The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28

ways. side alleys. and back yards Of
stageland trying TO catch for press agent
purposes illicit glimpses into the init
mate affairs of its denizens through doors
ajar OF uncurtained windows. II stage
folk generally feel resentment against
this sort of enterprise" on the part Of
theatrical publicity promoters. they aren' t
manifesting il TO the extent Of raising
/ seconding voices in support Of Miss Rus
sells demand for deliverance. But it
ought 10 be worth while FOR the profess
sion 10 make common cause in the work
Of putting the Peeping Toms and Paul
Prys out Of business. They can do IL II
they are really bent on preserving some
remnant OF their right of personal pTi-
yacy. One would think this right would
be dearer 10 people whose calling neces-
sarily brings them bodily into public view
than to ordinary citizens Actors ano
actresses whose instincts haven't been
warped must often long TO be able TO
take up a paper or periodical occasionally
without encounteriug in it a vapid or
silly or suggestive rag OF gossip about
themselves. Even il they don't, they
ought 30 know that the public whose
/ esteem is really worth having viii regard
them more highly IL they succeed Ia pre-
serving a certain reserve about their
private affairs and their home lives. The
best class OF stage people asSUredly know
this and have the incentive Of business liz
tCTCS. 10 re-enforCe their instructive de-
sire for keeping their private affairs
private And il is this class that is In
The best position To deal effectively with
the Peeping Toms and Paul Prys Of whom
Annie Russell complains.
Miss Russelrs protest. be it remem-
bered was not against newspaper men
from outside. but against employees of the
theatrical promoters themselves new
species of press agent. who seem TO be
kept for the purpose OF gathering up the
petty tttle-tattie OF The wings and the
dressing room. and retailing IL to such
papers as VIII consent 10 print it. These
people seem to sweep up all the thought
less and pitiful small talk and semi-scan-
dal of sIpers and chorus ladies. market
aug IL. If they can find q market for Il.
without regard 10 the feelings or reputa-
lions OF the subjects Of il. i'm the hope of
attracting attention 10 the enterprises of
their employers. The rights OF the iudi-
Vidual actor or actress are entirely lost
sight OF ia the anxiety 10 boom tie pieces
M which they are appearing for The mo-
meHt- il IS mighty small business for
grown men to be engaged in, and that ii
is commercial mistake can hardly be
open 30 question The whole tendency
is 20 cheaper and degrade an honorable
profession The intelligent theater-goiug
public isn't hungering for silly tittic-tattle
about actors and actresses. The mana
gers and so-called press agents who think
il Il make the error of dividing people into
two ciasses-"wise guys and .'yapS.
they themselves constituting the former
ClazS. of course
There was probably no exaggeraton IN
the press reports that Anna Held cried
until her nose was sight over the loss
Of her S2S0od9 worth Of diamonds al
Cleveland The other day. It was a pro-
voking experience, to say the least. caIcu-
D. g.. - get on the nerves OF "a much less
emotional creature than Anna. And then.
too, it came right at the busy beginning
o. the season when it Is difficult FOR her
20 spare time to select "a new outfit OF
sparkiers. Besides the price Of diamonds.
even at whOlesale-aud Anna always buys
hers that way-is going up almost as fast
as the price Of butter and eggs. There is
I'd rather bitter COMPLAINT
about this i'm theatrical and race-track
circles. especially among soubrettes and
chorus ladies. who are beginning TO sus-
poet that a diamond trust has been or
gained against them. ii is not unlikely
the proper officials Of the Chorus Ladies'
AmaIgamated Association viii be in
Structcd to bring the matter 10 the at
tcnuGn of Attorney General Moody. As
10 Anna Held, the sympathy for her I'm
hcr loss Will De slightly chilled by the
feeling that she was igdjsCreet in carry
ing about the country So large an ex-
hibit of her gems. and very careless in
leaving Them living around loose in a
Pullman car. OF late ia has become al
most q fixed rule with actresses ana
chorus ladies on no account 20 carry
with them on tour. especially If they are
going mn the direction OF Chicago. more
than enough diamonds 20 barely see them
through decently-say, about $lG0oo5
Eve f- 70 this moderate amount
the very careful girls insist on travelling
III their own private cars provided with
purglar-proof safes.
MAURICE SPLAIN.