davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

source 1t may, means so much TO those
in pursuit OF It's laurels as the
dramatic profession Hence these mes
sages from the minds of the fair sex
are much appreciated when they are
sensible. but any man who has pride
and dignity is nauseated by the silly
ones.
There is scarcely a day In looking
through my mail that I do not find one
of these missives. and frequently sew
eral come at once. l have kept great
many Of the interesting ones out of
curiosity, for II Is curious to see how
ridiculous and fatuous a girl can rem
der herself over an actor.
Here is one for example that is an
extraordinary communication:
My Dear Mr.. H-A letter from an ad-
mirer of the feminine persuasion is.
am sure, no startling new experience
in your career. It's the penalty you
pay for being what you seem to be
from the stage. Of course. Personally,
while an ardent admirer of your CLASH
fed attractions, l have passed that
point In years and education where il
is impossible to realize the man 20 be
distinct from the stage lover. A de-
sire to know # possible something of
the intellectual and companionable
qualities of said attractive personnel
has led me to this audacious step Of
self introduction, knowing that l am ad-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

matinee girls-they will not be reason
able with themselves; and yet I can
not say that I should like them TO
be entirely otherwise, for it might rob
them of that very essence OF ingenu-
business that makes them so attractive.
But If they would only be sensible They
should discriminate between the actor
and the man. Because they like an actor
in some sympathetic role behind the
footlights is no reason that they would
like the man himself. It is all very
nice for them to admire and appreciate
the sentiments of a noble characterize
ton but they should separate the play
or and the man. The expression of the
matinee girls admiration takes many
different forms and some actors cannot
Withstand the fattery contained in their
spasmodic illusions. The majority write
merely a polite note requesting an auto
graph or a picture. They usually get
these If they are thoughtful enough to
enclose a stamp Human nature is sus-
ceptible and any young actor cannot
help liking these compliments, for they
are. after all, the very essence Of sin
certify and there is no art where en-
enlargement. be 1t from whatever
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

dressing a gentleman who, should he see
fit 10 frown upon my missive the mat
ter would be buried IN the ashes OF
some hotel furnace or carried in bits
upon some distant breeze. Ny enthusi-
astic desire is by no means OF recent
date, but your appearance here last
week has given me the required stimu-
Ius to do the deed. Are you asking your
self what the lengthy preamble means
Have you never wearied of surround
ings and routine and longed for new
fields, new experiences, new friends
The ordinary run of men are very pro-
sale and those I meet are the average.
am seeking new mental, not emotional
experiences, and as I prefer an entirely
new lot, have struck out in this extraor-
binary fashion into the charmed realm
of tinsel and limelight, hoping 10 find
a congenial companion, and. you are
chosen as the victim. You see that
though I can discriminate between the
real and unreal in stageland, ! take it
that I have not thought you interesting,
witty, versatile and adaptable in vain
and with the usual feminine unreason-
ableness. hope you Will find time from
fencing. music and rehearsals, to say
nothing of the necessary devotion to
self, to keep young, graceful and fasci-
mating; to share some of these several
gifts of the gods and time with me-
Sincerely,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

IN HE announcement that John A.
Farson, the Chicago banker, has
l. offered 100000 for "a satisfac-
tory servant girl. and that the position
is still open. has created no little eX-
element among the capable young
! women of the country.
| Mr.. Parsons requirements are rigid,
but not unreasonable. They are as fol-
| lows:
| She must love her vocation.
She must be physically strong. phys
icalIy clean. and good natured.
| She must be diplomat.
! She must be neat. prudent. and know
! her place.
/ She must never discuss household af-
fairs with outsiders.
| She must always be dignificd.
| She must never make an error in table
| service.
She must know at glance the likes
and dislikes of my guests.
| She must never sulk.
| She must be a good nurse, a good
cock, and know something about dress
making.
! Mr.. Farson asserts that he has not
yet found a young woman who meets
with all these requirements. but he con-
| hdently believes that she exists. and
that some day he will find her
! The million dollars, by the way, is to
! be in the fern of a legacy. payable at
/ Mr.. Parsons death. He is forty-eight
years of age and in excellent health.
The servant girl is meanwhile to re-
main continuously in his employ, at
reasonable but not oDulent wages.
| At first glance 1t would seem quite
probable that the wealthy banker might
! find servant girl measuring up to his
standard. Experts on the subject, low
| ever. believe this to be impossible. T
manager of a leading servant agen
says:
In my opinion Mr.. Parsons id
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

