davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

n.
be known as Corinne KimbalL
when she was a little girl just
beginning her stage life, and she called
Mrs Jennie Kimball mother" as long
as her protectress lived. She still calls
her mother" with tender infection
whenever she refers 10 her. but Corinne
Belle De Briou is her real and full
name. though everybody now and for
the last quarter Of a century has
known her as just though not plain)
Corinne
No actress. or singer either, who has
occupied a No. dressing room in d
local theater for many seasons has
kicked up so much OF dissensions dust
as has this 1ittle Corinne. Old time
play goers swore she must be past 50
years old. and then. after seeing her.
have been willing to lay odds that she
is her own daughter. Some have said
though graybesrds, that they. saw her
50. or was it a. years ago. Another
,5eclsres that Corinne is Mrs. KimbaTs
laughter, while another asserts her
name is FIaherty and that she adores
the green above all hues. All or some
OF this discussion has been caused by
the unexpected. quite surprising and
altogether gratifying success that she
has made in the shubert production at
the Valencia.
Wise ones said when she was booked
there: "Humph, I saw her year or so
ago in san Francisco. She played
Lola From Berlin, and she didn't
amount to much. Second rate. sir; sec
ond rate. The Shuberts are letting
down"
Consequently when on last Sunday
night Corinne beamed freshly forth in
Nile. Mischief" and showed high class
at the head Of a classy company, the
surprise engendered discussion about
the lady; discussion begat dissension.
and dissension developed bets and ar
euments and-welL l always leave be-
fore an argument gets physical
SSUAIING the lady herself 10 be the
A best authority in matters as per-
sonal as those which arose. ven
tured to interview her.
Perhaps you think Corinne is easy to
ind Well. she isn't, after she leaves
the theater; and she doesn't know yet
how ! discovered that she is living at
such and such a number in so and so
street.
Attribute. II you please said to
er. ~the discovery Of your where
sHouts TO Sherlock Hastings. and be-
ueve that he temporarily abandoned
pursuit Of newspapermen in favor Of a
stilI hunt after you. Cut trunks, three
sheets and publicity matter Of ali kinds
have been neglected, you may surmise.
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

Buttercup in "Pinafore." She said she
cupy prominent positions on the stage
were in that same company chill
dren. But they were all older than
l." she laughed. ~and they might
think it was mean for me to tell"
While most girls are breaking their
first dolls and crying about it she was
a tiny actress.
Il had to be up at $3.50 in the morn
ing. To bed at 500 o'clock.
My days were mapped out with the
regularity and discipline of prison
schedule. only there was kindness and
care and love back of it.
But You can't annihilate an in
stinct, can you? So if 1 didn't enjoy
the association of dolls and the posses
sion of toys in my little girlhood, 1
am enjoying them now in a way. Yes
terday 1 spent happy half hour with
Kitty Baldwin-my chum and associate
in this play-roaming through the toy
depa rtment of a big department store.
enjoy looking at them and 1 enjoy
giving them away. The only place
don't love children is at matinees, when
some rising citizen of about years
assumes noisy role without invitation
or salary. That is terribly wearing on
the player on the stage.
still IL children under years had
been forbidden entrance TO the theater
80 years ago, l would never have made
a debut, would II" 4
= OR 1S years Corinne says, she
struggled for Broadway repu-
tation.
:" Oh they used to say to me, you're
all right in the west, but you can't
make good in the heart of New York
So, persistence being one of my virtues,
1 kept at it. Florence Roberts has
had similar experience. New York
either wants to discover you first or
accept you on the European plan.
Either you must be brought out in
New York or brought over from across
the Atlantic. For 13 years I had
that Broadway ambition and was going
to get there right. and on the basis
of my own merit or not get there at
all. There are short cuts sometimes,
you know, particularly for players on
the musical stage. 1 got my chance in
China DOLL which george Edwardes
got me to play the leading feminine
role in. Since then, If 1 may say it, I
car cross Broadway, as you said.
'without humping'
How much longer am I going to
play? Not very much. L have been
careful with my money. 1 do not
spend it foolishly, nor permit foolish
money to be spent on me. In the or
binary course of an actress life I
should have a good many more years
in which to lay UP treasure on earth,
but I'll get enough, perhaps. before 1
am passe. Then TIL quit.
What will L do then?
Make doll dresses for my friends
children, probably
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03
Augustus Phillips
AIcaZar

