The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-26
By ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

After all we are very much alike.
We think there are marked differ
ences, vast spaces, yaWning chasms
between us-and when we get &C
quainted we are surprised, and often
delighted, to find how very human
the other fellow Is.
There is nothing so hard as to be en-
tertaining all the time. Not hard
either, but impossible.
Many persons think they must be
entertaining"
This is the mistaken idea with
which girls are often obsessed, and
indeed, those much older.
To keep it going, whoop it up, to
piroutte round on one toe in the spot
light, so to speak, continuously.
But in the end the "entertaining
person is generally hoist by his own
petard For he gets SO "doosed" en-
pertaining that he finds himself, OF
herself, later playing to empty bench
es.
For in private life no bore is more
deadly than the "enlertainer."
ne eAuduStS lHc SOSlol olAooPhSAO
Or perhaps she.
He is a sort of social vacuum clean
er, If it may SO be put, who sucks ul
all the conversational dust in his
neighborhood.
Still if he likes, if he becomes wear
led, if he doesn't feel good. il his liv
er's disorganized or his digestion hits
it up-he has the privilege of being
cross, depressed, "grouchy," hateful
and as generally devilish as he pleas
eS.
1t is another thing with the profess
ional entertainer. however. Your
private feelings" are cast into the
background. You can't consider your
self or your individual griefs or joys
or bodily ills or mental condition.
1t is your business to look pleas
ant"
You must never lapse an instant.
The public is an memorable monster
1t demands morsels, live, juicy, fresh
every day, and if it isn't fed as it hank
ers, if it's appetite isn't catered to, il
it's insatiate nav is not crammed
with that which it Graves, it pounces
on the man the other side of the foot
lights, mauls him to a finish. throws
him into the corner and invites a new
man into the ring.
On holidays when other people are
taking time off to enjoy themselves
the professional entertainer must con
tribute to that enjoyment.
He must rest the tired business
man." make the busy housewife laugh
call forth the shrieks of the girls and
boys home from school and otherwise
amuse the human animal who fire.
quents the theater.
He doesn't have time for the celebra
ton of those festivities to which the
nation or world may be given over
Or if he does it must be latter TAX
ing
On Christmas, in instance, when the
average actor must be at it afternoon
and evening. where is his chance fol
a Christmas tree, an exchange of pre-
sents, and the eating of the crisp
Christmas turkey?
Not at all. Or at odd moments.
Mr.. George Damerel and his com
pany, which played at the Gennett
here on Christmas Day. had their
Christmas party at the Westcott afte,
the evening performance.
The average layman is apt to think
of the average actor, or those of the
profession in it's entirety, as something
little less or more than human.
George Damerel. for example, who
danced himself into light opera fame
in the Merry Widow" days and who
plays the part of the infatuated young
club man in THE Heart Breakers
and who is of undoubted masculine
pulchritude and terpsichorean fascina
tons. is possibly regarded by the good
family man and his frau, who haunt
the theater on Christmas afternoon
their one theatrical spree for the year
AS a gay, irresponsible and light
minded bachelor.
If, however, they could have seen
Mr.. Damerel seated at the head of a
long table in the hotel dining room
with his charming young wife near
him. and his pretty little girl of three
in his arms. Hospitality entertaining
their entire company with Christ
mas tree, from which there was q
generous distribution of presents. and
trying. in every way possible, to make
all these detached units of their theat
rical organization, into one whole
friendly and fraternal party-theil
previous distorted idea would have SUI
fered sudden and bewildering
change.