Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12
Odd Friendship Between Two
Famous French Women.
GYP AND POL AIR E
LATTER WAS A COMMON CONCERT
HALL SINGER.
Taken Up by Two Literary Lights, She
Has Made a Success on
the Stage.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PARIS November /, 1904.
Gyp is not like Polaire. Two women
could not be more different In education
habits of mind. and social place. Gyp is
born aristocrat, grand-niece of Mirabeau,
granddaughter of BacOurt Talleyrand's
secretary She was born and passed her
childhood in the ancient Hotel of the Pages
of King Stanslas, at Nancy. Polaire was
born, no one knows exactly how and where,
In Algiers.
So the difference continues through their
lives. When Gyp already a social lit
erary and political power, Polaire was sing
ing songs of indescribalble gayety and kick
ing up her heels I'm understandable costumes
on the stage of Paris music hall.
One thing, however, these two much
talked-of Parisiennes have in common.
Both possess untring energy and ambition
Both have risen to celebrity by their own
efforts. Gyp was born to Toll her life from
chateau to town house in ladylike gentle
ness. No one asked more than this of her
She has become a foremost novelist and
playwright Polaire was born to rise to the
position of a chorus girl. Now she is a the
atrical star and social curiosity, the protege
of the same Gyp. with whom she is engaged
In making a great deal of money at the
Gymnase Theatre in play taken from
Gyp's novel of "Rriquet.'' But before this
she was-and continues to be-the protege
of a very different party. that extraordinary
Partisan character called Willy.
Willy Is Henri Gauthier-Villars, the son
Of the great scientific publisher, and him
self civil engineer No plain statement of
facts could be more deceiving than this;
for he is also the most typical of Paris
FOUNDERS and hgn-rollers. and of the
few present-day masters of French prose.
He would certainly be elected one of the
forty immortals of the French Academy
were 1t not for the naughtiness of that
same prose.
Inseparable Friends.
Willy was already great man when Po-
laire was still hashy little cafe-concert
celebrity. How she revolted against her
sordid surroundings and how she had the
nerve to appeal to the sporty master of
French prose without having the slightest
acquaintance with him is a lesson to all
ambitious girls. Polaire. Willy and WHY'S
wife. Colette, are now three inseparable
friends, and whenever there is question of
an interview with Polaire, Willy-who Is
regularly on the spot-makes her refer back
to that day of memorable beginnings
You must understand that Willy has a
humorous, eXaggerating, schoolmasterly
style when he moralizes with Polaire for
publication. | heard him the other day
Tell first: mademoisele, why you were
so unhappy on the Cafe-concert stage and
express yourself with precision and tran
quillty,'
Polaire crossed her legs and began, like
& good child: Il was born in Algiers in
native mud hut with one window and
one door. i came to Paris with my mother
when still young, and. when old enough
went on the stage fgurante Then l
began to sing at the Cigale. bought my
brst costume at SO per month and was
neither proud nor happy. All the girls and
men were mean and wicked; my songs We're
idiotic and every one guyed me-"
GIVE examplesi" pronounced Willy
"One day fat woman said to me at re-
hearsal. My poor little one, you've no more
chest than gudgeOn, you must remedy
that Sprinkle your chest morning and
night with lots of pure cologne water It's
ma rvelousr
Il was scarcely more than a child ex-
planned Polaire, and l was innocent enough
to follow the advice. Fortunately l had as
yet no bust ii would have gone! Yes
sir. cologne water will do just that! There