Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-08-03
CHAPTER u.

love of their work: Mr.. Pope had I've
hatred for the drama and all things
dramatic. Nor was he any more enam-
ored Of journalism. being in truth by
nature bucolic. but after trying many
occupations and falling in all of them
he had returned To his desk after each
excursion into other fields. First night
audiences knew him now. and had
come to look for his thin. sharp fea-
lures. His shapeless. wrinkled suit
that resembled sleeping bag: his nan-
ell shirt, always tieless and frequently
collarless. were considered attributes
Of genius: and. finding New York to be
amazingly gulllble. he took certain
delight in accentuating his eccentrici-
ties. At especially prominent pre-
mieres he affected a sweater UNDER
meath his coat. but that was his nearest
approach to formal evening dress
Further concession to fashion he made
none.
Owing to the dearth OF new produc-
tions this summer. Pope had under
taken a series Of magazine articles de-
scriptive OF the reignng theatrical
beauties. and. while he detested woln-
Ell in general and the painted fav rites
Of Broadway in particular .ad
forced himself to write the common
Mandatory stuff which the public de-
lnanded. Only once had he given free
rein to his inclinations and written
with poisoned peu. Tonight. how
ever. as be entered tue stage door Of
Bergman's Circuit theater 1t was with
A different intent
Regan, the stage-door tender better
known since his vaudeville days as
The Judge" answered his greeting
with lugubrious shake Of Y bald h ad.
I'm sick man. Mr.. Pope. Same
old trouble"
"M-m-m. Kidneys, isn't IT."
NO. Rheumatism. I'm beehive
swarnlin' with pains" The Judge
leaned forward. and strong odor of
whisky enveloped the cellar. Gould
you slip me four bits for some lini-
lnent:"
The critic smiled. "There's a dollar.
Regain. Try Scotch for change. It's
better for you than these cheap blends.
And don't breathe toward lamp, or
you'll ignite"
The Judge laughed wheezingly. 81
DO take u drop now and then. See
here. you know all the managers MIR.
Pope. Can't you tnd job for Lottie
Devine!"
"Lottie Devine Why. she's your
wife. isn't she: She's tribe old. I'm
afraid"
Huh She wigs up lot better'n
some of the squads in this troupe. Be.
lieve me. she'd ut any chorus.
"Why don't you ask Bergman"
Mr. Regain shook his hairless head
Hes dippy on types This shows
full Of EN- real blondes. real brunettes.
bold and dashin' ones. tall and state
sadings. He won't stand for make-u up:
he wants EN- with the dew on. They've
| got to look natural for Bergman. That's
some Of en- now" He nodded toward
group OF young. fresh-cheeked girls
who had entered the stage door and
We're hurrying down the hall
| I've come to interview one Of Berg
mans types that new beauty, Miss
Knight. Is she here YETI
Sure: her aud the back-drop. too.
She carries the old woman for seen
cry Mr. Regain took the callers card
sh,,{ "A l..a., En-,
watch the stream Of performers as
they entered and made for their quar-
tiers There We're many women In the
numbei and all Of them were pretty.
Most of them were Overdressed in the
extremes Of fashion: few quietly
CARRIED ladies and gentlemen entered
| the lower dressing rooms reserved for
the principals.
Meanwhile he exchanged greetings
\ with the starr clear-eyed man with
| the face Of a scholar and the limbs Of
an athlete. The latter had studied for
the law he had the drollest legs In the
business. and his salary exceeded that
OF Supreme court justice. They were
talking when MIR. Kegan returned to
| tell the interviewer that he would be
| received.
Pope followed to the next aoOr and
entered a brightly lighted, oyerbeated
| dressing room where Lerelef and her
mother were waiting. 1t was y xlar-
ing. stuny cubbyhole ventilated by
means Of q hall door aud tiny win
\ dow opening from the lsyatory at the
rear. Along the sides ran mirrors. be
meath which WAS hxed y wide make w
shelf. One section Of the wall was DE-
voted to telegraph and cable rSrins
bearing messages VI fsAcitaai0a at the
:; opening OF "1'he Revue Of 1918" 4
Zoologist would have found the display
uninteresting: bat society reporter
would have reyeled in the M mes-and
especially IN The Northumberland
upon the yellow sheets. Some were ad
dressed to LOrelei kaixht. others t.
Lilas Lynn. her roommate.
Pope found Lorelel completely
dressed. in expectation Of his arrival
She wore the white aba silver Arst-ac
costume Of the Fairy Princess. Botl
she and her mother were plaiAAF aeu
Pulsed At the appearance Of theil
caller; but 1ss, Kna6hs sacosaref
-