you're wrong and they're right. The
White Lot Is just as much theirs a.
yC urs." And with twinkle in his eye
he led of his astonished son to eX-
pound to him the sovereignty of the
people
He has a vivid recollection of Walt
Whitman, who spent some years in
Washington, and remembers that the
poet was universally beloved as a kind
ly, sympathetic man who made COM
rades of all his acquaintances and
cheered the way of all whom ne met.
II was as a warm friend rather than
master poet that Prof Sheldon knew
him. and thus adds his share 10 the tes-
tlmony of all who came in contact with
the good gray poet"
Prof. Sheldon knew General and Presi-
dent Grant personally ana through him
was given a position in one of the de-
partments, but generously relinquished
his position to make room for a brother
employe who, with a family TO support,
had not, like Sheldon. the ability to fall
back upon the teaching of dancing as a
profession.
AS a professor of dancing, Mr.. Shell
don has earned a leading place among
the disciples OF the Terpsichorean mus.
He is the inventor OF a great many fan
cy steps and styles of dancing and Tor
a number of years successfully directed
his opera given by children, "Cinder-
ella" and managed many troupes OF
the ballet in prominent cities OF the
East. AS instructor in private dancing.
he has taught scores of persons Of fame
and fashion, their children. and their
children's children. and has their au-
qualified approval and confidence. He
taught Mrs. Robert T. Lincoln, then
Miss Harlan. to dance in a half dozen
lessons. Her family had always opposed
the accomplishment. but she felt it in
cumbent on her to be able TO dance, as
was customary at wedding receptions o.
the day. when she should be married
to Mr.. Lincoln, and accordingly engaS-
ed Prof. Sheldon, who made her one OF
the host cancers am7ng Washington's
society within a week.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

theater. Notwithstanding the unstinted
opposition of the players and the crit
ical protest of well-bred people, is gain
ing constituents every day.
There ought to be no need of reading
a litany upon the indiscretion and bad
taste of this custom, as practiced here
in Washington. The theaters especially
suffer this grievance when they are the
home of stock companies. Once the
favorites become established. they arc
not only besieged tri-weekly at the side
entrance, but are haunted for pictures,
autographs, etc.
Stage people reasonably object 10
these intrusions. True. an actor en-
joys and is grateful for the apprecia-
ton and applause of the public over his
skilIfuI enactment of a difficult role, and
curtain calls are apt to meet with a
prompt response, yet when the actor
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
d A<MlLLlON RATS IN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE =

seen nearly all the celebrities of the
past two generations and was personally
acquainted with many of them. He was
especially well acquainted with the
prominent actors of that time, and re-
lates interesting stories of the elder
Booth, Lucius Junius Booth. Fanny
Kemble. and many others. Two nights
before the terrible tragedy of Lincoln S
assassination he stood chatting with
John Wilkes Booth, the perpetrator of
that awful crime, and whom he knew
oily as a brilliant actor of marked dra-
matte talent. and a member OF fam
lily of ardent secessionists. but one who,
like all the members OF thSt family,
ever paraded those political beliefs in
public. Wilkes Booth had never let
crop on any preceding occasion, nor on
this. syllable which would have sug-
gested his plan. OF Mr.. Lincoln himself.
Prof. Sheldon has the same loving mem
cries which all had who grew to know
him. Every day during the war, says
he little professor, he saw the great
war President pass from the doors OF
the White House across to the Wal
/ department, whittier he went personal
ly to get the news from the front In
cold weather Lincoln wrapped his long,
iank form in a worn brown overcoat,
tightly buttoned around him. and sum
mer and winter he wore the old stove
pipe hat. faded TO a rusty black, and
swathed in voluminous folds of bomba-
zine.
II was this figure which the profess
sCl while among a crowd OF boys play
ing one day on the White Lot. saw ap-
Froaching them. The boys had refused
TO leave at the demands of Tad" Lin
coin, and had even broke into an open
quarrel Tad" received the worst of
the ARRAY and had set up a howl for his
father, who came in unhurried, even
strides over the lawn.
Now, what's the trouble. SOM" he
asked in his gentle. kindly voice.
The boys won't get off our lot.
shifted Tad"
Well. Tad I'm not sure but that
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

