Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-09
AS vEsTA TILLEY CHANGES
Rapid Fire Dressing in the Theater's
Wings.

RAPID Fire Dressing In the TheateE'S
Wings.
NEW YORK, May S.-One of the popu-
lar actresses on the stageI at present in a
comedy OF modern manner in moments of
excitement arranges the evening tie of
every man in sight. The act, trivial as 1t
seems, strikes a responsive chord in the
women who attend the theater.
That the average mans evening tie is
apt to be a badly bungled arrangement,
done In haste with an accompaniment of
curses, il a fact which does not need to be
elaborated upon. That there is relief in
sight for the wounded by the fray is fur
Their attested by Miss vesta Tilley, the
vaudeville singer, who is known in private
life as Mrs. Walter De Frece.
In Miss Tilley's wonderful equipment Of
tailor mades and male para~phernalia,
which has caused her to be known as the
best dressed man in London is the very
latest in evening ties, which is sold across
the pond under her name.
1t Is not the tie itself, but the way she
has OF manipulating it that is important.
She takes half a dozen from the box and
experiments for the benefit of the spec
tators and when she gets through instead
of the double loops and two ends she has
only one loop and one end, the other end
of the finished bow having been tucked
under the edge of her collar on the left
hand side and pulled down under the shirt,
q process which keeps the visible part from
moving and at the same time gives a but
terfiy effect.
You see how taut 1t is" and she moves
her head and neck to show It's hard n
fast position. Nothing / can do on the
stage looeens II and naturally thai is a
tremendous benefit. I should feel fright
fully self-conscious II I felt the tie riding
UP. untying or bothering be In any way.
Lots of Englishmen, and I suppose your
men too, wear gold fasteners at the sides
of the evening ties to keep them In place,
but that would not do for me, as 1 must
have my clothes 30 arranged that I can
get into them with the maximum of effect
and the minimum Of effort. The tie has
taken wonderfully we'll. for It seems to
answer all the problems along that line
that have bothered u.s."
Miss Tilley's wig II less noticeable 20
the lay profession is the wonder and ad-
miration of the theatrical, who understand
the difficulties Of wearing an article of this
kind without making the head look bunchy.
Her hair is neatly and tightly braided on
ether side of her head in schoolgirl fashion
and wound back of her ears, so that Il
does not interfere with the formation Of the
skull; then the wig of short chestnut hair
Is pinned tightly with scores of halrpins,
30 that no accident insurance has TO be
taken In Its favor. With this on and the
usual makeup she is transformed from a
very chic little woman to a good looking
youth: the skeleton Of the costume acts
completed by a complete set OF masculine
underwear and a method OF breathing and
holding herself by which every vestige OF
the feminine contour is lost and the chest
becomes as flat as that of a boy of 1S. The
usual criticism Of Vesta Tilley's work
that Of course she can dress like a man
for she has a mans chest line" rather loses
its point when you witness this bit OF
technique.
An order is given and the nearest maid
brings two coats from the wardrobe. They
are evening coats. both OF which reach tC
the knee, the first one designed by Mis-:
Tilley herself. 1t is full and obviates the
necessity of a man having to check il II
the theater or opera, as he can slip out OF
It easily without rising from his chair ant
put himself into it again without any OF
the usual contortions.
But you see" says Miss T1lley. 9TH,
tailors improved upon my original model
making this second. which you note, in
stead OF the velvet collar has a longer on,
OF corded silk and / must confess a mucl
better neck line on that account. Tn,
greatest Improvement is In the shoulde
seam and you could not see that one wa!
any more modish than the other, until
show you both and you get that YER
graceful effect OF fulness and ease
Miss Ttlley Shoes the nearest maid asid,
while she talks, leans over and buttons he
boots and then fastens her suspenders L
some dark blue broadcloth trousers will
silk stripes at the side.
Miss T1lley has in her wardrobe OF mas
culins toys two complete evening suits an,
three evening coats. The second suit o
black is a little more conservative OF cut
She has taken a generous allowance o
time to prepare for this first appearance
and when the call boy gives the final ra
and signal she takes her stick. wit
straight handle at right angles, of dar.
wood. silver-mounted, and asks that atten
ton be given to the point that the silk ha
IS set rakishly. never adjusted in a straigh
line.
Her dressing room for this song is o
the right OF the stage as you face tn
house and she makes the detour behind IN
scenes to enter from the left. where tn
second dressing room, one improvised c
screens. is established. She rushes int
the screened enclosure and silently, exps
ditIously. before the last handclaps OF N
audience are stilled. she Is Invested OF he
outer raiment and Is leaning over button
ing on Tommy Atkins dull black shoe
while one maid gets the shirt with re
stripes that Tommy Is to sport ami anothe
the duck trousers In less than the minut