Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
THE PRESS AGENT
Continued from page T

IN the streets and In shops and gen.
orally causing much excitement and con.
fusion. Around each cats neck was tied
a white tin card with an inscription Ths
press agent, finding the business outlook bad
had advertised for cats and paid twenty-five
cents each for nearly seven hundred H1
labeled them and at noon turned them all
loose at once to advertise his attraction, The
Cat Came Back "
"A Sleeping Car Full of Poisonous Snakes
went the entire round of the press On /
western tour, business being light, the press
agent purchased at a way-station a number
of large harmless snakes and slowed them
away in cardboard boxes under the seats He
then, by allowing passenger to overhear his
conversation with member of the travelling
company caused CONSERVATION. Such mys-
ferrous phrases as "a The big fellow in the green
box, Fourteen rattles and button But
suppose he got loosel" etc, sufficed to alarm
not only this nervous passenger but, through
him, all the other passengers on the train.
Porter and conductor were called to the rescue;
violent protest and indignation, properly met
with opposition, ensued and finally the hideous
and death-dealing reptiles, still in their card
board boxes. were hurled from the moving
train
The sensational story went broadcast
over the wires from the next stopping-place
and particularly to the city which was the
destination of the company and which it was
especially desired to interest. The news
papers printed the story fully and the opening
night was bumper"
THE Most Marvellous Resemblance on
Record" did well indeed. The musical comedy
opened badly in a city of the Middle
States, although the prima donna or leading
woman of the show was well-known there.
With her ready connivance the press agent
came successfully to the rescue. She was
suddenly called to the East by the illness of
her mother, and another singer took her place.
The press agents announcement of his dis
appointment the sad and unforeseen
occurrence was tempered by the fact that
Miss Nettie Dash bore such an extraordinary
resemblance to Miss Marie Blank" that he
did not believe the public could really tell the
difference between them. Even their per-
sonal friends are frequently deceived by this
incredible similarity in face and voice. he
said. So indeed 1t appeared Press represent
atives were simply astounded and said so in
print. The public absolutely could not see
any difference under the glare of the footlights
The two girls were just enough dissimilar IN
various fully described details, to be different;
but much alike as to be incredible. The
resemblance was the talk of the town for three
weeks and half and filled the house daily
Miss Nettie Dash and Miss Marie Blank were
of course the same young person.
Not long ago a well-known musical manager
discovered a new and rare tenor and billed
him for a coming new musical comedy. The
press agent simultaneously discovered that
this marvellous and handsome young tenor
was carter, had never had moments musical
education in his life and was natural prodigy
Many papers printed pictures of him upon his
cart, beside his cart, caressing his faithful
horse and so on. He appeared in the piece and
was successful. Not little of his success was
due to his romantic history and his wonderful
natural gifts. As a matter of fact, he was
tailor who had been well educated musically
and had never driven a cart in his life.
Lost jewels, hair-breadth escapes in rum
away carriages and automobiles, are devices
which have had their day. Surgical operations
have some vogue, but not greatly liked.
TIE denunciation by prominent pastor is
not SO effective as it was 1t was first ar
ranged by press agent for Maggie Mitchell
and made her famous She was denounced
to her face in a Nashville church by minister
in the pulpit and all the gallant editors of the
gallant South rose in defense of her sweet
womanliness and the perfect purity of her
private life. incidentally other editors de-
Tended the profession" and the discussion
was wide.
Emma Abbott's kiss was a press agents
invention which eventually had great draw
ing power. The audience waited for it, it
and went home feeling that they had indeed
received the worth of their money
Mansfield does not invariably hurl mutton
chops in walters faces nor habitually brain
supers with wooden bars. He has been known
to speak with almost tragic emphasis of the
press Goodwin and Brady do not win and
| lose one hundred thousand dollars every