The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-18

SIDE issue 10 him.
Another barrier which stands in the
way of the actor who would marry in
what might be termed the social ranks
is the American woman's deeply root
| ed objection to burning incense. If
she has family, position and money in
her own right, she insists that the in
cense burning be done by the party Of
the second part She is not laying this
| tribute at the feet of popular matt
/ nee idol.
One instance may be quoted which
quite fresh in the minds of New York
| theater- goers, and which goes to prove
the assertion. A typical matinee idol
| married a widow with one child, a
charming home, and a good1y income.
She burnt incense first across the foot
lights, and. later. on the home hearth.
Likewise, she burned a comfortable
share of her worldly goods in advanc-
ing the Interests of her actor-husband.
He wore ralment which, while quiet
in taste, was Of quality to make his
| fellow-workers open their eyes. He
came to rehearsals in a smart coupe
which made the leading mans hanson
look decidedly cheap and tawdry. He
| met the Broadway stars on their own
particular reservation--and the antique
shops. And his manager, being an in
dividual of broad experience, took note
of these things and decided that here
was a man worth starring. With an
adoring hacker there was no question
| of financial loss.
The still adoring wife played the role
| of "angel," and on the opening night
was the proudest, happiest woman in
the theater, as, half-hidden by the cur
| tains of her box, she heard the vocifer-
| Gus applause accorded her handsome
young husbands initial starring ven-
| ture.
Six months later, and with the best
| of grounds, she was a petitioner in the
divorce court. To the credit of the
New York theater-goers it must be
chronicled that while the actor con-
tinues in the stellar ranks, he has been
made to feel that he has lost the old
time tribute of personal friendliness.
| His play is sufficiently strong to bal
ance the ill-feeling which the public
bears him, but he is shorn of his glory
as matinee idol.
Artistic Homes of Actor Folk.
When an actor marries in his own
profession he cherishes the ambition
of sooner or later seeing his wife re-
| tire. This is not due, as frequently
charged, to professional jealousy alone.
He knows better than any one else the
| terrific struggle for recognition, the
nervous strain of Stimulating emotions
night after night, and the temptations
which beset not only the actress but
any woman in the public eye. He feels
| that, so long as his wife works in their
| chosen profession, she must give the
| lions share of her thought and time
| to her art. The average manager, too,
does not care to engage husband and
wife in the same company, and so, I'M
less they are in position to dictate
terms to the autocrat in the Office,
they must separate at least ten
months in the year. Mrs. Mansfield
once known as Beatrice Cameron, has
not appeared behind the footlights in
many seasons. David Warfleld's wife
! travels with him, but never treads the
(, stage at his side. Maud Durbin seldom
plays with her husband Otis Skinner.
If ever an actor may hope to flee the
limelight of public notice, it is at his
| own fireside and if his wife shares his
art as well as his home, between in
| reviewers, managers and modistes he
will have little or no comfort or seclu-
sion.
There has never been time in the
history of the stage when the aver
age fireside of the actor has been more
attractive. 1t is an age of big finan-
cial returns for stage folk. Actors are
no longer travelling mountebanks. with
only a chance resting place in sight.
They are in a business that boasts a
secure financial setting, and their abid-
ing place is of their own choosing and
not in the gift of fate.
Where both husband and wife are on
the stage, their joint income offers
them every worldly comfort and many
luxuries. Nat Goodwin and his beau
tiful wife, Maxine Elliott, lead a most
lat avis Nil xyfS, 3kah +
when they will and in the summer
running over to England, where Mrs.
Elliott is one of the popular, as well
as pretty, figures in Mayfair.
James K. Hackett and Mary Man
nering have most artistic New York
apartments, and during their recent
runs in the metropolis they made the
most of their home, which, though
simple and severe in its furnishings,
bespeaks the artistic taste of both hus-
band and wife. Their summers are
spent principally in the woods.
Amelia Bingham has a massive resi-
den0A- close to the theater where she
scored her first stellar success. Her
husband, though still identified with
his interests in Wall street, gives most
of his time to the management of his
| wife's many companies, and can al
most be classed in the profession.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Bingham have a
fad for collecting works of art, and
their home is a veritable repository
for curios.
Mrs. Fiske finds a sympathetic man
ager and comrade in her husband.
Harrison Grey Fiske. His playhouse
is primarily a home for his talented
wife during her season, but away
from the theater they have long since
gathered around them a charming cir
Gle of friends, and their Sunday even
ings are noted for their artistic and
literary flavor.
How Henrietta Crosmas is Protected
Never was a star more carefully
guarded than is Henrietta Crosman
by her husband and manager Mau--
rice Campbell He can spot a pros-s
! pective interviewer three blocks away
and ward him off as only an ex-news-
paper man can. Mr.. Campbell travels
with his wife during the season, and
| IN the summer they flee to some re-
tired resort, there to enjoy a placid.
outdoor life with their only son.
Both Robert Edeson and Alice
| Fischer, two newly launched stars.
| lead ideal home lives. Mr.. Blossoms
wife, Ellen Berg, travels with him as
his leading woman, and their idle
hours are spent in planning their
country home at Sag Harbor, which
recent good fortune has awarded to
| their joint efforts.
Alice Fischer is known in private
life as the wife of William Harcourt.
leading man of excellent standing.
| Their home overlooking Central Park
is kept open by faithful maid the
| year around, and their Sunday after
moons axceedipplv nopuIor u,t,o,.