The Washington herald., 1908-09-06
BLANCHE BATES The WOMAN.
Held in Fine Affection nv the
HeIu-co stat


Amons the stars Of the stage there are
few that the. public takes close 20 Us
heart The public. somehow. feels an
interest that IS Peculiarly intimate. a1bef-
the idols Of its devotion are rarely rrer
with personally or have ever been seer
AZ closer range than IS measured bv thar
almost unsgrul1uursbIe barrier. the foot
lights II one such deyotee were called
upon 70 explain the reasons OF his narrfr-
llar interest for one star above another
be might md himself facing an unan-
sVeraoie problem. The infection of voice
the grace OF gesture the dignity cf roise-
the beauty Of face. the charm of 77rsor-
ality-all these might he enumerated with
out reaching the one inspiring cause
FOR there Is something that shines
through ana l.Ium.1ales all s-cl ufa-e~i~I
NirtleS-s'n lnderralie essence OF cnarac-
Ter. or goodness Of heart. uf generous i'm
pulse OF Wholesome thought. which for
want Of a better term We define as mag
netism. but which Is neither more nor
-esS tnan the expression OF the pIaver-s
spiritual self
These opinions are inspired bv the en-
tnusiaSm. bordering on tenderness and
soliCstUde. with which aU who are with
her In what would seem strict business
association speak Of Blanche Bates. This
IS true OF every one identified with the
h-eiasco uaDaEe-rerf. from himself down
20 the smallest Office boy or the huub1esr
staSe hand Il is their privilege 70 know
closely that of which the public can feel
only the influence. Ask any one of them
and he VIII tell you that great as the
fair young star IS as an artist. she IS
even greater In every quality Of true
womauhood- The affection which the en-
tire STAFF feels for Blanche Bates is al
most sacred IN its unswerving devotion.
and one and an are ready TO work day
and night THAI any play which may pre-
sent her as its star shall for her sake.
win success
The reasons for such an unusual at
tachment are simplicity itself. The Quail
ties Of nature essentially feminine in
its most beautiful sense are fortised by
a generosity OF heart and mind.
thouEhtfulaess Of others "a ChearfulneSS
under trying Circumstances. and such
broad virtues as belong rather 10 man
than TO woman Never does Blanche
Bates come 10 the thearer. whether
through the Office or the stage door. that
she has not bright smile and cheer
ing word for each OF her pals" Her
Of fauIt-fndf1c or criticism, are
not recalled-if. Indeed she ever has in
dulsed herself in this woman's preroca-
tive It is the same among the friends of
her own Sex II IS true among the work /
ers on her farm in Ossining. where she
revels in the whoics0ueness of outdoor
exercise. gives daily care to her flowers 4
and horses and. IN fac spends every hour
in keeping on intimate terms with nature
When she Is on the stage. therefore. how
could il De possible TO couccal the virtues /
that are her true self2 They are there /
they shine forth. they speak. in spite OF
herself We call il her magnetism f
and T. as in physical science il may be I
described as the force or. power Of at 4
traction. We are only too ready TO ac-
,ept the definition as entirely suited 10
one Of the most beloved stars now claimed I
by the great American public