The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
AMELIA BINGHAM AND
HER GOLDEN SWAN
By MARIE B. SCHRADER
By MARIE B. SCHRADER.

It has been my pleasure to interview
our amelia" as the late Hillary Bell
so affecuonately called her amid varied
surroundings. but never has she been so
artistically pictured as during the last
cnat which took place az her beautiful
home on East Thirty-frst street. in this
city. Much has been written about this
rgeous place. but no one has attempted
10 describe all the wonders that are
therein displayed, for both Lloyd Blng-
aam and Our Amelia" are constantly
adding 10 their collection Of rare and val
liable ourias and furnishings. Honest
Amelia has long ago earned the reputa-
lion Of being anything but theatrical and
when she removes the pink paint and
Ircsh-cOiOTed powder she Is absolutely her
own self without a vestige OF a resem-
bi2nce OF The many characters in which
she has eEdeared herself 10 the public.
On former occasions I had called al her
dressirg-room in the theater or had chat
Ted IL various rooms Ia her home. with
which / am Well acquainted. surprise.
however, was ia store for me when l was
conducted past the recepuon-room the
pallor on the next floor. Miss Bingham S
own private suite on the next aoJr, and so
90 I'D another fight. Where arc you
taking me-" I inquired OF the neatly uni
formed youth who conducted me heaven
ward ! eianced IN at the open door of
Miss Bl8sham's Marie AntOlnette room
11 which stood the famous bed, formerly
llt possession CT the ill-fated queen. .tiss
h.nS MAS wont 90 take her siestas
arie. but it nov stood bare and tenant
Jess I casi another flceting look az the
room, where The wooden Joan of Arc
~1i mouCniess on the mantle-piece, and
ilen followed silently. but breathlessly
Hp. Up, rnll Z could 80 no farther. Ny
Neii-irainec IS guide noiselessiy opened a
-sar anu J. as quietly, entered The
scene lEal met my gaze was more ~ for
-a- pen ci q poet than that of myself
= seemed Ike % dream for there, upon
" t'4S, rested an enormous golden swan.
J., seemed 80 Doe gently drifting with The
ilae- It's proud neck was gracefully
1frhed, and ITS clustering bin lay tightly
upon lts t1rJliiet breast. II was maguiti-
cent lis taii-lCatEcrs stO1d peTDcndicu-
larry &s D. iu peacock couceit EVerv de-
-lI uT its workmanship was complete
tse smallest feather was perfectly cary
-t Hy --ll, and my eyes were so hlled
"iiA The wonder OF it ali that they for a
Ucnt failed TO note the beautiful
woman who recliacj on its back. rub
#0I my eyes ana opened them again. for
.aeIe h % beautiful negligee OF white
iik and .ace. which contrasted so won
'0-l1-E WitI the sold. was our Ane-
i'i oiH pulled au cider-down cover of
Hi-e ana sold up about her. and in
'i.'o ne 10 he seated comfortably.
aW just resting" she said laziIy.
md th.~ IS one Of my days when / Ike
' ds-.t with iAc tide of my thoughts on
HF swan back. Sometimes after a DAYS
.ta.eHs work I cannot bear TO even go in
.ae room where tie Marie Antoinatte bed
p ia5. somehow, 7 commence TO think
bout tie awful tragedy Of her life. and
' yoU see I can't compose myself for The
sH minutes Ci CuietGde at my DISPOSAL
love 1H-s swan. and somehow I forget
ID about 'Ee outside world. the struggle
no everyday existence. the eternal grind
1noiti-n which urges one always on
aH, ever hoping continually working.
she Ie-aITanged her soft pillows against
ice spreading tail Of the giant swan. and
rested enc hand lightly against one OF IFS
oi-ed wings which fCru the side Of tbis
mazlHg and royal bed
nave no swan song rs yet" continued
Miss Bingham. for. DESPITE the 5fscourae-
-nE and costly efforts 4 have made 10 Give
,-e public what judged good PLAYS.
mean 90 continue playing and Offering the
'esl people as associates I'm my company.
But do tell me- / said. .'uhere ON
.ar-h y0u discovered and lurei tbis mag
1l4.clat ord 10 cove 81 FAR from Cen
-I5I Park"
Ar Bingham found nay swan" she an
"ered Us past IS stiu a mystery. but
- has found d good home and is being
wei cared for. as YOU see Mr.. Bingham
'S constantly looking for odd pieces Of
1rnltuTC. bu- be could not believe his own
'Fes when lac ran across 50 unique a thing
ls q swan bed Feel it and notice how
massive Il is. 1t is made Of walnut. and
.-lulres several men TO move It, We had
covef21 with gold leaf, and SO there YOU
.Te. Lore tGau tEat I cannot tell Won
.Scepr that % is piece of exquisite hand
aFVine. and is supposed to have been
brought from lhe other side since nothing
ID. AS KIND has ever been done in this
country"
Now. tell me about your new play. The
Lilac Room
Tn The first place. 7 believe It Is good
Hr, but the public shall decide that for
'seii- Deu!aH DiX and Evelyn Greenleaf
sutherland are its C0-authors. II is q
'FsoF in which an American girl is sur
ftanaed by English people and interests
-1o aH1Ese5 them al by her cuick wit
.A1 Ir1aE intelligence. which enables her
% master several complex situations. Ny
entire company Is English. so that there
du be- DO false note struck bv an an,er-
can inii7 tion accent Two acts take Mace
ihe h-3c rclul, from which the plav
'eflFes It's tide. This IS nv room. and In /
.ae act 4 have delicious comedy love
scene % which ] stand behind a half
p-led doGr ana make love 10 my sweet
cart. W1c Is ou the other side Of the D7r-
ItiOn. 3 cannot 50 out in Tho han or iaf 4
7im INSIDE. for the simple reason thai / (
ave on mt' ely q k.mCuO over my night /
iIeSs. 4 make my entrance in the frs. act
hrougn a window: rather unconventional /
sn' Z it2 And SO on throughout the plav 7 /
1 constantly doing and saying things /
HHich amusg- The exciting scene takes I
place in ti.a lilac room, in which some /
ounter'el,e~s have hidden their plates.
Needless to say like most American girls.
am equal to- the occasion
j was offered Paul Potter's plav. Bar
ARA Millions. which recently proved 50 .
amTistc q failure for Lillian Russell / /
Dol not care Tor the play. but promised 10 {
0usider another one by the same author
The Rose of 81 Pierre which was "a
ave been given 20 me by august first. .
was disappointed tn this, and then some. 4
1oW learned of my present play. the T.
'eiits oi Walch had been owned By Max 4
ne tliotl for two years. She could not \
,se .gn account Of the success OF Her 4
own WAY
u seems 70 me that the best things NJ
-e present ume are from the pens az