army into Virginia. No. stree; I didn't
follow them. I got right across tn
river oE EN-. an hustled home"
This is the story told by one of Wash
ington's quaintest old characters. George
T. Sheldon. professor OF dancing in this
city during a residence of nearly nifty
years Prof Sheldon is now seven
ty-seven years old. and no longer has
the nimbleness of foot which earned him
his reputation in his younger days. but
he is still erect and military in his
bearing. His mustache and imperial
have turned white, but his face is that Of
a handsome old soldier. his manners
gentle and courtly, those of gentleman
OF the old school, picturesque figure In
the Washington of today.
The story related above is but one Of
the many interesting anecdotes which
he tells about the early days in the Ma
tional Capital. His personal integrity
has never been doubted, and the re
markable occurrence of the migrating
rats is an undoubted fact. 1t is related
of him that just before Lincoln's second
election TO the Presidency, Prof. Shell
don applied for a Government passport
10 go TO Philadelphia, his legal residence
at that time, saying that he was going
to cast his ballot for Lincoln.
In 1859 he had voted for the Demo-
cratic candidate, but since that time
had changed his views. Some one who
heard OF the grounds on which he had
applied for the passport, spoke doubt
ingly Of a promise made on such con
ditions. All" said a bystander. did
George Sheldon say he would do it?"
Yes Then he'll keep his word
And such has been the untarnished
reputation of the old gentleman. who has
kept his honor spotless, though on the
other hand several people have de-
frauded him OF thousands of dollars
which he generously lent them unse-
cured.
Living as he did. in the Nations Capt.
tai in the days when the country's
greatest men were produced. he has
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

" assumes that the play cannot but be
good if he has q part IN it.
Ever since there have been matinees
and matinee idols, this matinee girl
has been the target for a chorus of sar-
casms from all manner of critics. but
whether this adorned young creature is
the prototype of the matinee girl there
is today such a variety of these in
age. appearance, and station in life that
it is no longer quite fair to attach all
the blame and hurl all the sarcasm at
this particular type.
In this heterogeneous mass of women
that packs the theater at a matinee per-
Torrance from box and orchestra 10 the
most economical perch in the gallery are
to be found all the varieties of the
matinee girl in present-day existence
Not that all this varied and polygIot
assemblage of women have matinee
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
SUCCESS.

What is success? Ten thousand know
And loudly point the way to go,
That is, they point with pride the
road
That they to fame and fortune trod.
SympOsiums each day address
The youth impatient for success;
And the magazines supply the need
OF counsel on How to Succeed
What is success? Is it 10 get
A billion dollars from the sweat
OF Labor's brow-and pay, as just,
No higher wages than you must?
And then 10 spend Iife's after-day
In giving libraries away
To swell the sum of ugliness
Municipal? Is this success?
What is success? Is it to rise
On steps that you at heart despise-
To beg, and bride. and fatter for
The sounding name of senator?
To buy, if threatened with defeat
To buy outright. for cash. your seat?
Is this the path that you would press
With eager feet? Is this success?
What is success? Is it TO dare
The deadly breach of war, and wear
The name of "GeneraI?" To stay
Ten thousand foemen, and to play
A sublimated spy. and swear
That everything in war is fair
To pay for succor in distress
with treachery? Is this success?
Yes-Of its kind. And If you care
To push and jostle up that stair
The way is plain. But if you hold
Success is not all fame and gold,
But living right and doing right
Why. you may fight a losing fight,
Yet from the heights Of Happiness
May pluck the flower of success.
Bert Lesion Taylor.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
d WHAT THINK OF THE MATINEE AVE=HAN AEAAN2 F2E ,

