The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21


. Of prejudice for the newspaper wo-
acan added piquancy to my intention to
interview her. Besides. when should 1
over again get the chance to chat with
the heroine Of a cigar label? Poets
may sing her, painters paint, sculptors
mold. and yet the skeptic may doubt
the charm Of lovely woman. Even she
may be Of the chosen whose word goes
On cold cream jar and ones stubborn
Imagination still, remain untouched. I
% have myself continued cold in the pres
ence Of the frescoed original of a pou-
dre de riz label But when you get her
" who has been canonized on a cigar
wrapper. whose lovely phiz has been
chosen TO beiewel the dusk and fra
grant gold Of the sacred weed, whose
smile is the last to bless before the in
innate sanctity Of a two-bit nirvana
(are they two bits. Lillian ?)-yOu may
be pretty sure you have the real thing
For "A woman is only a woman, but
good cigar is a smoke"
II was not long before found myself
enviously inQuiring whether she would
rather be the adOred Of cigarolatry or
the patron saint Of a racehorse. Bloat-
eo-or rather banted-monopolist she
is both She said-but anticipate
What persuaded Miss Russell TO add
me to her collection Of newspaper wo-
p men I do not know Possibly what i'm
PEELED me to add her TO my gallery of
beauties-bUsiness and a little curios-
ity. The affair was even a little dis
-apD0intingly easy The lions in the
path said How'd ye-do" and showed
me behind scenes to her dressing-room.
Miss Russell herself shouted a CHEEKY
Come in" in spite of the feminine
warning Of my card. why, yes. il you
bike" she said in response to my re-
quest for a chat. and for the following
evening it was arranged.
Now, there are questions as eminent
i proper for the interviewer to ask on
some occasions as they are sinfully in
appropriate on others. For example. TO
neglect 10 ask the weight Of Isadore
Rush, who, when / saw her last year.
had just achieved a laborfous and
graceful slump from 152 to ia pounds,
would have been sheer cruelty. Con-
trarily with Miss Russell, Of whom
there is not a handsome ounce too
much-though a few more than Of Miss
~Rush-the query would be as obvious
IS maladroit- Wrinkles. 1 knew. from
the experience Of my fore-sisters were
taboo Also grandmammas. Husbands,
too, perhapsi The races were open.
Also art But we should see.
Is she really as handsome as they
say" the artist asked confdentially as
we slipped in at the stage door Of the
Grand Opera-house.
Wait and see" ] laughed.
But what do you think?" he per-
sisted.
I'm newspaper woman"
Pshaw-pardon me"
Wen fl hastily whispered-'if
Miss Russell is at all like the glimpse
Of her got last night, she's one of the
most stunningly handsome creatures
I've ever seen-ah, good evening, Miss
Russell"
Ny cOnfrere's cOnfirmatory gasp as
he took the trunk allotted TO him anus
ed but did not amaze me. If Miss Rus
sell is radiant at long range she is
dazzling at close range. The night was
brilliant outside, stars sharply a-glit-
ter against the clean velvet Of the
80 winter sky: but when the door of the
Russell dressing-rOOm opened the ef-
feet was fncandescent by contrast. Such
a pinkness OF round cheek and small.
curved ear, thin as a SHELF Such red
Of kind gray eyes and white teeth, the
imperial blaze Of diamonds, sad flame
81 emeralds, the pale luster Of pearls,
such warm whiteness Of neck and
shoulder Such glow and simmer and
s6ftness Of silk and fur and lacei And
above all. such sunny laughter-that is
responsible for the only wrinkles that
Miss Russell owns.
She had seated herself IN the fullest
glare Of the electric lights with which
The. little room is studded, the artist
opposite. = At her side. A tiny sniff
- at my feet set the conversational ball
a-rolling.
That is AEootsie," Miss Russell ex-
nlained. as a small black and white
face. large eyed and scantily benosed,
, made its appearance over my knee on
" its way 10 my lap. She doesn't often
take to strangers"
Vow, Miss Russell"
It's true" she laughed.
IT looks as though she had been
trained 10 be nice TO the interviewer,
as the little creature, worth its $1,000
- or so a pound, nestled contentedly
against my furs-''even the female In
rerviewer." / added slyly-
NOW" Miss Russell laughed, you
mustn't take me too seriously there.
some Of the newspaper women are
among my best friends. But there are
stupid people among them, as there
are among every class-and I've met
Z few Of them lately. They always be-
gin by asking me how I keep the
wrinkles away, and look at me as
though ] were a specimen wriggling
on a pin. / guess I've plenty Of time
for wrinkles yet"
i've heard-if I may?-that the
Christian Scientists claim you as an
example Of the salutary effects Of their
creed?"
7 do believe in Christian Science,
Miss Russell owned frankly Its good
comnonsense. We think ourselves into