The sun., 1903-12-01
GERRYS AFTER "LITTLE ELSIE"
And It's q Shame Says the stage-She'a
Training to He an Actress.

Training 10 He an Actress.
Mrs !Jane Beerblower. who was arrested
two weeks ago at the New Star Theatre
for violating Section 2s2 Of the Penal Code
which forbids q parent to permit child
under 16 to sing or dance on the stage
will come up for trial this morning In Specia
Sessions. She was released on bail after
her arrest at the theatre, in which her daugh.
ter, Little Elsie" as she has been called
had just appeared.
The case has attracted unusual attention
on account Of the persons who have inter-
ested themselves in the child, who Is now IA,
and so popular as vaudeville performer
that she receives as much as $i75 for a
single appearance In Sunday night con-
cert.
Mrs. Beerblower is persistent Of
fender,' said a representative OF Supt:
Jenkins of the Society for the Prevention OF
warned ner twice that she must not allow
the child to sing and dance. She permits
1t in order that the child may support her:
On two recent occasions she has allowed
her daughter to break the law, after prom
ising that she should only give INIT ations." I"
Mrs. Beerblower lives at an apartment
hotel in West Forty-second street with
her daughter. They have comfortable
rooms.
"The society will compel me- she said
ito take Elsie out of New York, where she
is having every advantage that child
could. She has governess who comes to
her daily. and she has music lessons. We
cannot afford, Of course, to travel around
the country with these people, and u Supt.
Jenkins drives us out Of New York, will
have to give them up.
Every cent she makes il devoted to
Elsie's education and her preparation to
be an actress. Managers and all others
who have heard her believe that she has u
great natural talent. | will be able to
develop that IL she Is allowed to stay here
in New York. But If the society drives
me out, as it did last winter. we must give
up all these advantages. l make every
stitch the child wears and sold my home
in Ohio to bring here here that she might
prepare herself for the stage.
at is not true that l encourages her to
sing and dance. l cannot restrain her once
she gets on the stage, and 1t Is her natural
temperament to dance and sing. But she
has never made that regular part OF her
act"
Little Elsie" told THE Sun reporter
that she had talked for some time with
And what do you suppose he said to
me2" she asked. "He said after our con-
versation that / was 80 intelligent II was
pity wanted to be an actress. Did you
ever hear such a thing? / told him l was
nearly fifteen now, and that the most he
could do would be to stop me for one year
more"
DR.. Clarence Rice, the throat specialist,
is much interested in the case. He believes
that the child cannot be harmed by her
appearances in vaudeville. Elsie de Wolfe
the actress, also thinks that stage life will
do her namesake no harm.
Her mother does everything possible
for the child,' Miss de Wolfe said, 'and her
earnings make it possible for her to be edu-
Gated in every way that will fit her for her
profession 30 long as she can remain In New
York. She is remarkably talented, and
it is shame to send her out Of the city and
deprive her of these advantages"