The matinee girl is not a creation OF
in evidence during Shakespeare's time.
In THE Tempest" Miranda, when she
first beholds the attractive young Prince
Ferdinand, enthusiastically exclaims 10
her father: 21i5seat
'toh. who is it? Is It spirit?
Believe me. sir, 1t is spirit
I might call it thing divine
For nothing natural L yer saw SO noble. 3"
To which Prospero sensibly replies.
and thereby solves the whole question
by saying:
mo. wench, IL eats and sleeps. and
has such sense as we have such"
Every matinee girl who finds herself
yielding to sentiment toward an actor
should commi. the foregoing lines to
memory. The stage owes much, in
reality. to the enthusiastic patronage
Of the matinee girl. Unwise though she
may be. in many instances. she is
loyal supporter of dramatic art. She
it is who comes TO see us. rain or
shine, and who appIauds our efforts,
worthy or unworthy though they be.
So. for the matinee girl IN her variety
have only words OF appreciation, aside
from the friendly ''scolding'-if IL may
be termed such-contained in these lines
for her good.
JAMES K HACKETT-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

has played his part and made his bow
before the curtain. his debt to the pub
lie is paid and he is, or ought to be. ex-
empt from intrusions that would be
promptly resented by men in the other
professional walks of life. II the matt
nee hero-worshipers would reflect upon
this. there would be fewer badly blocked
stage exits after the matinee perform
ances.
A Joke on 0rmonde.
There is an amusing story OF Eugene
Ormonde. who returns to Washington
with the Berger stock company, after
an absence of two years. Some matt
nee girls contrived to meet him on an
occasion. and shortly afterward Mr.. Or
monde was the recipient of an invita-
ton from one for tea with her friends.
He sent his regrets, pleading overwork
as an excuse for FORGETTING the pleasure
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

of the party. Nothing further was
heard from him until some time later
when the friends were driving in the
vicinity of Lafayette Park, whom should
they come upon but Mr.. Ormonde. They
Immediately reminded him of his delin-
quency. Again pleading overwork as an
excuse for not paying his party call, he
was about TO withdraw when they in
sisted upon having him get into the
trap for a drive uptown. Mr.. Ormonde
again ventured his rather hackneyed
excuse of too much to do. pleading an
immediate rehearsal. so quite merrily
and undaunted the girls waved their
adieus.
After half an hour about town they
suddenly decided TO drive out to the
baseball park, where a game was in
progress, and when they reached the
grounds one of the first persons to catch
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

OK ES' sir; rats. Rats-a whole
sea of EN-. Rats by the thou
sand the hundred thousand
a million of EN-. There must have been
a million of EN-, for they swarmed
across Pennsylvania Avenue. from D
to c Street. as far as you could see.
into the dark north and south; a dark.
restless river of 'em. at least hun
dred yards wide, and kept a-comin' and
a-comin' over the board fence that used
10 stand there on the north side of the
Avenue. around the vacant lot that was
there then at D and Tenth, and they
kept a-comin' and a-comin' from the
north and a-streamin' south across the
Avenue II was near IL o'clock at
night, and I could just see EN-. all
around me. Yes. sir; they were SO
thick l had to step on EN- an heard EN-
squeak under foot and climb on top O.
each other to get out O. the way No;
they didn't bite a bit: just squealed
and struggled. They was in too big a
hurry TO stop.
And do you want to know where
those rats was goin'? After the army.
That was just after General Burnsides
took his army over the Long Bridge.
after they'd been a-campin' up north o.
the city. Man told me afterward. tn
rats always follow an army that way
after 1t breaks camp. They go along
behind IL 10 get the scraps or food that
lies around from the leavln's of them
thousands of men. JUS happened
was goin' home late that night and got
right in amongst tn rats. Yes. sir; JUS
as / say. they covered tn whole street
moving south across the Avenue from
the vacant lots north of 1.-THE city
warnt built up at all there then-goin'
toward the creek-Tiber Creek-that
used 10 aow right through the city In
those days. Yes. sir; those rats must
have been goin' south, followin' the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
n HERE comes a time in the life of n

IT. HERE comes time in the life of
almost every young girl when
she finds her imagination wor-
Shipping at the shrine of some stage
hero. The fascination of stageland ap-
peals to her fancy shortly after she
steps into her teens, and matinee days
find her joining other companions of
the same trend of mind and all hurry
ing off to see performance, no matter
what it may be, though plays of ro-
mantle type seem to attract them most,
At the theater the music, the lights
and the glamour influence her to such an
extent that she forgets herself for the
time being and unconsciously permits
her imagination to soar in dreamland.
She sees a young actor attired in be-
coming costume of the italian or some
equally picturesque period and listens
speIIbound to his eloquent, fervent
speeches. forgetting. alas. that ii is
only in the play, and that her hero,
like herself. is only human being. She
leaves the theater' reluctantly, but the
memory Of it all fingers to conjure up
mischief and nonsense in her frivolous
brain.
This is the great trouble with the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
larry.
question.

