The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-14
CREDIT TO BEESON
."Only Grip Prima Donna Is
s Really d Kansas Girl.
Encouragement by Dodge City
Man "Made" Her.

What words of encoura cement will
do for a person when given at the
right time is illustrated in the sue
cess of Miss Elsie Baird, prima donna
at the Grand theater tonight. Miss
Baird is a Dodge City girl and she
will go to that place tonight with the
company to open the new Chalk Bee
son theater tomorrow.
I can remember just as well the
words of Mr.. Beeson one day " hen I
played and sang at his home, said
Miss Baird, this noon After 1 had
finished he came up TO Ine-he al
ways rad time for everybody even
though he was very busy man
and said:
Keep that UP. little girl. and you
will do something worth while scme
.of these days.
Il always remembered that and in
the days when 1 was working hard as
a chorus girl those words stuck with
me- think they helped me to go UP
tand 1 am certainly proud that L can
he the enc to open the new theater at
Dodge City which is dedicated to his
memory
She Is Mrs. Burton Now.
For the purposes of this interview
There is no necessity for keeping an
Illusion so Miss Baird shall be called
by her present name. Mrs. T. Burton,
sherea fter. Mr.. and Mrs. Burton when
seen in their room at the National
FhoteI this noon, were most happy
They we're looking forward to two
events The one at Dodge City already
has been mentioned but the one they
hold in biggest anticipation is the
meeting of their Seven-year-old son,
Robert Baird Burton, at Davenport,
ia, mex. Monday.
I'VE are expecting to have great
time with the boy next weeN-Chr1St-
mas" Mrs. Burton said and her Dig
black eyes sparkled with a spirit of
Something not actuated by grease.
paint or footlishts The boy mas
been in school in New York but he is
coming to Davenport to meet rs and
will be with US during the holidays
And here is where Mr. Burton
breaks in although his wlfe was the
primary object of this interview
The boys name is Robert Baird
Burton and he's some kid, said Mr..
Burton Next Monday will be big
day for the Burton family"
1t was years ago as Elsie Baird, of
Dodge City, that Mrs Burton broke
into the musical comedy game. She
worked in a chorus at St Louis first
I'D rather not tell the name of the
scompanv.'' she said. That's EAR back
in Kansas was eight years ago when
i played in Topeka and Dodge City in
THE Marriage Of Kitty Most of the
time since that 1 have been in New
York I was with the Hippodrome
company as prima donna for three
seasons in Under Many Flags,
t-Around the World and America %
{ Usually chorus girls have their
cherished ambition realized when they
become prirna donnSis in a musical
show but not so with Mrs Burton.
She still has a. great desire to sing
grand opera.
But when I think of what it has
cost some actresses-Farrar for in
stance-to sing in opera it looks like
an Impossible feat" she explained.
Still I. hope to sing in opera some
day.
Mrs Burton is a large woman with
dark eyes and jet-black hair. She is
charming to talk to and is thoroughly
a flesh and blood woman-not one of
the painted ladies such as the illusion
lists would have people believe stage
women to be-
stAnd the boy. Don't forget him."
admonished Mr. Burton as the inter-
view drew to a close. Hes the one
asset that shows we are reaI''
So it goes The actors on the stage
who depict fictitious characters are
real people in their rooms at the hotel.
E. W. W.