q UGUSTUS PHILLIPS has resigned
a from the Alcazar, where for sew
. eral weeks he has been leading
man at the head of the excellent Be
lasco company. Ill health is assigned
by the Alcazar mana cement as the
reason for the resignation, and Phil
lips desire to return to his eastern
home. where it is said he will undergo
treatment for his throat
Phillips made his debut at the Al
cazar in The Squaw Man." then came
his pleasing Interpretation of the role
of Jefferson Ryder in The Lion and
the Mouse after which he played a
still more congenial role in "The Tam
ing of Helen" which was followed by
the best work he has done at the Al
cazar as Stephen Ghent in THE Great
Divide" which showed the class he
must have exhibited to have played the
big role of the French Canadian, Jean,
in Eugene Walters melodramatic
play, THE Wolf throughout the east.
Phillips was under engagement for an
other season in the same play when he
came to San Francisco He will end
his engagement at the Alcazar in the
current comedy. Sweet Kitty Bel
lairs." next Sunday night.
Pending the selection of another
leading man Alcazar patrons will en-
joy Will r. Walling, who seems TO fit
himself to any role with quite unusual
versatility In the heroic parts
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03
.oR1NNE never worries.

~ORINNE never worries.
1 DO YOU know. she said. II sus
@pected that l was not Mrs. Kim
gible reason TO have misgivings. One
reason was that we were so unlike
temperamentally. She would worry,
for one thing. and she had a supreme
confidence in her ability 10 project, and
carry out. She had a great love for
jewelry and was called by Barnum
himself the female P T. Barnum In
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

the possible joy in a possibly happy
marriage for the reinsurance that none
of it's tragedy shall ever overtake me.
Besides, I might have to take care OF
my husband and provide him with
spending money. That's not a very
snticing suppositions is it," she hn-
ished.
cit depends" said I.
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

none of these attributes or tendencies
were we alike. l do not court no.
toriety. Even my enemies will admit
that; this is all the jewelry 1 wear"
Her hand carried two rings within
the power of even my purchasing
ability. Plain gold rings they were
with unfiashing stones. Il never wear
unless my role demands it. L don't
like the worry of looking after the
gems, and wondering if some one has
run off with one or whether 1 have
lost it.
Il was conscious of a difference in
temperament in my naturally rising
fears that l should not be able to do
the task that was set me. Always l had
to gather confidence from some one else.
Mrs. Kimball used to say to me. of
course you can do it. Then I'd try
relying on her bolstering and never
falling assurance.
I'm just beginning to believe that
1 am comedienne. Lee Shubert told
me L could play this role. 1 didn't
think L could. Certainly you can,'
said he Then 1 went away with the
part and brooded over it until a few
days before the rehearsal When 1
finally got to work on it, tell you 1
didn't let up for minute. 1 ate and
slept with the role. 1t takes me a
long time to get up steam. but when
the boiler is full of energy. 1 think
YOUR agree 1 can go some.
so. as 1 was saying, these differ
ences in our natures impressed me as
a child and l felt instinctively that
/ was another's daughter and not Mrs.
Kimball's; but wouldn't say anything.
My gratitude forbade"
@ORINNES life has been an unusual
l one in many ways. She had no
childhood, no dolls, no toys. At
years of age-that is between the
ages of s and 6-she was aIrea 5y
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

