The Washington herald., 1917-09-07

There is one of the dearest old Ia
dies whom you have seen often on tine
screen. She is with one of the COM
panies here at Hollywood. and l love
to talk with her about the old-tiIne
days when she was a young actress.
She still possesses the gentlest
charm, and her eyes are as bright and
expressive as If she were twenty in
stead OF seventy-four. She has one
of tho prettiest bungalows out here
and 1t is a rare treat TO be invited
there for afternoon tea. Her garden
is fairly overrun with roses, and she
has a few beds of old-fashioned flow
ers that she raised herself from slips
sent on from the east. 1t seems so
queer to see verbena and mignonette,
alyssum and sweet peas mixed in a
California garden with gorgeous mag
nolias and orange blossoms.
She was telling me one day last
week about how she dreaded the time
when the war should end. l thought
this was so strange, because We all
want it to end. but she explained.
You see, child. I was a girl at the
time of the Civil War. in my twenties.
The man I was engaged to fell at
Gettysburg. l lost an eight-year-old
brother, too, and l still have the let
ters of both of them written during
the war. When We go indoors l will
show you a few of them. While the
war is still raging, and so many are
losing their dear ones, you feel a sort
OF communion OF sorrow, but after
wards when the fortunate ones come
marching home, and there are the re-
unions. then the loss is keenest. and
an
was anxious to read over the
letters, so we went into her little
sitting room. 1t was in a four
room bungalow. but she had man
aged to make that sitting room
look like one back in New England.
There was even a little hassock in
one corner and a marble-topped
black walnut table.
IT wanted to feel at home even
IL did have to live way out here
in California" she explained. Her
treasure box was of inlaid wood.
with brass hinges, hand wrought
She put back the cover tenderly
and there on top was an ola fash
ioned blue soldiers cap.
That belonged to Bennie, my
brother" she said, lifting it out.
And here was his testament from
our mother. 1t went through many
battles. This is a little silver and
leather canteen that belonged to
Ashton" She handled 1t lingeringly.
He was a very noble. admiral BILE
man. A few of the old time actors
would still remember him. He play
ed with Forrest and Edmund Kean.
And these are the letters"
1 suppose many of you have seen
letters from those old wartime days.
The ink was faded and the paper
was thin and old. The handwriting
was in the old fashioned Spencerian
style. with many a flourish and
curlycue.
Dear Sister Anne" It read. I'VE
have been in camp here four days. It
has rained all that time, but we are
enjoying good health. and trust this
finds you the same. They brought in
some rebel prisoners this morning.
Pretty starved looking they were. too.
Mighty glad to get some of the Yam
kee bacon. I don't think they can
hold out much longer. Maybe 1 won't
be glad to get home again"
He was killed in the next battle"
she said softly. This Is from Ashley:
Dearest Anne, have missed all of
your letters while on march. There is
some chance that may be given spe-
cial duty near Washington. and If so.
I shall make an effort to get word
to you through the lines there" She
stopped long enough to add, He was
on the other side.
Nobody who has not visited these
southern homes can realize the horror
of invasion. 1 have been sheltered at
several while carrying dispatches, and
have found such splendid endurance
and courage among the women that
my spirit salutes them. Time alone
will tell which cause was just, but
nothing can tarnish the honor of the
South. You are all that the North
holds for me. / count the days until
this conflict Is over and we may be
married. The little sprig of lemon
verbena still keeps its fragrance. !
carry it in my pocket in little leath-
er folder with your portrait and a curl
from your dear head"
Her voice trembled and stopped She
laid in my hand little old leather
folder and In it was the picture of
girl with curls over one shoulder and
rose in her hair. One brown curl
besides, and a little, brown, dried
sprig Of lemon verbena. She nut the
I'D deWp N3 girsd her eyes, ~