The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-15
;pec.al Correspondence Of The Sunday Republic.

| Special Correspondence Of The Sunday Republic.
Paris. Sept. 1.-THE director OF the Com
edie Franchise found a baby's "nightie'' in
the wash bundle OF Mile. Reichemberg,
leading ingenue Of the first theater in the
world, and the circumstance, trifling as II
is. may lead to the abolition Of one of the
| most popular customs Of the Paris stage.
The managers are talking OF doing away
with the free laundry privilege for actors
| and actresses. Hereafter only the chorus
is going to get its clothes washed free
gratis and for nothing II our Frohmans.
Hammersteins and AL Haymans have the
last word.
OF course. the graceful and clever Reich
| emberg says it was all a mistake: the bun
die that should nave contained only her
own nighties. petticoats, handkerchiefs
stockings and lingerie generally having
been made up by a green maid who didn't
know anything about the awful exclusive
ness Of the Comedies wash tubs; but the
director claims that mistakes of this sort
are happening right along and, indeed,
threaten to swamp his treasury.
1.-The laundry privilege is shamefully
abused in all the theaters.'' he says. land
We in particular are washing enough in
fants' things to keep a small-sized orphan
asylum going"
And this recalls the strange and almost
forgotten fact that the better class OF
Paris playhouses furnish their actors and
actresses not only with stage clothes-iike-
wise with things that are seen as well as
those unseen-but also with means for pre-
serving, cleaning and repairing them. In
deed, some theaters go so far as to provide
their actors with fine clothes to cut u dash
in public.
"FlND" THEIR ACTORS CLOTHES.
This is particularly true of the endowed
theaters. the Opera, Coincide. Opera
(Nnmfnuo nn1 nfharC orpnnu (which fha
French Republics subsidy of $4,000 per
year for the purpose of "cultivating clas-
steal productions Of music and literature
is divided. As a matter of fact. almost the
entire subsidy goes into the pockets Of
manufacturers of silks, satins. linens and
dress goods. of man milliners,. tailors and
washerwomen.
/ wonder whether the long-haired gentle
men in the United States who are advocat-
ing national or State subsidies for Ameri-
can theaters according to the French sys-
tenn ever considered that Art, with the big
A.. Is not the prime beneficiary of the peo-
pies contributions for theatrical purposes.
In France the subsidy question. being
nearly go years old. had time to settle
down; the flow of money from the public
treasury is directed into legitimate chan
nels hallowed by tradition and long usage;
but think of the quibbling and backbiting
that would ensue If the Washington Gov
eminent would grant Comedian Flashlight
a new pair OF striped pants while ignoring
Tragedian Dick Ramsfield's petition for a
new set of huskins! How should these ia
vors be distributed. anyhow? Can Jack
Pudding sue for his summer outing clothes
through a member of Congress-. and may
Tottie Googoo-Eyes get a new Easter hat
through the kindly offices OF some Senat
interested in art?"
Grants Of that kind are easily enough dis
posed of by the director of a subsidized
house, but the American people, always
Jealous OF its prerogatives. probably
wouldn't vest so much power in one man.
The Governor Of the State, the Mayor, the
Chief OF Police and. last, but not least.
Congress and Senate, would want to have
a finger in the pie-which means red tape
and favoritism rampant.
STREET COSTUMES.
You will probably remember NJ. lie Bargy,
the dandy Of our Coincide Franchise. lectur-
ing Chicago on the art Of dressing we'll.
Talk is easy with him, for since he became
connected with the House of Moliere the
gentlemen never bought as much as a tie
with his own money. Pardon: he may have
bought himself a dressing sack or a night
cap. Everything else that he or his col
leagues. known or unknown. may want in