The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-09-06

wv AOONAAASI Ndl h-udl GU Ildh
who played with your sis
ter Lottie in The Diamond from
the Sky" have written dozen
girls, and the answer is Irving Cum
mings, at present working in one
of the New York studios for World
Film productions.
The other afternoon a group of
US was seated in one of the little
Bohemian cafes where it is our wont
to have luncheon the days we are
not working on locations which car
ry us out of the city. Somehow or
other the conversation drifted to
the kindly hearts of the actors and
their generosity, which is often
their strongest trait of character.
"Humph" the Cynic remarked,
That's why they always die in the
poorhouse, the Old Actors Home,
or in deserted garnet. They give
away ninety per cent of what they
earn and always spend three times
as much as their salary"
But there is this" the Philoso-
pher ventured, as he leaned over
and helped himself to a large por-
ton of spaghetti, they LIVE their
years-they don't merely exist. And
what is there in life, anyway, that
is greater than the joy OF giving?"
Nothing" remarked the Cynic,
who did not even like the spaghetti,
except receiving"
Somehow or other the converse
ton swung its course to a little
story one of the actors had to tell
on Irving Cummings.
Il was over at the Peerless STU
do the other afternoon, during the
staging of one of the tremendous
scenes from a costume picture they
arc producing, starring Alice Brady,
with Irving Cummings as her lead
ing man.
at was one of those dizzying hot
days when the sun beat down upon
the glass root almost prostratirg the
people who were forced 20 work un-
der it. And on this day there were
three or four hundred men, women,
and children shaving there. Some
were pitifully old, with palsied
limbs and failing eyes-they were
the actors OF the old school who
had been engulfcd and relegated to
the background by the tidal wave
Of these todays artists There were
little crying, restless children cling
ing to their tired mothers skirts,
and boys and girls eagerly ambitious
to be swept into the great mael-
strom of moving pictures"
ITS probably darn sight easier
to work at a studio than in a fac
tory" the Cynic interrupted, as he
gulped down his strong black COT
"No, it isn't" the story teller dis
agreed, for they are sure of six
days labor out of seven, but some
times these poor mobs of people go
for almost weeks without a call to
arms. Then, you must remember.
It is not more than $3.50 to S. or
So day they make, from early
morning hours until late at night"
Oh, dear-what'S all this got to
do with Irving Cummings?' the In
genue asked, eager to get at the
heart of the story.
The story teller silenced her with
an eloquent gesture, and continued:
During the noon hour, when the
stars were told by the directors they
could saunter over to the lunch
room and enjoy an hours rest and
a hearty meal, Mr.. Cummings stood
watching the crowd of extra people
moving in a weary body from the
studio, seeking shelter under the
low-hanging branches of the trees.
Gawd, Pm hungry one of the
women remarked, but l don't dare
spend my wages for lunch money.
It's eight days since I worked the
last time
1t don't seem to me I'll be able
to keep up an old man lamented.
But if l had a cup of coffee. il
wouldn't be so hard to 90 on
That's ten cents, Frank said
another old man, his comrade. You
fare
Three or four husky Young men
who might have been earning COM
Portable salaries at physical labor.
strolled by smacking their lips over
two thick slices of bread with a
piece Of rare meat between them.
while the old man and the woman's
eyes followed them hungrily.
Irving Cummings stood il inst
as, long as he could, and then, oui-
etly. so that very fey.y - al. -: