Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
JACK ROSE TELLS HOW A FAMOUS
ACTOR AND HE LOST THEIR ALL
Bv JACK ROSE.
Copyright, 1912, by Star Company. All
rights reserved. Any infringement
will be vigorously Prosecuted.)

| tempt 10 break away from the gambling
business and my gambling associates
was made shortly after my reconcilia-
ton with Rosenthal, through a chance
acquaintance made in a gambling
house The man was the late Henry
Lee, one Of Americas most prominent
actors
Lee was a remarkable man, Of com
manding appearance. and a scholar, and
his one passion was gambling.
He never drank or had any other bad
habit but was an inveterate gambler
He earned a tremendous salary some
times as high as fifteen hundred dol
lars a week, with a form OF entertain
ment in vaudeville entirely his own.
1t was known as Great Men, Past
and Present" and in 1t he displayed
his wonderful powers as a character &C
tor.
Lee was the man who at one time
starred in the play "Cyrano de Ber
gerac.' made famous by the late Rich
ard Mansfield,
The critics throughout the country
were loud in their praise Of Lees art,
and in cities where both Mansfield and
Lee appeared at opposition play houses
in the same play Lee never suffered by
comparison.
| had often seen Lee in vaudeville
and admired him greatly. | had also
seen him when he created the role Of
Simonodes in that spectacular produc
ton Of Ben Hur"
| lost track Of him. and found out
ater that he was making a tour of
the world collecting material for form
Of entertainment original with himself.
met him upon his return from abroad
one night in a gambling house up
town.
Immediately | entered the room |
recognized Henry Lee He was a man
who would have been singled out in any
company. He stood more than six feet
high and was built in the proportion of
an athlete. He always wore a mon
ocle.
Lee Would Lose All Every Time.
In gambling houses Lee was known
as a good sucker" as he had large
earning capacity and was noted as los
ing every dollar of it each time he
played. When he lost all. credit was
freely extended to him. Written or
ders were accepted from him on the
box Office Of the theater where his
next engagement was to be played.
He always honored these u. O. US"
The passion of gambling had such
hold on Lee that he used to play and
play until the game would be closed on
! him. Then he would beg for just one
more roll Of the wheel
| Roulette was his favorite game.
sat beside him the first night we met,
and /, too. began playing.
! Lee was constantly losing and l was
winning He left the table on three
occasions and had earnest whispered
conversations with the manager of the
gambling house
After each talk the manager would
come back to the table with Lee and
issue an order to the dealer to let Mr.
Lee have another 500 worth of credit
When the last 500 was given Lee and
he lost it he again went to the mana
ger and asked for more. The manager
absolutely refused him another dollar
Of credit. Lee stood around watching
the game the picture of despair.
l was still quite good winner, and
at the end of deal l cashed In three
hundred dollars. While the cards were
being shuffled for the next deal took
the money and went into an adjoining
room where a telephone was installed
for the use Of patrons"
I called one OF the attendants and
told him to go over to Mr. Lee and
whisper to him that he was wanted on
the phone" which he did.
Lee came rushing over and was sur
prised to see me here.
said; Mr., Lee, my name is Jack
Rose. have been too often in the pre-
diCament you are in now. | know who
YOU are, and If you will permit me
would like to extend you whatever
financial assistance I can. so far as my
means will permit
Lost $500, Borrowed 500 More
His thanks knew no limits. He just
kept thanking and thanking me. gave
him the three hundred dollars I had
and we both went back to the table to
play.
He didn't last very long. Soon
passed him over some more money. and
continued doing so until he owed me
Isl, 600
Then the dealer announced the last
deal and the game was closed for the
night
Lee and went out together and be-
| fore parting he said:
Say Rose, YOU are a decent sort of
/ chap. l would like very much if YOU
/ viii call at my hotel tomorrow Aside