The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-02
ccopyriShf, 1909, ny Robert Howard
HungoiI1

BAH You reporters mike mo tired, You
poke your nose into other peoples business
and pridc yourself upon having good nose
for news. You erovei like moles. you are
too blind 10 see beneath the surface. You
greediiy grab at Takss and lei many real
good stories alp through your nngera
Don't you think I'm right young manr'
rhus spoke a Celebrated operate iInpre-
sario, recently returned from Europe,
whom had been assigned 10 interview In
the interests Of the New York 'E-leo."
smiled my sweetest and yentureh to sng-
gest that newspapers and newspaper men
had done much 10 assist the theatrical pro-
fesslon, OF which he was one OF the piin'
cipal pillars n.w .,,A .ho
crustv XII rentloman. 1--WE get some OF you
eo.cailed newspaper men within our ranks
In tho gulse OF press agents, IL u hhra
editors who accept their drivel, are the
more Incapable"
readily agreed that press agents, as
clnps, we're falCirA, and added that I'M
doubtedly II was quite right for editors TO
exercise much judgment before accepting
their yarns =.
famous theatrical manager. and ! men.
taily hBttered myself that ] should sun
secnre an interesting interview for the
Echo" Very true. well remember
II guess il was before your time. young
man." continued the great impresario, sud
denly becoming pe %ere p aSa atssnsb as
ness, ! suppose. when pretty Deilh stan
ley, who was then playing al the friYouiJ
theAter, lost her diamonds Hou are prob.
's6lv TOO youag 10 recoilect how the metro.
pditnn ncwbDQpers thoroughly sckened
aud satlsted With such stories Of star son
hrcttcs. printed merely sarcastic paragrGpns
conoerning the supposed robbery, and how
the projected awful advertisement proved
boomerang 10 the popular soubreite
Heard the story asked my host, win
an air of quizzicnl amusement
When / regretfully admitted that ] had
no recollection Of the occurrence the greDi
man threw himself back 10 his prm chair
refectlvely pulling hH perfecto, and for {
few moments seemed 10 indulge IN pleasant
retrospect Then he chuckled o little ant
said.
principal actors IN that ltue comedy siil
1--we, and don't care TO toll tales ON
Of school, but, y you VIII promise mot {
print word Of II until AFTER ! have MAD
my nnaI exit from the stage of NE ! vii
tell YOU the strange story ~ Della Stanle'
and her diamonds
gave him the necessary promise and The
great man began:
Della Stanley. for many years, was
popular stage fayorite she was the lido
OF the 'Eilded youth who had contribute,
as trophies to her charms, fully $4,000
worth OF diamonds, About quarter OF
century ago, however, Della, who had ala
yeas on the wane, and the gitteing dis
play OF Jewels with which she adorned he
portly person each night wns wasted upo
beggarly array Of empty benches.
1.-THE old story. She needed pres
agent" said /.
Young mnn. you know q thing or two,
said the impresario, snoeringly, adding I
on undertoue, two rs about the number
j should Judge.
before could protest no resumed.
1T was lust when the still dashin
Dola had decided that something herol
must BE done to regain the attention Of IN
tickle public" he said, that bright youn
fellow came along ana offered 10 bool
things for the huxom souhrctte PHI
Space--hls name was not p bit Ike Phi
space. but lot II go at that.-had been
little scope for hs peculiar talents, he ha
become a theatrical press agent and estn
lished reputation by successfully hool
ing histnonlc stars,
"phiI was very plausible talker al
when he presented himself to Della sta
10y In quest Of employment he made
most favorable Impression He relAt
how he pad holstcd to the zenith of pop
lnrty aud focused plgOiic attention up
Totte De We're, much younger and mo
attractive girl, who had lately bccoI
pella's most Formidable rival Iio ia
how he mad engineered FOR hcr n sons
tonal divorce suit which had hlled q
newspapers for weeks and tho sents Of Il
iheaters az which she appeared for q
whole ~ tho season. He even limited IN
tho suicide Of Totue's husband which 2
CURED tust ln time 10 boom iUN lolloWl
season, was largely due TO his entetpri,
and when he profernd his services to Del
Tot merely small percentage of the b
0ffce returns he WIS immediately insWli
MS press agent 20 the soubrette ana 10
Della stanley had not had the advo
tage Of even n single divorce TO aid her
her professional career, aud PM spa
was n llttle disappointed when he learn
that in consequence OF her never havi
boon married this trump card could not
N.,tv araA httal Int
view, his eyes fell upon her 100000 woi
az diamonds and his plans were speed
formed.
'iOf course the soubrette consented 20
come his hccomplice In the yarns VIII
were 10 he folsted upon crednous pub
but II does seem a little surprising, doed
not. that such nm eNpcrencel old timer
bella stanley already was should hs
consented TO Phil Space attempting to II
tie the public with the thread bare story
big diamond rohhcry2
"Yon are old enough Young man 10 I'm
how these things are managed,' said
impresarin with pleasant SMILE rs he
dered me another cigar
''Certatuly sir replied "t's an
game The Jewels were left In thcir Q
on the parlor tnhle when she went to h
When she arose the casket WAS gone
parlor window lcadlpg to the lire CSC
was open ana strange mons footprints W
found IN the soil 81 the back garden y
IS the usual formula, said l. With
air OF one who knew Il NIL
EXACTLY. Gnod Tor Won. Very nria
ycung man, replied the impresar1o, wit
chuokle ~ approval, sud we both Aug
heartily at the lack ~ originality and
ingenuity exhibited boy the Western ~
agent,
But no ono could accuse Phil Space
not being thoroughly up 20 date,
tlnued tho now absolutely genial old n
FOR 81 one important little detaiL WI
by tho bye, eventually Spoilt the WI
plan, he was some hours ahead or time,
what do you suppose that foolish 70
fellow didf' inquired the impresarto, Y
another OF his peculiar ahuckles, "Ile
tually sent advertlsomepA' 10 NIL The M
ing newspapers offer'ngia hig reward
the recovery OF the stolen property, iui
day too soon. They appeared In print
were read by thousands. nearly tw,
hours before Della stanley rushed into
theatcr and trantically declared that
10000 worth Q; diamonds had h
stolen
Now came the fool 70 make suci
stupid mistake asked,
The theatrical manager actually du,
..n,n.. EsA n n n a n,