Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11


all the stories. and the aggressive efforts of the
show girl went for naught
Inc ruSeS OF the press agent legion.
Sometimes they enshroud the return of star
from Europe with great mystery. The hitherto
communicative and entertaining actor under
the spell of the press agent. is now as gloomy
as the Dane OF Elslnore and ineligible as
Launcelot Gobbo. This is done to stimulate
reporters to run down a supposed story and
carry the mystery. unsoved perhaps, into print.
A press agent recently sent his leading
woman aboard the outgoing French liner La
Touraine to bid friend goodby. The Touraine
sailed at ten O'Clock in the morning. and the
actress had a matinee at two. OF course. ac-
cordIng to instructions. she forgot to 60
ashore before the gangplank was hauled in
and at the proper moment there was an ex-
hlbltion of real emotional screaming. AS the
steamer backed out into the North River and
headed for Sandy Hook. the press agent and
photographer a tug previously engaged at
twenty-five dollars an hour steamed out from
an adjacent pier. After footing overtime. to
attract the attention of the multitude to the
melodramatlc rescue. the tug made fast to the
Touraine and took the young actress ashore
The press agent admitted afterward that the
publicity was worth five times the hire of the
tug.
Afraid for Their Jobs
p ETICENCE on part of Captains and officers
OF the liners IN talking for publication is
be msquoted or to appear in type as sponsor
for a statement Objectionable to the line is
sufficient ground for dismissal or transfer from
the service. But there is a tendency now
among the various lines. especially the German
to give out rather than suppress the news:
that is. If the news is not Objectionable to
either the company or its patrons. In fact.
the North German Lloyd line recently took
unto itself press agent.
When Philadelphia Jack O'Brien was trav-
cling from Liverpool the Cunard liner
Umbra after his Australian trip he pinned for
a sparring bout with some good muscular OPP
ponent. He made his wishes known. and the
news soon found its way into the fire room
Two brawny trimmers who had something of
a pugllistic reputation when in the British
navy presented their compliments to O'Brien
and begged that he be good enough to take
them on for round or two. OBrien agreed
donned his fighting toys, and administered to
each in two rounds his favorite muscular
aneSthetIc.
When the fighter came ashore he was met
by bevy of sporting writers, and among the
first questions asked of him was. did you
do any training on the way over?"
O'Brien laughed and told them the incident
of his bout with the coal trimmers.
The next day there a story in the news
papers about Philadelphia Jack O'Brien's fight
on the high 1t on the deck of the
Umbria in mid Atlantic before the assembled
passengers. and was the only incident to en-
hven exceedingly monotonous voyage 1t
was cabled to London. and day later the
printed account of the fight lay before the
directors of the Cunard line When the Umbria
returned to Liverpool. Captain Dow had to
explain why vulgar pugiistic encounter was
tolerated aboard his steamer.
After receiving from Captain Dow long
report of the affair. the directors concluded
mirage. and exonerated the skipper. Captain