Worldly gear is yours.
Its pleasures / resign;
Heavenly joys my share.
With Mary's hands in mine.
Threadbare is my coat,
Its empty pockets fiout me;
Still do I rejoice,
With Mary's arms about me.
The man TO men unknown
Their notice never misses;
He has a sweet reward
In bonny Mary's kisses.
The great from rank and gold
Meath Will shortly sever;
is mine
md forever.
Frank Putnam
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24
Maidens Of Mature Ye
Often Matrons, AR
bered Among the Fe
Admirers of Stage
ties Of the Opposit
Some Amusing Expo
Of MIR. Ormonde ana WIr.
Edeson. :. :. :. :. =.

their attention in a front seat on the
grandstand was Mr.. Ormonde-
1t sufices to say that the gentleman
was Inconvenience with no more invi-
tations to o'clock tea, and walked the
streets afterward without danger of
being held up. so far as these four
were concerned
In New York last summer Charles
Wyngate was accosted on the street by
a rather breezy young woman wearing a
green veil. She was $50 terribly glad
to see him. and how long had he been
In New York and how had he left dear
old Washington
Mr.. Wyngate was compelled to admit
that he could not recall the lady.
''Oh. dear me-" she answered, airiIy,
don't you remember? I am the girl who
used to sit in the aisle seat of B. or
chestra, at the Wednesday matinee all
during the spring. 1 used often TO catch
your eye during the play. I am so very
glad to see you again. because I've gone
on the stage myself. Don't you remem-
Der me after all this?"
Mr.. Wyngate did not remember her,
and that was the end of It,
These stories are only illustrative of
the attitude OF the actors themselves
toward this character of matinee girl,
who habitually besieges the side door,
Just Like ANY Other Fellow.
There is a more amusing story told on
Robert Edeson of the days when he was
Maude Adams leading support
One afternoon after the usual matinee
performance, Mr.. Edeson boarded a car
that was very nearly crowded with wo-
men who had attended the play. Some
one recognized him, and with charac-
teristic rapidity the intelligence spread.
There's Robert Edeson"
Mr.. Edeson objected to the commo-
to leave the car at the next corner,
when one woman asked quite audibly:
Which is Edeson?"
Her friend indicated him as quietly
as she could, and the woman remarked
loud enough 10 be heard, Intentionally
or otherwise:
Why. he really is quite an ordinary
person, after all. I had expected TO see
somebody
Mr.. Edeson kept his seat until his des-
tinatiop was reached.
Isabel Shelton, the little Washington
girl who won such phenomenal success
as Sir Donald, in 1.-The Little Pilgrims"
tells how she came near being made
matinee idol.
Some young girls arriving at the per-
formance late, failed to secure pro-
grams, and supposing naturally, that
the role OF Sir Donald had been created
by a boy, they collected at the side
door to await his exit. They were talk
ing a good deal about him in their char
acteristic fashion, when Isabel appear
ed in the lobby TO join her friends.
''Sir Donald, you are very nearly q
matinee idol commented one.
VERY nearly, but not quite" return
ed Isabel, Il am only a girl. you see.''
With the prospect of two stock COM
panies this summer, the return TO these
of so many OF the matinee idols. local
theater managers are hoping that the
matinee girls will bride their enthus-
iasm to the extent of having an IN
blocked pavement about the stage en-
trance after the performances,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-24

idols, or even large majority of them
for that a woman frequents the matt
nee is scarcely indicative of the fact
that she is matinee hero worshiper.
So the crowd that gathers about the
box office and lobby before the perform
ance may not be fairly judged as COM
posed on the whole or in largest part
of matinee girls.