The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-03-14
DoNALDsoNyILLE, La SATURDAY, MARCH A. 1908
NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
Lillian Russell in .twildnre" at the Tulane.
Noted comedienne Rather Too Much
ofa Poser-The Story of a Grille
with Baby Stare.

gums StuuullS are no reasons VII
Lillian Russell should adopt the man
ner and walk of a cloak model
"Wildfre, ~ the spicy, sparkling com
edy in which Miss Russell is appear
ing at the Tulane this week, is an ex
cellent vehicle for so clever and mag
netic comedienne, but to my way o
thinking, Miss Russell's self-con
scious carriage and 'straight-front'
fashion Of posing materially detracts
from the natural charm of her acting
The little chap who plays the part OF
bud, =" stable boy, is all to the
good, and as the rest Gf the company
| with one or two minor exceptions is
emphatieally above par. and the com,
edy itself is full of go and snap,
"Wildire" is attracting crowded
houses to the Tulane. Next week Hat
| tic Williams will be seen in 'tThe Lit
tie Cherub. !"
Barring two numbers, the current
weeks bill at the Orpheum is win
ner. Gertrude Mansfield and com
pany, the head line attraction, in a
sketch distinguished largely by
coarseness, aud Ida O'Day, singing
comedienne and banjo soloist, are the
| only drawbacks to an otherwise
thoroughly entertaining bill. Eliza
beth Murray, the celebrated singer of
coon songs, made her same old hit in
| New Orleans on the opening night,
and at the conclusion OF her turn was
presented with gorgeous bunch of
American Beauties. Charles Prelle's
"Biiou Circus" which consists of a
company of clever doggies dressed as
horses, elephants and other animals
who perform some really remarkable
stunts, lend a distinct touch of novelty
TO the bill.
"Notiee how much more general
drinking in public has become among
the gentler sex?" I heard one man ask
another in an Esplanade belt car sew
eral afternoons ago. Sure thing, said
man No. 2, "and that reminds me OF
an experience I had at a summer re-
sort in Arkansas last season. There
was an aWfully pretty girl at the same
hotel at which I was stopping; tall,
slender, Willowy type with wide blue
eyes like china dolls, and a COM
plexion like a rose leaf. She looked
about eighteen and innocent as a baby,
and from the minute I clapped eyes
upon her [ was kept busy trying to
become acquainted with her. Lord!
but that girl was hard one to meet,
She never went out unchaperoned,
and the chaperone> part in this in
stance was played by the sonrest-
faced, touch me- hottest old gorgon that
ever came aown the pike. The pair of
them never affiliated with ANYBODY
else in the hotel, but one blessed eve
ming | was able to assist the aunt out
OF ofsomedifficulty concerning a carriage
hire, and from til at time was at least
recognized as living human being
when we chanced to meet in the hotel
corridors or on the big verandas. FL |
nally, after persistent effort, I managed |
to reach the point where I was per- i
mltted to sit and talk to the girl |
occasionally-and even walk with her,
but always with the aunt among those |
present. Somehow, that girl struck
me as the most innocent and inpen- |
uous little creature L5had ever met. |
On certain evening dance was
given at one of the other hotels of the |
place, and assiduous and respectful |
devotion to the old aunt finally se- I
cured me the happy privilege of being
the little girls escort, SO the three of
us-aiways the three of Us, mind you
on over to the neighboring ho-
tel, my little ipgenue looking like a
country rose in her white muslin
frock and blue ribbons. At the end |
OF the first dance, in spirit of des-
perate bravado I deliberately led the
little girl away from under her aunt's |
vigilant eyes, and meaning to get her
out on one of the broad verandas,
passed by mistake into one of the
small drinking rooms which are dis
tlnctiye feature of that particular ho.
tel. on, said the girl, I'm awfulIy
thirsty; do let's have something to
drink I looked at her and smiled.
What would you like:' [ asked, ex.
pectiDg to hear. her childish request
for a glass Of milk or al worst
lemon phosphate. And that was the
time I got the jolt of my life. Lifting
her head slowly and looking at me
leVeliy from under suddenly narrowed
lids, she dra9led deliberately: oh, /
think could kill Manhattan Was
I stuug? Well, maybe; and say, old
man, if anybody ever tells you that
women asen't eonsummate actresses.
just remember how an old.timer like
yours truly was taken in, aud smile
just smile. E. B.
Good Enough Platform.
4