by the press representative turned
sleuth. and anyway, here 1 am
So. after having fairly captured the
victim of publicity's demands and the
merry model. in short, of Mile. Mis-
chief" it was agreed that we should
meet at the Valencia theater that very
afternoon - Wednesday - before the
matinee. We would have 80 minutes,
she assured me.
The theater is my workshop" said
Corinne. There it is that / attend to
all and only my duties as actress.
Elsewhere / refuse absolutely to talk
shop. eve will discuss the weather or
your mothers health), say to those
who want to chatter theater business
outside the playhouse. Cbut 1 refuse to
let you tell me how good an actress
you are or how bad a player 1 am, only
at the theater)."
So to the theater we went at the ap-
pointed hour.
~ My half an hour" mused on
my way. "in which to work up
- courage enough to ask a lady
how old she is"
] didn't think it could be done.
oh, believe me. 1 went about it art
fully enough.
She led me to her dressing room,
where her maid was busy sewing and
fussing with lacey things which didn't
concern me. The hostess was hospital
ity personifed. 1t didn't seem right to
trap her Besides she looked too young
to be taken advantage of and made to
give up secrets.
/ started in diplomatically. What
is you right name?" asked with the
serene suavity of a lawyer in the per-
spiration of cross examination.
.'Corinne Belle de Briou," she said,
when she finished laughing. Il was
born in 1873; my father was French,
my mother was Spanish; my birth
place. New Orleans; l am unmarried,
and 1 weigh 135 pounds in spite of
what you may think to the contrary"
Didn't I tell you 1 was tactful?
~Only 135 pounds" said 1, thinking
of the cushiony. mischievious model,
Rosette in Freddy Melines clothes
I've got bones 1 tell=vnn-'' And she
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03
GOR1NNE

pointed proudly to two collarbones
visible over the top of her gown.
Besides I'm dieting. l diet all the
time. but should look like a skeleton
if l lost Is pounds. Sunken eyes and
hollow cheeks-so-" and she pulled
a drawn and wretched countenance,
cadaverous and hollow. 4 don't eat
potatoes. Do / like them? l should
say I do. And / don't eat any candy,
nor late suppers. 1 refuse anything
with starch in it, and rise untitled
from every meal. l take long walks
and I exercise, too. 1 suppose there's
only one thing left for me to do to get
down to $50 pounds, and that is to
worry.
II refuse to worry. Worry has got
dieting beat to death as weight re-
ducer. Ever try it?s
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03
esT)

uH EFORE Mrs. Kimball took me in
* her care" Corinne went on be-
tween Interruptions, "she had
taken under her maternal wing a sister
of Elisha Jordan. A pretty little golden
haired child she was-Mrs. Kimball
used to tell me of her, but the little
girl died soon after. Some have said
she was called Corinne, but that isn't
the case. am the original Corinne,
and the reason. probably, is because
that is nay given name.
My father and mother had only been
in New Orleans short while when I
was born. 1t was Christmas eve of
1873 My mother died in the first days
of 1874. My father and mother had
been friends of Mrs. kimball in Boston
and thither my father went with his
infant charge-your truly. He re-
NAMED there until / was years old,
and then returned to New Orleans, Just
in time to be caught by the epidemic
of yellow fever which was reaping
death with a broad and terrible scythe
He died in 1878, and so l remained in
Mrs. Kimbali's care, to which he had
consigned me before he went away"
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-03

~ORINNES life has been an unusual
one in many ways. She had no
childhood, no dolls, no toys At
5 years of age-that is between the
ages OF and e-she was already
player. Her first role was Little
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
The Red Cross Stamp Abroad.

