The Washington times., 1915-11-25
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS.
Bv GARDNER MACK
Film Star Destroys
A Million In Cold
Cash and Then
She ShiverS
BY GARDNER MACK.

While actors and actresses are
called upon to undergo some rather
trying experiences during the course
Of the productions Of plays and mo-
tion pictures. an actress who was
visiting Washington recently. through
purely accidental circumstance. per-
formed an operation unique In the
annals OF even the most sensational
motion picture. OF which she didn't
think so much until after II was done
and she had opportunity to think II
over. And the more she thinks II
over the more serious the nervous
chill that shakes It's way through her
system. The thing she did was to
take 100000 in perfectly good
United States money. and in the
course OF a few minutes absolutely
destroy It and make It worthless!
WIN Nell Lavender. remembered
here for her excellent work with
Henry Savage companies In the past.
and who simply stopped for a visit
In Washington en- route to begin a
career with motion pictures. IL the
leading woman In the cast OF the
tragedy. and an actual million dollars
made up OF miscellaneous collec-
tion Of perfectly valid and valuable
United states Treasury notes. gold
etc. formed the most important part
OF the props OF the piece. The
tragedy-that is the way Miss Laven-
der looks on II now-was performed
at the Treasury Department. and
the other prop used was the mas
cerating machine with which United
states Treasury officials calmly
pound good In "A ntiln
= Miss Lavender was visiting the
Treasury Department In search Of a
long-lost cousin and with the cousin
made tour OF inspection of the
mo scerating department about the
time load of bills was 20 be de-
stroyed. and Miss Lavender was
permitted to perform the operation
OF putting the bills into the mas
cerator and starting the process OF
masceration. She accepted the in
vitation with smile and performed
her task in 4 rather thorough though
somewhat nonchalant manner. Now.
she isn't quite so nonchalant about
1t. and admits that 1t has sent a
cold shiver through her every time
she thought OF It.
The young actress. who has been
singing in vaudeville engagement
on the Pacific coast during the past
two seasons with Al G. Wynass, has
just started upon her motion pic
ture career. AS yet she has not
appeared in pictures. but she has q
contract with one OF the big pro-
ducing firms and will commence her
work shortly. In the meantime. she
and Mr.. Wynass are making a spe-
cial tour of the South with the mo-
ton picture production of Silver
Threads Among the Gold" with
which a vocal musical score has
hn tsftt alx,
songs.
Miss Lavender is a native OF the
South. the daughter OF former
mayor of Rome. Ga. She received a
musical education In this country
and abroad, and developed rich
that she was selected by Henry W.
Savage to create the role OF Suzuki
in the original production OF Puccinis
Madame Butterfly" in English. She
afterward appeared in the leading
soprano roles in The Top o. the
World" and Little Boy Blue"
When Savage organized the
"Everywoman." Miss Lavender was
selected to play the part OF Vice.
and remained with the show two sea-
sons: Then she Joined Amelia Bing-
hams company and played opposite
the star In the series OF Big Mo-
ments in Big Plays" which Miss
I'lngnh1n uSeU III NauUeN1llc. [ was
after closing with Miss Bingham,
after three seasons. that Miss Law
ender formed partnership with
Al Wynass and toured the big time
vaudeville houses.
She IL rather we'll known In Wash
ington socially. because OF her many
visits here with her father. who was
one OF the intimate friends OF Sena-
tor Hoke Smith and one OF his chief
political lieutenants. G.. NJ.