The Washington herald., 1906-12-16

acquired bad histriOnic habits. II is TOO
late now for Digby to reform. He vii! go
on to the end that way. He viii never
be d real comedian. To be that an actor
needs to take his work seriously.
Are theatrical people exceptionally ex-
travagant? That's the question some Of
the professional journals are wrestling
with for the moment While what might
justly be eiassed as a consensus or opinion
has not been reached, the trend Of the
discussion seems TO indicate a widespread
feeling exists that most actors and ac-
tresses are as extrayagant as they can
afford to be, and a great many of them
much more So There's the airy, fairy
lillian Russell for example. Regardless
Of the circumstance. which would be so
restraining with most Of Us. that she has
hardly done a thing this winter to earn a
dollar, she IS listed among the promoters
of an expedition being sent out to pene-
trate the remotest Businesses OF New
.Zealand-for what purpose do you think?
To discover and bring back whatever new
species Of orchids the scientists who COM
pose the expedition may find. The orchid
is the posy of the millionaire. even in its
relatively common shapes 20 be found
domesticated in suburban greenhouses.
But If 1t is a question Of the rare. elusive.
oerie kinds that fantastically develop
their strange. startling shapes in the pc
euliar conditions of light, heat. and mOis-
ture that prevail In dense. uncanny tropi-
cal or semi-trcpical forests-then the or
child is the flower Of the multi-millionaire.
And that's the way Lillian Russell feels.
doubtless, despite the temporary lapse in
her income from her profession this win
ter. No doubt she has enough bonds and
stocks slowed away to give her an abunG-
ance Of spending money, even for two
seasons, If she didn't do a thing. So she
can't see why she should descend to pitt
ful little economies, such as denying her
self the possible pleasure Of becoming
part proprietor Of a new brand OF New
Zealand orchid that looks like a dope
fiend's dream embodied in questionable
vegetable shape.
Then, there's the case Of Miss Virginia
Harmed. 1t was all right for her to can
eel her week Observation-Disclosures dates in
Cleveland in order 10 spend the time with
her husband, Mr.. Z. II. Sothern. in Chi
cago. In fact. II was highly commendabIe
for her to DO so, even Il she did have TO
sacrifice quite a snug little bunch of
money. Such an example OF eOnjugaI de-
votion in a stage couple is as good as a
sermon-a great deal better than most
sermons, because one can understand
precisely what il means without a
knowledge OF theology or a sacrifice Of
time. 1t IS easy to understand. too. and
In the highest degree beautiful and com
mendable. that Miss Harmed was burst
ing with impatience to reach her husband
so soon as it was settled she was 10 give
Up her dates in Cleveland. But this did
not warrant her in engaging a special
train 10 take her from Cleveland to Chi
cago. This was great piece OF theatri-
cal ravagance-unless Miss Harmed
has good friends among the railroad
people, who violated the interstate com
merce law and gave her the special at
greatly reduced rates. Even then It is
hardly conceivable she got the special
as Chcaply as she could have bought a
ticket and Il seat on a Pullman on a
regular train, which would have got her
10 Chicago and into the eager. out
stretched arms OF her loving and lone
some hubby almost If not quite as
quickly as the special
MAURICE sPLATN