The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29

those OF position and industry in a
chosen pursuit Money Is good for one
thing" he condded to me in chat the
other day 1T is good to spend; like
wise it is good to distribute IN one way
or another TO those less luckily situ-
ated. The really happy man is not
necessarily the one VINO gets dizzy add
ing the figures in his bankbook, but he
who is welded TO his work, and is en-
gaged IN the calling for which he is
suited, I'd rather be a busted actor.
said Mr.. 1TcAllister. than d rich law
yer or % gold surrounded banker
These and other like sentiments-not
altogether new. it IS true-were cut out
from McAIister's answers to my direct
examination. why did you quit the
Iswg" was the leading query put to
TINS son Of a noted father and grandson
Of a society ear.
Il happened about eight years ago
and certain portions Of swelldom have
not yet become reconcfled to the fact
that this young man, wealthy, well con-
nected and on the threshold Of a sue
eessful career in the law, should have
Suddenly disappeared from our midst,
ext 10 be heard from on the stage.
one 6ay Hail AIcAIIister closed up his
law once and faded from San Fran
cisco. HIS associates, including Prince
Roniatowsli, did not know what had
become OF him, or what he intended do
ing He had said he was going to
matters, however, and that explanation
was forced into service IN the lack Of q
better one.
Only two friends in san Francisco
said McAnister, knew what was W
10. One was Dick Tobin. the other was
II. T, Michael. They, with conf1dani
in New York, kept my secret and aided
n this dark conspiracy which was the
beginning OF my task to- discover my
self
Assuming a name which I had but
Indifferent right 70 7 went to New York
and began TO study dramatic art with
The best teachers could procure My
reason FOR sinking my Identity was that
] wanted TO see II I was really an actor
and ! did not want TO be boosted by
such social and financial connections as
might have been deemed by some man
gers sufficient to give me profitable
though not artistic fame So I worked
and dug as hard as could and kept my
secret TO myself. I felt I should have
some success at least on the stage
because I loved the work and had
dreamed Of it Tor years.
In due time I was told that would
so. and then I commenced to look for .
lob u called myself Robert Brook J
was christened Robert, so had a perfec1
right 10 that part OF my title. but J
never learned where I acquired the pat
rOnymic Brook But It was a well
sounding name and would, I thought
dt me whether 1 played leads or heav-
les. After a diligent and sometimes dis
heartening search I landed in a stock
company 3n Richmond, Va 1t was the
first time I had ever crossed a stage In
my life II was a thrilling moment.
BY the way, the first woman I ever
spoke a line to Oh the stage is here in
san Francisco noW-Niss Evelyn
Vaughan. She was member of the
p 2ichmond company which took me in
and the play was The Girl / Left Be
hind Ne played Private Jones Ane
al that happened eight years ago.
'Tcs q small world we live in.
thought 1 had kept my identity a darh
secret Indeed. there was nobody con
cerning himself over the personality o.
the very inexperienced actor, Robert
Brook had been with the company
IN Richmond for just six weeks-Ins
contract was for IS. I -believe-when
one night q California boy walked into
the theater and took a seat close down
10 the orchestra He. recognized me in
spite Of my makeup, and came around
10 the dressing rOOn between acts to
confirm his suspicion. The Jig was up
and i vas. called a great variety OF
fools for not. having availed myself OF
fle publicity that press agents could
have done something with ia the an
nouncemeut that Hall McAllister had
gone or the stage. So ! had no more
need Of the reinclosed letters which had
been forwarded TO me from San Fran
cisco by Tobin and Michael, who
PASSED them on 10 William Littauer in
New York who in turn slipped them in
other envelopes which were then mailed
10 one Robert Brook, Richmond. Va.
BY this time however, ] felt
Moderately confident that I had found
att vocation. j bad had but ordinary
succtss. il is fruc, and Richmond was
alef &lrovn into any state Of wild ex-
element by my acting, but had,
fsonghf showed some promise and some
native. ability. and then better than al
mai liked my work So abandoned
~ bsfr for the buskin and told my
81 and my friends that / was never
es5fHg back TO a law Office again, ex-
ccpt IN the capacity Of client.
but 2 was amused and not little
pleased 10 observe how quickly news
travels. When the story leaked out
ahont nle being on the stage IL was
repeated in sarious papers until it gol