The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-19
ONE NIGHT IN THE CAR
By NJ ABEL SYMS.

by vi a d
Beatrice thrilled with excitement as the
low buildings on the rivers edge came
into sight To her the dingy entrance 10
the ferry house was the gate 10 the II2H
Of Fame.
She wished that Ben might be there ID
see the company start. but Ratsey. the
ferret-eyed little stage manager, had an
uoUnced that none OF the chorus girls
might be accompanied 70 the train 10y
friends or relatives. under penalty Of "a
$ fine. He was nervously pacing the
cobblestones in front OF the entrance
every minute 70 make certain that the
rule would not be broken.
On The block above the ferry house
leave takings were plentiful but the
house itself was free OF a crowd OF weep
ing relatives and mournfUl gentlemen
friends"
You are Miss Faber?" asked Ratsey
IN his quick. tense tones as Beatrice
came up. You bunk with Miss StilIings.
Berth 6. car , Better get right over.
and 90 to bed before the train pulls out"
4 thought I might be able 10 get
berth By myself" protested Beatrice Il
am willing 20 pay the difference"
Il have no time 10 make a change,
said Ratsey impatiently. After the
opening night you may do as you please.
but the management pays 10 the opening
town. and you VIII kindly permit US 20
arrange matters. Miss Stillings has gone
over already. You viii find her there"
Tie magic word company passed
Beatrice through the ferry gate, and on
the other side into the train shed. As
the boat pulled away from the New York
side she leaned over the rail and watched
the receding city
When she had graduated from the
dramatic school she had expected 70 get
a part with a Shakespearean company
al least. but she had been glad 10 take
"a place In the chorus after the season
had opened and she found herself az far
as ever from her goal. She had comfort
ed herself with the idea Of working Up.
and when plain Ben StreatOr had begged
her 10 give I'D the Idea OF acting and
marry him she had made a chilling reply
and q neat allusiou 20 what she owed 10
herself and 10 her art.
It seemed rather different now. Being
new, shy had not learned the ropes and
had applied literally the rule that no
relatives might see her OF. There had
been no hand clasp az parting. and she
had not even seen Ben
Her fastidiOUs taste revOlted at the
idea OF spending the night in a narrow
berth with a strange girl as a bedfellow.
but there was no hope for IL, and she
entered the car.
The special car was excessively hot
and without sufficient ventilation The
aisles were packed with girls in various
stages Of undress and noisy with their
chatter The car was entirely occupied
by women. and the berth curtains were
regarded as superfiuous. The staterOOm
door was partly open, showing three OF
the principals playing cards. The musty
odor Of Egyptian cigarettes came through
the door and gradually mastered the
other scents In the car.
Two girls sat swinging their feet over
the edge Of upper six. but the half OF
the lower berth was occupied by girl
who lay with her face TO the window,
her frail shoulders shaken by sobs.
You draw lower siN?" gTinned one OF
the occupants Of the upper berth. Bet
you don't sleep. Stillings is homesick
already. II she keeps up the yOwling
after the train starts we're gOin' to have
a pillow fight"
You'd better sit UP in the smoking
roOm." urged another. You don't want
to get drowned, and Stillings is flooding
the CIR with her tears"
I think it's a shame TO talk that way"
declared Beatrice. as she saw that the
gibes were adding TO their victims dis
comfort. You should be ashamed OF
yourselves"
"One of them Salvation Army girls
again this season." chanted the tormen-
tor from above. and the CRY was caught
up along the car until Beatrice was glad
TO slip off her things and creep in be-
tween the curtains.
The train soon started and the noise
died down, but the sobs continued. and
Beatrice sought 10 comfort the girl.
You have been away from home be-
fore" she reminded. You will get used
to it soon" Miss Stillings turned and
Beatrice put her arm comfortingly about
the others shoulders.
It's this way explained Miss Still
ings. i've been on the stage ever since
I was a kid. It amt that. but this is
the first time I've been away from Jim
since we married
You are married." said Beatrice. in
surprise.
Almost three years" was the answer.
Il married Jim Purroy. He's a leader.
Always before this we got show to-
gether. This year we couldn't make 1T.
I couldn't afford to travel along with
him. It would take all his salary for
fares and expenses, and we're building
a little home down on Long Island.
We've both got to work until we get
that built"
But you have that 70 look forward
to- suggested Beatrice.
Three years from now" assented the
other. Maybe we can get a show to-
gether again next season. but think what
it will be in the meantime. You're new,
amt you?"
This is my first season" admitted
Beatrice. II studied for the profession
so I could get In a good company. I
want TO work my way up"
Mrs. Purroy (nee Sullings) laughed
bitterly.
II had that idea once she said.
There's about one in 500 that works up
to small parts. There's one Edna May
in about a million chorus girls. I wish
I'd had sense enough to learn typewrit-
ing I guess you don't know how we
live on the road" z
You can live we'll anywhere for what
we get" eontended Beatrice. Mrs. Pur-
roy laughed again.
you can live good on what you think