The San Francisco call., 1907-06-09
By James Crawford

IN IL
vi When we met he remarked
that 1 looked as if a stage
mother had just been talking TO me
Neither his tone nor his gaze justi-
fed a drawing of cheerful inference,
but l faltered. hopefully, Refreshed,
you meant"
No" he replied. with a shiveri
she stage mothers talk is not
tonic"
The meaning OF his words was no
less obvious than the lack of tact that
permitted their utterance.
Only veteran invalid can piacidly
accept intimation that he is not a
picture Of perfect health. Besides,
the symptoms of debility that evoked
Mr.. Frawley's commiseration were
solely resultant of my unwonted
pedestrianism while in quest OF him
self TO extend friendly greeting. Re-
hection on that fact did not mellow re-
sentiment OF his apparently sincere but
none the less indiscreet sympathy.
A professional actor whose liveli-
hood Is dependent upon his ability to
dissemble had no excuse, for indulg-
ing in candor that ruf1ed- Retaliation
would be sweet.
But how?
Ha. He himself had suggested the
means.
The stage mother would servel
He had manifested abhorrence Of
her speech. Well, he should be en-
ticed to provoke II in angry reprisal
unless she were not the lady his hint
had depicted.
So. with artful concealment of guile
I asked him why the stage mother s
talk is not good to hear.
He Steps Into the Trap
Because" he answered. with a
promptitude and vehemence that
joyed the listener, 1T is rarely log
ical and always exasperating.. You
will acknowledge that I've had some
experience with ingenues?"
7 did, freely.
And that / have developed some
pretty good actressess"
Instantly conceded Blanche Bates,
Maxine Elliott, Keith Wakeman,
Mary Van Buren and several lesser
lights owe much of their technical
ability TO Frawlcy coaching, told
him
well, most Of the girls I have
taken in hand came out OF society
and most of them were accompanied
BY mamma All the girls thus ac-
companied, with one or two excep-
ions. carried a handicap. Mamma
retarded their professional advance
mcnt"
How could she?"a
by setting up her authority against
that Of the stage manager and con-
viewing her society mznners and meth
DDS into the new life. In eagerness
10 promote her daughters career she
endeavored TO pull down girls who
were higher on the ladder, and she
9ossiped and bAckbited and tattled
stories that should not have been told
outside the company. OF course I'm
speaking only. of the society stage
mater"
"Oh. is there another kind?"
Yes; the mother who has had
stage training. Her maternalism does
not Jar with stage discipline. Mrs.
Bates never interfered with Blanche's
training. She did not connive TO have
ECI QduSuNCt CAST III Fdlk OtH<i
than that TO which | assigned her.
Nor did she ever hover in front and
try TO create sentiment in favor of
Blanche and against other ladies on
the stage, as / have seen some of the
society mothers do. Blanche forged
right ahead, just the same. So did
Maxine Elliott, who had no maternal
counselor to keep her in turmoil"
And Miss Van Buren,"
One Notable Exception
Now, there is one of the few cx-
ceptions I have alluded to. Miss Van
Buren and her mother stepped out of
society-and rather lofty society at
that--and not once during the SIX
2>ars they were with me did the
mother make trouble for any member
of the company. She accompanied
US around the world. and more SEN
sible and considerate stage mother
] never knew"
How many stage mothers are yon
now afflicted with! I"
Only one, and she is almost as
reasonable as Mrs. Van Buren was"
did you ever have more than one
stage mother at a timer
did II" he almost shouted. Not
long ago had two. Lord, how they
loved each other"
"Reallyf"
They were not on speaking terms,
but their mutual dress maker man