1t Is difficult to construe article XII Sec
ton 1. of the universal postal convention
in such a manner as to justify the &C.
ton Of the English government and Ger
tain other foreign governments In refus-
ing mail transport to packages containing
the Red Cross stamp now being sold in
this country in the aid of the fight against
tuberculosis. The section reads as fol-
lows:
Prepayment of postage on every de-
scription of article can be effected only by
means OF postage stamps valid in the
country of origin for the correspondence
of private individuals. 1t is not. hoWev err
permitted To make use, in the intelna-
uonal service, o. postage stamps produced
with an object special and peculiar to the
country of issue, such as the So-called
commemorative postage stamps of tenn
porary validity
The Red Cross stamp is not a postage
stamp. 1t is a sentimental token, a fancy
design suggestive of the spirit of Christ
mas. and procaiming by it's symbol the
universal doctrine of humanity. IL in no
respect suggests a postage stamp save
liz its shape and the fact that it is stuck
upon a letter or a package. II is not deal
Ily confounded with a postage stamp
even OF the special or commemorative is
sues.
1t has been stated that the probable
reason for this action is the fear on the
part OF the postal authorities abroad that
the clerks may not detect shortage in
postage with these stamps affixed to let
tiers and packages. In other words, the
charitable impulses of the people in this
country are checked and rebuked, lest a
few careless cancellation clerks abroad
may tail in their duty
Only by the most ridiculous stretching
of the postal convention can the pro-
hibition of this stamp on foreign mail
matter be even approximately justified
1t Is hardly TO De conceived that If proper
representations are made at London the
British government viii insist upon its
preposterous pos ition in this regard. Ger
tainly ali packages now in transit bearing
this token of good will and charity should
be delivered as addressed. Whatever may
be the fate OF those mailed since the
warning was given.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
The Community's Business.

Those who advocate the enactment of
q curfew law for the District Of Column
bia do not undertake to set up the prop
osition that it is the duty of the NUM-
cipaiity to regulate the management of
children by their parents, to prescribe
the hours of retirement or. any other rou-
tine Of domestic discipline. 1t Is. how
ever, held to be within the province of
the law to prescribe certain regulations
governing the outdoor conduct Of chill
dren and to insure at least that the men,
bers of the community Of a tender age
shall not be permitted to expose them
selves to dangerous and immoral influ-
ences on the streets after certain hours.
and incidentally to reduce certain annoy
ances which are inseparable from the con-
gregation of children in the streets after
dark 1t may be In the last analysis the
parents duty to determine whether chill
dren shall or shall not be held under re-
straint. 1t may not be the province of
the state or the city to bear the respon-
sibility of collaborating in detail. But it
is unquestiOnably the right and the duty
of the state to interpose certain restric-
tons upon the freedom of the child. so
that whether the parents be wise or fool
ish the child shall at least have the pro-
lection of immunity from certain perils.
Thus it is already forbidden by law TO
sell tobacco or liquor to minors. 1t might
be argued that this is entirely a matter
within the province of the parent, and II
a father or mother is willing that a
child should smoke or drink 1t Is none Of
the states business If juvenile intemper-
ance in these respects results. The Dis
trict now prescribes compulsory education
for all children between certain ases, and
imposes penalties upon parents who neg
lect to send their children to school. 1t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
The President and Patronage.

So far. President Taft has not allow ed
patronage to plague him. His record of
appointments for the first nine months of
an administration is the lowest in prob
ably half a century. He has had other
matters before him and given them pref
erence. His course has produced no
marked fretfulness on the part either of
applicants for office or their indorsers
Here and there an old party worker hun
gering and thirsting after recognition
and his sponsors anxious to see him
placed. ;Ee raised note OF protest, but
IN a mi'd f.F. Such seges were laid
TO Mr. tlrVtland, Gen. Harrison and to
Mr.. Mckinley. Mr.. Taft has escaped
There is just as much patronage as ever
or the more alluring kind, and just as
many capable men DESTROYS Of enjoying it.
Uncle Sam is an easy boss. He pays well
Tor short hours. and pay day never finds
MN without arrangements to distribute
pay envelopes. Hence, the push to get
on his rolls, and bask in his abundance
But the hour approaches when the
PRESIDENT must take up his portion of his
task, and have 1t out with his friends and
fellow citizens. There are many vacan-
cles. And some folk think there should
be more. Party workers have not changed
their natures. As in Mr.. Cleveland's day.
in Gen. Harrison's and in Mr. McKinleys
they want action on their applications
winch are based on the old proposition
that the laborer is worthy of his hire AL
though things proved to be easy at the
polls. they did not look SO during the
campaign last year, and the republican
field was full of laborers Now for their
hire.
The President is not rated as a spoils-
man as that word is used. He is not
quoted as believing in handing out fayors
TO Tom, Dick and Harry, on a certificate
merely of party regularity and party
activity. He wants competent men for
once, and such as stand we'll at home 1t
is the only safe course to follow
But he is party man. and we shall
probably see the fact proclaimed in all of
the leading appointments soon to begin.
The men going out of office : republic
cans, and those coming in viii be of the
same party.
In the south some expectations are like
ly to be disappointed So-called Taft
democrats of the sincere kind are not
seeking office, while those who have de-
clared for the President in the hope of
office are hardly worthy of it. The re-
suit may be republicans for the places as
before. There are many excellent men
OF that party down there, entirely COM
petent for all the places at the Presidents
disposal and worthy of his recognition
The idea of breaking democratic power
in that section with federal patronage
originated with somebody who had no
respect either for southern character or
northern intelligence
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
A Suffragette Inquiry.

