The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-14
DISILLUSION OF Mr.. BELASCO.
WOMEN. AND MEN, roo. OVER
FOND OF REALLY HIGH ART.
So the 81, er. Back Ell Brushes and The
Fine Linen Towels Have DISAPPEARED
From His New Theatre-Jhe Clock
Of q StOcklng-New Works. Hunger
for Souvenirs and Free Cigarettes.

for Souvenirs and Free Cigarettes.
When David Belasco built his own play
house in West Forty-second street he was
In most artistic state OF mind. His nights
were dreams Of flniy color harmonies and
his days were very human struggles with
carpenters and decorators and max ers
Of chaneea bic paints.
| He carried his conception OF the ideal
| home for the polite patrons Of the drama
into the smallest details. He set his artif1-
GERS to straining sunsets to get match
for the Leslie Carter tresses. and toilers
worked increasingly to find the happy
mixture of lights and aha dows tina. best
suited Blanche Bates. Even to the slight
auXiliaries OF retiring rooms the Belasco
intellect penetrated and gave light. Ac-
cordingly when there was completed in
the pure radiance Of white and gold a spa
cio'is room where women playgoers might
set their hats Alright and catch up unruly
wisps Of hair, Mr. Belasco sought to
furnish it fittingly.
Bric-a-brac shops here and abroad we're
searched for it's adornment. Rugs were
imported to enrich the floors. and rare
pieces OF furniture were brought together
from many marts. In the softened lights
the room wore an appearance OF ms zy
charm.
For his linens Mr.. Belasco went abroad.
and the dainty pieces on which the matinee
girl dried her little hands we're listed at
$40 dozen. There were combs OF rea
shell, and brushes heavily backed with
silver, and the little trinkets that are strewn
over the dressing tables OF the rich were
there shaped Of rich metal.
Then the women came
The towels were first seized on as cute
souvenirs Of the new theatre and they dis
appeared at the rate of $50 for each per-
Torrance. When the precaution was taken
of marking them with the identifying initials
of the owner they went the faster. 1t
seemed to add to their value in the esteem
Of the collectors.
One day the maid found lady of elegant
apparel slowing the clock away in one
Of her stockings. 1t was one Of the choicest
things in the room--the clock. 1t was
a Marie Antoinette clock
The maid didn't know whether il had be-
longed to Marie Antoinette at one time or
whether ii reflected her idea OF what a
clock ought to be. Mr. Belasco had i'm
ported 1t and II was inventored among the
properties of the theatre at high price.
your stockingT asked the maid.
The lady snapped the elastic Of her silken
garter viciously and, blushing, committed
This hardened reply
Il always wear stockings with clocks in
them"
The maid reported the occurrence to Mr..
Belasco.
did you recover the clock" he asked,
ploughing. his field of gray hair with his
manicured fingers.
"Yessir, said the maid "but when came
up here to tell you there was another lady
fdKetin' around near it,"
Maid and Belasco rushed downstairs
The other lady had fidgeted successfully
re One sG sy one Ss Combs and brushes and
silver toilet pieces went. For a season
they were replaced regularly with others
Of the same kind. But now Mr.. Belasco
has seen the uselessness Of the higher cult
walton for retiring rooms.
The gold leaf still clings artistically to
the white enamel. but the original fittings
of the room have been succeeded by COM
moner articles not so likely to be purloincd
The towels OF to-day are marked neither
along Sixth avenue for a few cents each
and you couldn't pawn the hair brush for
the price Of glass Of soda.
The women were not the only offenders
In the mems reception room the same at
mosphere Of culture and good breeding
Turkish cigarettes that cost cents
each were there furnished free betty
the acts. 1t was a fair presumption that
one might suffice a gentleman for that
short period But they took them in grabs,
filled their pockets and made contests of
which could carry OF the largest number
They ilched the costly scented soaps
and cast tobacco juice on polished floors,
and but for the watchfulness OF the at
tendants might have cut out the plumbing
and carried II away.
As the daily reports Of this lack Of the
finer qualities reached Mr.. Belasco his
theories began to ooze away and they say
that now he searches the market for bar
soap at I cents pound.
Mr.. Belasco. il seems. has only learned
the lesson that hotelkeepers learned long
ago. One large hotel now counts it's lost
teaspoons and small coffee spoons by dozens
daily and finds that one half the napkins
10 ~ A.,