The Press., 1911-01-11
'.would you like to see 7them on the

'sWould you like to see them on the stag ?'
 "Let us get to the point, judge. If my sisters showed ability, if they had any real talent for the stage, could not see any reason why they shouldn't take that up as a career, provided 1t would make them happy. We are beat ing about the bush. You, like great many other men who know of the the ater only as you sit on this side of the footlights or as you read your plays and your criticisms or as you read the scandals in the newspapers, have what is, to my mind, very unjust impress sion of the people who work therein It is perfectly true that the law is still on the books of parliament in England which declares that an actor is vaga- bond who may be arrested on sight for the first offense, burned through the gristle of the right ear with redhot iron of the compass of one inch for the second offense and sentenced to be hanged for the third. It is perfectly true that in M. Vavin's own country so great man as Moliere was greeted by lhe rustics as he appeared on the high way with his troupe with these kindly sentiments: Lock mp the silver; here come the actors.
 You see," said M. vavin, ''he admits It all"
 "But," continued Holcomb, eff the social mark of vagabondage was on the profession of the actor at one time, what crimes are not traceable to the men in your profession? -Tlle actor at least can claim that by his own per sonal worth, his own endeavors, his own regard for social laws, he .1ias lived down all the contumely-I should say nearly all the contumely-thatw was once associated with the stage"
 T think we were speaking of ac. tresses,'' said Professor Fullerton.
 And we are still,'' replied Holcomb warmly, standing up and walking the room nervously. q studied law for awhile. You will pardon me-" he said, lowing politely to Professor Fullerton flor what is seeming divagation The lawyer is man who takes an oath to perform his duty. but my ex, perience has taught me that the per. centage of lawyers in New York city who are interested in obtaining jus tice is very small. It is fact. judge and you cannot deny it, that within the last fifty years the best legal minds iE this country have been engaged in clogging the courts and thwarting jus tice. And you corporation lawyers you men who wonder at the growth o1 radical sentiment, who deplOre the socialistic and anarchistic propaganda you men are responsible, for, whilt you may have followed the letter, yol have far from observed the spirit You have violated your oaths.''
 Really" said the judge, 'while al this is very interesting, fail to see"-
 ''Your accusation against the wOmeI of the stage-for it is an accusation-is that they do not obey the social law and that accusation, unjust as it is, 1. founded in good measure on the sto ries that have been worked up an{ rushed into print by men in your pro fession."
 My dear boy" began the judge, q really must protest
 Pardon me, judge, I did not meal to be disrespectful, but there is just al much relation between you and tht two so called theatrical lawyers wht were sent to jail the other day al there is between the great body O women who earn their livelihood ol the stage and a few who obtain posi- tions as chorus women to use it as cloak There is as much truth, thert is as much honesty, there is as stfonl a sense of honor, finer sense of per spective and, thank God, less hypoc risy among the women of the stag than among the women of any class, don't care where"
 Holcomb sat down and puffed ciga vigorously.