New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
By ELENE FOSTER

-, o THE world in general the
j !: !. !. !. !: !: !"
IT actress is gay, temperamental
L creature who lives, so TO speak,
iI~r4-~ on pink cloud" passing her
DAYS in bed and her nights at
EAN the theatre and attending gay
Ez34A&JI supper parties. We have read
in the magazines devoted to
womens interests of individual actresses who
have become proficient in some other line Of
work; of May Irwin's ability as a cook; of
Jane Cowl as a writer; of Ethel Barrymore as
an ideal mother. But these women are looked
upon as exceptions. The old idea Of the actress
as a mysterious being who lives in sphere
quite apart from this prosaic world and is seen
only across the footights remains unchanged
It seems a pity TO destroy this ancient delu-
sion, but wish that | could take you all to
the big loft on Fifth Avenue which is the
meeting place and workroom of the Stage
Women's War Relief.
In the first place dear people Of the world
outside the theatre, you would never recog-
nize your favorite actress if you should see her
in long, shapeless white pinafore and with
square of white cloth drawn tight across her
forehead.
IDENTIFYING OLD FRIENDS
I'll wager a Liberty bond that there is only
one of these women who would look at all ia
mliar to YOU, and this one is Frances Starr.
whose costume as she rolls bandages on Fifth
Avenue is not so different from the one which
she wore at the Belasco Theatre as Marie
Odile. But Miss Starr is the exception; the
others are completely disguised.
OF course, if you study them carefully you
NAV eventually discover that the girl in the
far corner so carefully folding gauze is Mar
gerry Maude, and the one cutting unbleached
muslin with such precision is Louise Drew, and
the tall graceful figure who is assisting IN
slowing away the rolls of tightly wound ban
dages is Gladys Hanson.
And work! You who still cherish the old
idea that an actress is a helpless, clngng
creature should see how they fall to and labor
for the Stage Women's War Relief! That pink
cloud on which you imagined that they sat has
developed into black war cloud, and they
have cambered on to it. every last one of them
A UNIQUE UNDERTAKING
It is a remarkable organization, the Stage
Women's War Relief; we'll organized, orderly
and efficient.
If YOU could 90 with me some morning to
the big loft over Maillards, on Fifth Avenue, |
am sure YOU would be impressed with the bust
nesslike manner in which the work is done.
Each woman has her particular work, which
she has pledged herself to do on a particular
hour of a particular day of the week. She
comes in, hangs her hat and coat on the rack
nv the door, dons her white uniform and "goes
to it,"
II is amazing how conscientously each one Of
these supposedly care-free, erratic creatures
lives up to her bond. If it is absolutely impos
sible for her to work herself on any particular
day she sends substitute.
Ever since the big meeting in the Hudson
Theatre on April IS, which was the beginning
Of the Stage Women's War Relief, volunteers
have poured in until the big loft which Mr..
Walter Merrill so generously gave, rent free,
for the work is no longer large enough to ac-
commodate the workers. Miss Rachel Crothers,
the mother of the whole enterprise, has sent out
an appeal for vacant house to which she may
transport her rapidly growing offspring. So
walk right up, ladies and gentlemen who have
vacant houses which you know perfectly we'll
can't be rented at this time Of year. and help
these faithful souls to carry on their good
work.
wonder II your first impression ss you open