The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27

II was = legitimate mistake. Miss Ber-
gere looked happy enough TO nave oeen
burned out Besides, had Just seen her
Carmen-though that was still burning
Also I had forgotten every other conVen-
tional beginning TO conversation.
For reply she threw at me: Burned
out? No. but thought you were, Where
have you been2
Resting after Caruso's Carmen - ex-
20 blamed. and laughing, glitterins, she
dragged me into her tent mean dress
ing-rom-
How familiar il was-how weirdly IA
miliar, the rouge. the glitter. the fluff Of
il: the old, old warm, sweet close, un-
forsettable grease-painty smell of it.
And how dear, II might all have been
B. O. as the irreverent designate the days
before the quake only that the room was
a Chutes dressing-roon. Yea, also. the
time was a Tuesday afternoon. This, by
the way, is the vaudevillein's contribution
10 the relief fund-his other one. He gives
also his Friday afternoons. l don't know
Of any one who is giving anything more
useful. II is appreciated. Oh, yes. it is
appreciated Even last Tuesday after
noon there was an audience that made
the great Chutes Theater ring. Nor did
YOU have to have a cross to mark the
spot where il was. There was only one
thing missing-and that may stay in Oak
landt Personally, should not mind if all
the near HaVanas stayed over there too.
But this is not Miss Bergere tiny Miss
Bergere. all eyes and hair and scarl-ts
and yelows. as vivid the question she
began interviewing me with. For that
was the way Of it.
How did you enjoy the earthquake?"
she asked me.
7 stared a little. then remembered.
You ARE San Franciscan" 1 accented.
BY choice" she put it. "and some
lr1r7c Of I ale
here"
only a san Franciscan could have said
that" / commented.
I daren't say anything else" she said.
and I mean it. 1 see nothing but bright
faces here. There's nobody grumblng.
These kitchens on the street-mon Dieu.
what q people, expect. I tell you, to see
one day on the street Monsieur OF Del
monico's. -Ha" he viii say, as he used n
saw. tomorrow. Miss Bergere, we shall
have bouillibasser' And on that tomorrow.
! shall eat bouiIlibasse tas 1 used to) till
waddle, Ch-o-o-o' consider this note
. not less than half a mile--'the most hos
pitable city in the world. and to eat only
corned beef Beans. Oh, a little more,
I know-and you epicures simply laughing
AT il, IL is immense" So were Miss Ber-
ceres eyes.
But. Miss Bergere." I corrected, I had
-.srra wberres this morning-and hot bath
over ln-Oakiand the other day. And we've
-tt gas"
poor childt"
.-E= Bergere's mouth was pucker Of
,rtauathy. Then swiftly. no. your re
Lclt You have all lived. You have
' seen death and know you are alive. You
have seen the biggest disaster of history.
IT, is very much. l. TOO. would have given
everything TO see it, I tell you a strange
thsng. Perhaps coincidence. Perhaps not
7 was in Denver al the tine OF the earth
.qGake-naturally. in bed. But I woke W
wiIh q great start, so sick here" Miss
tseTSeres plump fists were at her breast
4 look at the clock-as one does-it was
3 minutes past 3. II was strange. ah?"
II was strange, I agreed. and irreverent-
~ commented that 1 knew the earthquake
b had come here by way of the East-A1iss
Eersere feeling IL several moments be-
fore ure did Had not her company been
afraid 10 come here2 I knew she was not.
Ny company" she flashed. Bricks.
soldiers al En- passant. you do not often
see more brilliant little soldier than Miss
Bergere herself looked Just then, a true
daughter Of the regiment. she added I
say 'ra-ta-tar They fail in. And here We
are. For myself'-imag gine here the emo
tional Bergere fists ladling out all kinds
Of fatalism-.'I am a creature Of fate.
What's TO be viii be. Why should 1 run
from an earthquake in San Francisco?
The next may just as well be in New
York"
But told her then that we are not like
y TO forget those that have come TO us
in our grief; Bernhardt, with her royal
tears for our city, her royal art for our
joys the brave folk singing back the heart
into US at Idora Park under Mr. Stein
dOrn,s faithful baton; and now the vau-
deville comrades. under Comrade Rosner.
Nor are We likely 10 forget those that
have brought them here-true captains OF
cheer. bless them,-"old'' John Morrisey.
VIII" Greenbaum, Harry Bishop. not
20 speak Of the honorable rest of them.
And Ferris Hartman, Cunningham, brave
old Stockwem. Frank Bacon, those that
have stayed with us, shall we forget
these2 I think not.
But about Garment I changed the
subject. In San Francisco just now you
always change the subject when it hap
pens to be the kindness Of people. Il is
the only subject that brings the tears
and they are not permitted.
j should ike to know what you think
OF my Garment" Miss Bergere appealed
with exaggerated interest No I'm not
crying. It's only my eyes.''
While with an impatient knuckle she
whisked away the forbidden thing. I re-
turned, What do you think of your Car
meu2"
Il like it, said sturdy Miss Bergere
Hist, Mr.. Conried is not about? L
do-not-like-Calv 's-Carmenr SUD.
pose you think that blasphemy? The care
scene-yesi the woOing scene-yes. -anc
2 few other scenes. But as a whole it /,
not 10 me Merimee's -Carmen-a common
little iend as she is. You will laugh-bui
/ have most of the measurements O.
Merimee's Carmen. only / am piumper
The measurements, mind you, She hac
the beautiful teeth-which / have not
she had gorgeous black hair-which
have not II have bought the best
could. nose-probably. Imagine trag
edy with mine-' Miss Bergere pointed
with scorn at her joyous little nose
which is. truly anything but tragic
ffhen. ] suppose you think it profane t.
make d variety turn out OF Carmen? But
please. il is not from the opera. Only :
fool would try TO dramatize the opera bu
I have always been crazy to play Car
. men"
But you have PLAYED in the play be
-, fore I remarked, for so had heard
Long years ago in-Philadelphia
Miss Bergere laughed Il was leadin,
lady there in the best stock company II
America. Girard's-at a salary Of $50 ;
-a week incidentally Oh. well do / remena
Der my first Carmen. ! made nv oN,
81