Evening star., 1907-08-18

Miss Charlotte Walkers final decision to
end her season at the Belasco Theater next
Saturday night was not reached without
many conflicting emotions, in which the
predictions of a fortune-teller ultimately
triumphed. Miss Walker, like many
actresses, is very superstitious, but it is to
be doubted if even her most intimate
friends fully understand how much con-
fldence she has in soothsayers and the
people who pry open the doors of the
future. Since coming to Washington Miss
Walker has consulted every fortune teller
In the District of Columbia and several
at Glen Echo, Md. The original date agreed
upon two weeks ago for the ending of her
season was next Saturday night, but for
two days last week Miss Walker thought
she would continue longer. AT the We'd
nesday matinee she was besieged by over
10 girls who waited at the stage door
and begged her with tears in their eyes
TO remain a few weeks longer. Inasmuch
as the patronage of the Belasco Theater
has been the biggest any summer stock
company has ever known. there was no
real reason why Miss Walkers engagement
should end. except her wish to have a brief
vacation before beginning rehearSals with
Mr.. Belasco for the new production in
which he will star her Miss Walker there
upon decided Wednesday night TO abandon
her vacation plans and play some weeks
longer at the Belasco Thursday She or
dered new gowns. read several plays and
made arrangements To remain here until
September ii. Thursday night she paid
one of her periodical visits to fortune
teller. and what the SeeheSS told her upset
all of her plans.
didn't leave Washington at once something
dreadful would happen. said Miss Walker
afterward- She couldn't tell definitely
what the terrible thing would be, but she
scared me a triie. She has told me some
wonderful things. Early in the summer,
when we came near having the lawsuit
over whether l was to appear at the Be
lasco Theater or not she predicted that 1t
would all be settled right and that would
become the star at the Belasco Theater.
Then when we decided to do A Dolls
House. and every one connected with the
theater thought 1t would be an awful fall
ure. this fortune-teller alone said that I
would make a great success In the role Of
Nora, ana subsequent events proved that
she was right In many other ways she
has told me wonderful things that came
true may be foolish to close my Wash
fnston season just because OF her predic-
ton. but am superstItious and II would
worry me. Besides. have played here for
fifteen consecutive weeks. l have had to
work very hard. and l really need rest.
] expect to begin rehearsals with Mr. Be-
lascos new play about the end OF Septem-
ber. and must have a full months rest
after my hard work"
Miss Walkers infatuation for fortune.
tellers and her confidence in what they
say are Illustrated by story she tells her
self about fortune-teller IN Chicago sew
eral years ago. when she was not nearly so
vel! known as she is now. She visited this
celebrated soothsayer. who charged 50 for
prying open the future. The fortune-teller
took her into the booth and said that be-
fore he could tell her anything she must
let him hold something belonging to her
She handed him her gold purse. After a
few commonplace remarks he surprised her
by saying Your name is Charlotte Wal
ker." Miss Walker was so amazed that she
nearly collapsed. but. paying the man the
five-spot, she staggered from the place
firmly convinced that fortune-tellers were
supernatural beings. Getting on a street
car to return to her hotel and taking ou,
q nickel to pay her fare, she noticed on the