Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

EEHt Asst thy bread upon the waters
and it will return to thee after
~ many days"
This is not to be a sermon. Far be
1t from me to attempt anything sc
didactic 1t is to be a simple back
patting operation performed by my
self. Incidentally ii shows how really
small the world is and how, once a
thought is put into words, 1t never
ceases to exert some influence, small
though that influence may be.
First of all, | must go back some
two years and a half, for this will be
as much thought-chronology as any
thing else.
Once upon n time in another city far
away wrote an editorial on "Uplift-
ing Vaudeville" 1 supposed it would
meet the common fate of all news.
paper writings-be forgotten within a
few hours after the ink was dry and
the paper off the press. Fortunately or
otherwise, the editorial had more or
less vogue / since have learned. 1t was
used as the basis of a sermon, was
copied in many theatrical publications
and used by Martin Beck's press de-
partment as the text of little brochure.
Incidentally, l may say that a nom
de plume was used, one long since dis
carded for various reasons.
Thinking that julius Steger's ideas
on the one-act play in vaudeville might
be of interest to the public l arranged
to talk with him. He has given to
vaudeville a tone of sincerity, as is
shown by his production of Ruth Com
fort Mitchells "The Way to the Heart"
and his own "The Fifth Command
ment." 1t was the latter playlet which
caused me to write the editorial two
and half years ago.
1 called on Mr.. Steger. He, having
old Of
Hamilton Cline, dreamer of dreams
and writer of press notices, was pre-
pared for me. AS / entered the room
and was introduced no CLINT of re-
membrance of me personally was hit.
Before we get too deeply into this
subject said Mr.. Steger, '1et me hand
you newspaper clipping which ex-
presses my views exactly. After you
have read 1t we will discuss the
question further"
1 picked up the newspaper clipping
and with the first glance recognized
my brain-child Of two and a half
years.
$50 these are your IDEAS" l said a
bit ironically to Mr.. Steger.
''Well" replied he, they are my
sentiments if not my own words"
Like a loving father l rushed to the
defense of my brain-child, and with
fine scorn--or was 1t pride-said: IL
wrote that myself"
1t was all out in a moment Mr..
Steger made full, humble and mercy
asking confession. He told me he had
used the words as his-own, had quoted
them a hundred or more times, had
read them at a lecture he delivered
before the English literature class of
the University of Minnesota and was
proud of it. That wasn't all, but it
will suffice.
Inasmuch as the editorial so we'll ex-
presses Mr.. Steger's ideas and as it is
my own / shall take excerpts from it.
Vaudeville has come to stay.
In the span of years since vaudeville
in it's present form was first presented
to the public 1t has become Immensely
popular. Two reasons closely related
are the cogent forces which have
brought this condition about. First,
greater salaries are paid vaudeville
performers. Second, the variety Of
amusement afforded at each perform
ance is such that in reality. the audi
ence gets half dozen or more tabloid