor multiplication ta-
Bile! And now, OH I'd like to cry, Don't
let us say anything more about the
masher,' and then Wen all be quite
happy" But to calm the needless fears of
questioners, let me say at once the creature
Is a nuisance, but not a danger The
stealthy, crafty, determined pursuer Of the
young and honest actress Is product Of
the imagination. These ''jOhnnies'' who
hang about stage doors and send fool
ish and impertinent notes to the girlhood
of the stage are not in love; they do not
even think they are In love; they are actu-
ated by vanity, pure and simple. These
young ''taddies," with hair carefully plas-
tered down. are as like one another as are
the peas of one pod-each wishes to be
considered a very devil of a fellow but
how can that be, unless he is recognized
as fascinator of women. "masher" and
the quickest way to obtain that reputation
is TO be seen supping or driving with pretty
actresses. One OF the odd things of the
DrOfeSSlOn2i - a -{ctin
yoL are not considered an actress until
You have shown some merit, have done
some good, honest work; but for the pur-
poses of gossip or scandal ballet girls
chorus girls or fgurantes become actresses
full fledged. Mammas and aunties of
Would-be young artists seem to have made
veritable bogy man of this would-be lady
Killer What nousenSei Any well-brought-
UP young woman, respecting the proprie-
ties can protect herself from the atten-
tons OF this walking impertinence Letters
are =. ms chlef weapon If they are signed
1t is easy to return them. If one cares to
take so much trouble. A gift would be re-
turned If sent without a signature; 1t need
not be shown or worn. If the creature pre-
sumes to hang about the stage door word
OF complaint TO the manas ger will be suff-
cient-the masher" will at once take
notice Of some other door and probably
or some other actress.
But am asked, Why does he existp And
suppose he could not II he were not en-
cCuraSed, and there does exist a certain
DoGS OF girls who think II great fun to get
jolly supper or a ride to the races out OF
the Johnnys pocket book. Wait, now
please don't jump instantly to the conclu-
SION that these chorus ballet girls are
thoroughly bad because they smash to
smthereeens the conventional laws regu-
lating the conduct of society girls Most
or them. on the contrary. are honest and
knowing how to take care of themselves
VIII risk hearing few impudent wound
ing words rather than lose the hour OF
merrIment their youth Graves OF course
this Is not as IL should be, but these girls
are pretty; life has been hard: delicate
sensibhities have not been cultivated in
them Before we harshly condemn let us
hrSt bow to that rough honesty that will
defend itself. if need be, with a blow.
Judge Calmly.
A refined girl would never put herself In a
position requiring such drastic measures;
but it is. l think, to these reckless young
wretches and few silly, sentimental sim
pietons who permit themselves to be drawn
: into mawkish correspondence with per.
fect strangers that we really owe the con-
tinued existence of the stage door mash
er who wishes to be mistaken for a mem
Der of the jeunesse doree
2 a tattNsaE