The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

Quite frequently there is better fun
going than interviewing You don't
need any better, however, when there
is James T. Powers at the other end
OF the talk. It was only my third visit
to San Toy'-perhaps because it was
only the third performance-when I
met Mr.. Powers face to makeup. It
was behind scenes at the Wednesday
matinee, in the star dressing room at
the Columbia Theater. He was on the
stage trying to hide a striking alarm
clock that Il had filched, when 1 ar
rived. and shortly afterward sailed
into the boudoir.
But this was after I had made the
acquaintance Of little Mrs. Powers.
gentle, brown-eyed, brown-haired and
appealingly wistful. Mrs Powers had
arrived the afternoon before. after an
adventurous journey from New York,
beset by all sorts Of Pullman dragons
and harpies. They had put her in
a tourist car after making her miss
her own section Of the train. They
had-weu. every one knows the little
ways Of the Pullman conductor. be-
lieve ii is on the Powers cards to enter
a very practical protest. Which is
neither here nor there, however.
But Mrs. Powers would go, when
Mr. Powers walked in. and I think I
was quite half as sorry to see her
leave as the charming little lady's lord.
Mrs. Powers is also an actress?" I
asked, following her husbands admir-
ing glance after her.
Yes, indeed" Mr.. Powers replied,
with no attempt TO conceal his pride.
MRS. Powers has been with me in
many OF my productions, but she has
lately been quite H."
Something else he said here but
was by then in the thick Of the Won
derful Ii makeup. You viii remem-
Der il. The strongest opera glasses
had failed TO betray its mysteries.
knew well Mr.. Powers own round
eyed, fexible-lipped countenance
How he had so slanted the Ii eyes.
that dip cunningly into the nose and
lift slyly 10 the temples, I could only
guess. It was hardly easier to dis
cover close to. Even there they looked
as though the comedian had slit them
Up with a knife.
How did you do it, I asked, lean
Mustn't look so close" the artist
advised. I'm made I'D for that dis
tance," nodding at the mirror some
Five feet away.
But I had time to take in the
weird. slick artistry Of the thing
the clever white streak that cuts off
the upper corner of the eye, the YER
million triangle that dips it into the
nose. the sharp, sure line that lifts
Il into the temple, the eloquent
Orientalism Of the eyebrow, and even
cleverer, perhaps, the throwing up Of
the cheekbone and the like by means
OF light and shade used as the painter
uses them, the whole as good a bit
of walking ivory as ever called las
bellies"
You did not learn 10 do that in a
day" 1 remarked.
I did not" Mr.. Powers acknowl-
edged, rising TO pull out the newspa-
pers that stuffed his trousers. These
are things I'm supposed to have
stolen he laughed, and viii you per-
NIT me2"
His wig came off with that-Pm not
going to tell what was or was not un-
der it-and Mr.. Powers began to tell
me that he was Just frightened to
death 10 come TO San Francisco. 1t
was as bad as going to China 1 was
really frightened out Of my life on
Monday night, but you have all been
so good to me can't be so bad. But
70 come where there are Lis in every
Kitchen"
You would get $40 month on your