The ways of politics are strange
For campaign funds they make you
pay.
And hOwsoe'er the prices range,
There never Is bargain day.
They draw your portraits with disdain;
They scoff at all you said or wrote
And make ideals all in vain
Why does Matilda wish to vote?
They jeer at you when you succeed
And fiout you coldly when they fail;
They call you in their hour of need;
But should your enemies prevail
They leave you in the foeman's power
'Mongst all the questions that they
quote
This Is the problem of the hour
Why does Matilda wish to vote?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
Mrs. Pankhurst Disappointed.

Mrs Pankhurst, the English suffragette,
has closed her American engagement, and
is returning home disappointed, it Is said,
in the American situation. Let US all
hope there is fu! warrant for the dis
g., tinguished womans feelings.
Mrs, Pankhursts disappointment should
De the American womans ncoura2emenr
II testifies TO the fact that the cause Of
woman suffrage in this country Is not
being conducted on English lines. or like
~ TO be. The English visitor found
things tame. not to say slow. There is
not the excitement she had thought ex-
listed. The great majority of people do not
seem to know that a fire is in progress
Even the women themselves show no out
ward sign of storm or stress, but are
more self-contained in their work for
suffrage than ordinarily in a struggle for
a good place at the bargain counter
Evidently Mrs Pankhurst expected too
much. She had been misadvised both as
to the American temperament and enyi-
n~aznent as respects this matter. The lot
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03

OF woman in America Is not SO grinding
as to throw her into a fury. She thinks
1t might be and should be improved. and
is stirring in the premises with that OBJ
ject in view. She is preparing her case
with care and according to her knowl-
edge of the man with whom she has to
deal And she knows him better than
Mrs. Pankhurst.
Before this suffrage question arose the
English stood for self-possession. for
steadiness of view. for unexcitab ity even
in the face of great provocation. 1t was
said of the Americans, and generally &C
cepted abroad, that they were explosive.
quick on trigger. and violent in action
The role of militant suffragette would
have been assigned to an American. and
New York or Washington selected as the
scene Of assault on public officials In
an effort to rush things to victory.
But the record shows matters reversed.
1t is the English woman who has adopted
the tactics of violence, and the American
woman those of order. 1t is the English
woman who has gone excitedly to ex
tremes, and the American woman who is
showing calmness anu steadiness in ac-
ton. So far nothing but riot marks the
course Of the English suffragettes, while
nothing but argument and quiet organi
cation may be set down to the Ameri-
cans.
Mrs. Pankhurst seems to have changed
nothing by her visit. She did not COM
municate her spirit to her hosts. Her
part at home has been prominent, and
she is returning to resume it. But over
here those seeking suffrage for women
will probably continue in the course al
ready selected, and. IL little slowly still
a little comfortably. bring their case into
court for a decision.