The San Francisco call., 1909-01-10

got on my nerves aIter a Wnlle with
her importantly and when she asked
me why I didn't take a single glass,
IA looked at her with solemnity and
horror in both my eyes, and lied. 1
said, I thank you kindly for your
! interest. but the reason 1 never drink
is because and L lowered my voice,
blushed ecomingly-'because I'm re-
formed drunkard. My sister, sitting
opposite, overheard and nearly tainted.
NO, ] was never in San Francisco as
a player, though 1 came here before
the fire with my sister when she was
with Weber and Fields. I just came
for the trip. You see 1 was an actress
before 1 married, but 1 left the stage
when I became domestic. I liked home
better than theaters and would be there
yet, but l have a son to educate ana
take care OF. My husband died last
year. In spite of the bereavement I
thanked the good God that could re-
turn to the stage and get the money
which a big boy of IL years needs to
put clothes on his back and corruga-
tions on his brain. His name is Bob
and he is IN a military school" Then
we talked about Bob" gentle reader.
and If you have a Bob or a girl fairy
Of your own you know substantially
what was said.
went over TO Oakland to see an act
of Fifty Miles from Boston" Wanted
10 find out whether-well whether she
could act. An interview is not the
place for criticism, but Mrs. Westford
is the hit Of the show and she travels
in good company
Il have always done character COM
edy work" she said. You see I'm not
the beauty Of the family. but I have
sense of humor the same as Nellie (she
"a Is No11 faN ~
years of my absence from the stage.
while / was mistress of my own little
home, I dabbled in theatricals now and
then and used to be on hand for ben
efits and club entertainments Only
once did l ever try to look beautiful
and that was with my sister last sea
son in 'Wildfire.' Imagine my trying
to be superbIy sweet beside my sister.
I got aWfully tired of the job and
finally gave up my society girl stunt.
But during my retirement from the
stage 1 used to enjoy my temporary
flights into the theater. The benefits
that Were given and in which / aided
were greater benefits to me than any
one else, I guess. An event was gotten
up at Wallack's. The play was "A City's
Heart 1t is by Maude Banks, who is
a member of the league, too. She
wanted me to do an act in the piece
and said 1 would. Madge Carr Cook,
Charley Cherry, Bijou Fernandez were
in the all star company as we were
pleased TO call it. / chose a vaude-
vile turn. I came on as one of the
alleged entertainers in a bowery music
hall. 1 selected three of the cheapest.
trashiest songs I could find and
dressed the part like a lady of the
music halls; great hat with impossible
trimmings. red stockings abbreviated
skirts and so forth ] think / looked
the part all right Well, it went big in
New York and I repeated the act later
in Newark The critics came over to
see it that time because it had made
such a success in New York and they
didn't want to miss the play That
Newark audience was a frost The
coldest thing in the world to me. /
couldn't make out the reason WHY
That stole silence was something awful
Mr. Proctor told me the reason. These
people here, he said, think you are in
earnest about this. They are giving
you credit for being a bowery enter
tainer, and they have concluded that.
as such, you are just passable, but
they don't see any reason for going
dippy about you. They don't know it's
burlesque. So cut out the tough song
and dance tonight and do a concert
turn. They're not on to your joke
But New York. Mr.. Proctor I
started.
!" Eew York and Newark sound much
alike when you say it, but the SINH
larity ends there said he.
"We were in Paris last July my
sister and l. She went there to pick
up ideas about clothes for this years
play and / went-because she did, L
guess. My sister never buys her gowns
in Paris; she gets hers made in Amer
lea. not altogether for patriotic reasons,
but for economic and artistic reasons
You can buy" she assured me'earnestly.
'as fashionable, well fitting and ex-
pensive gowns in America as you can
IN London or Paris, and besides the
modistes over there know you're
Americans and conclude that they may