The San Francisco call., 1910-05-29

and watered it and tended 1t so that
not weeds but flowers grew. She con-
trived, in spite of me, with my miser-
able back glancing questions and him
with his open, hearty frankness, to
point the path forward and not back.
and to leave the past with it's broad
cloak Of ivy, covering with charitable
green the crevices that challenge US
all to go back and fill with deeds.
There are some things" said Mrs.
Mcdowell, who as Virginia Drew
Trescott is partner, conf1dant, chum as
well as wife TO Mcdowell, which can
render nothing of advantage by dis
cussing. The past is not nearly as in
terestine as the present, nor as profit
able to consider as the future. What is
done is beyond our tamperins with;
but we can control what is to come, and
we, Mr.. Mcdowell and I, have big
plans for the future"
Ask me- said Mr.. Mcdowell, why
I am in vaudeville
1 glanced at Miss Virginia Drew
4IeSCOLL duUs ODScINlHS lilAI VIC AldO
now arrived on safe conversational
grounds. safe from the abysses of the
past, asked agreeably: why are you
in vaudeville?" expecting, a you might
have anticipated under the same cir
cumstances that the answer was going
to have something to do with the ele-
walton of the stage and the bringing
of the classics to the masses.
For the money there's in it, said
MacDowen bravely.
At the same time he fumbled around
in his pocket for a wallet, from which
If had had any thoughts that he was
going to pull thick rolls of yellowbacks
as evidence, / was gravely in error--he
took q photograph, which he displayed
with that variety of pride which a man
always feels when he proves possession
OF something he has, contrary to the
prophecy of friends" at length ac-
quired. 1t was a picture of a pretty
home, a large two story building. big
enough and imposing enough to be
called a residence, yet small enough
and comfortable enough to be called a
home. 1t is in Queensborough, Flush
ing, Long island; and though the pic
ture was taken when the snow was
thick on the roof and icicles embroid
cred the caves, 1t looked coy and in
viting and restful.
That's the result of three years
work in vaudeville" said MacDowell.
TT is the application of earnings in
my own home instead OF some other
fellows cafe. I've no doubt helped
build many of these residences, but this
one I have built myself. It is all the
result of the different kind of craft l
now sail in instead of the leaky one
1 used to sail on troubled seas. This
boat goes straighter, for one thing, and
it is always entirely surrounded by
water. 1t is not suggestive of schooners
and it negotiates no bars. 1t rides at
anchor most of the time in a home
harbor, and when it sails its cabin
passenger and guest of honor is my
wife I have been aboard this yacht I'm
speaking of for just three years"
/ Judging from what the two told me,
1 would like to lay a wager, if I didn't
hope it would take so long to determine
its security, that he'll stay aboard the
tight little craft until some day when
1t strikes out for those shores whence
no tide nor billows ever set back.
4 MONG his happy recollections Mac
A Dowell recalled two. The first was
merely statistical in way, but
statistics have a place in history and
biography, which fact will serve as
excuse for present recording. 1t con-
cerned MacDowelrs first appearance in
San Francisco. which was to be the
scene of so many returns.
Il was in the company playing Held
by the Enemy" said the actor I'VE
played the old Baldwin theater for 10
weeks in 1888, opening March 2. well
remember the date.
THE company had some stars in It.
Henry Miller played Colonel Prescott,
Viola Allen was the heroine, Louise
Dillon was the southern girl, Mrs. Far
ron played the aunt, William Gillette
was the correspondent, Jim Neil was
the spy and l was Brigadier Surgeon
Fielding. One reason recall the date"
he continued, laughing at the apparent
lack of reason, was because the hrst
production in America of Sardous La
Tosca' was IN the spring OF 1887 at the
then New Broadway theater. New York
THE last time was here. except for
ff,A -ornnsrafiveTvt recent visit f,, wanda