The San Francisco call., 1905-06-11
, HAT is 4 prize beauty?

IN " no SlOllQ De DelleE dDlc
v v TO tell me than La Jolie Tit
comb hcrself-La Jolie Tit
comb. who proclaims her fatal gift
in her stage name, who is heralded
by the paragraphs OF the press agent,
who is placarded on the walls. who is
autographed in colors in the show win
dows, who is announced on the pro-
grammes as a prize beauty; nay, more,
not merely as a prize beauty. but as
triple prize beauty.
Surely have come to the right shop.
for information.
SO l ask her l put the question
straight to the prize beauty herself
Am / blunt. brusque, tactless?
a sudden doubt OF myself assails me.
feel = little uncertain of myself.
little like those simple. well intcntioneo
souls We see at the art exhibitions
peering searchingly and vainly into
the sold framed canvases for the
chiarosctiro they hear the initiated talk
about so glibiy.
Perhaps. ! say to myself. the ques-
tion should be supcrauous. Perhaps
the answer is obvious.
From the fleoting look of surprise,
followed by suspicion and then indul-
gent pity in the biz. bold. laughing
brown eycs>ef La Jolie Titcomb l gath
or that she thinks SO herself-that in
her opinion the answer is to be found
GA The outside, not extracted from the
INSIDE Of l-sl Jolie Titcomh.
Bui-thcre are 50 many kinds OF
beauty. such various tastes TO be sat-
ished and standards to lie met. even
here in san Francisco. l remember
how the critics have differed even
about Ia Jolie, who wears the triple
crown. Some OF them. heartless rascals.
have hooted at the hallmarks of Paris
and OF ST. Petersburg. aye. and OF
BuenOs Ayres, that stamp the pulchri-
tude Of La Jolie Titcomb as the real
thing. and have declared her curves
too feather -beddy for san Francisco's
exacting standard, her chins too many.
What. after all. does that count
for?" la Jolie herself says. with toss
OF her head and shrug of her statu-
esque shoulders. 1t is only personal
opinion-they are welcome to it. And
san Fralcisco-pouf. San Francisco
is not Paris. nor St Petersburg; nor
yet Buenos Aynes, What do L care for
the opinions Of the critics of San Fran
cisco. which is so far away from Paris
and St Petersburg-and Buenos Ayres?
and anyway the Orpheum audiences.
the people who pay. have liked me-"
The possibility OF difference OF
opinion is admitted and. after all. am
seeking information. specific. exact. de-
tailed information. so 1 take heart and
repeat:
What is prize beauty"
We are in La Jolie Titcomb's dress
ing-room at the Orpheum-the bright,
pleasant, roomy star" dressing room
adjacent TO the stage, and from the
stage there floats to US the touching
plant that
Nobody knows her number.
Nobody knows her name.
followed by a swift shower of ap-
pIause. Della Fox's turn-they like
st." La Jolie Titcomb explains We'll.
she has ART, anyhow" she adds with
a splendid and significant generosity.
La Jolie Titcomb sits at her ease
in her dressing gown Of red, like the
graces with. their zones urloosed," the
ample curves that have delighted Paris
and St. Petersburg and Bucnos Ayres
covered, but not concealed. ana when I
repeat my question she turns to the
brilliantly lighted mirror a little inquir-
ingly.
The inquiry is not prolonged. She
beams satisfaction at what she finds
there, and the mirror beams back re-
assgriugly.
y prize beauty" she says. as she
studies her reflection with renewed in
terest. why. prize beauty is the one
who wins beauty prize-of course."
OF course. of course.
] see at once. 1T is very simple-as
simple as the lessons on the blackboard
for fIse primary class.
And I've won THREE beauty
prizes
How dye do it?" / ask.
La JoIie Titcomb opens her big brown
eyes very wide-in speechless amaze
ment. Very fine eyes they sre-the
merry. challenging. bold and rolling
eyes OF feminine gallantry. which is a
different thing to coquetry.