Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-10
Stotesbury Highest Bidder,
Lady Duff. Gordon Pays
$500 for Another
AUCTION IS SUCCESS
Society CIamors to Pay High
Premiums After De Wolf
Hopper Appeals


afternoon and then auctioned or seats
for the show.
out There is to be given n. the
Metropolitan opera House May 10, for
the benefit of the Red Cross. The sale
this afternoon was at the Forrest The
atre.
The reason Colonel" Hopper tan
auctioneers are colonels) had to spray
his throat was that even a 42-cent'ineter
throat isn't able 10 work day and night
although inspired BY 2t-karst patriotism
without getting bit raw.
We'll. Colonel" Hopper suctioned on
the seats for "Out There" and demon
strated that he was something more than
the professional buffoon" he said he
was.
Before the actual sale he made a
speech which thrilled the patriotic ana
democratic throng present.
II was n revelation to persons who
Heretofore had seen Hopper only as
an expert in nonsense. He was serious
enough AT the beginning. and he re-
manned serious enough. but i" Just
couldn't help putting little mirth into
H.. thing when he saw proper places for
mirth
Edward r. Stotesbury bought the first
box with bid OF S2250, after Lady
Duff -Gordon had said few words
James Elverson got the second at $1,000,
and Lady Duff Gordon the third at $500.
Eager to Fay Highest Prices
Fashionable folks arrived early and
assembled down toward the stage. Then
the band played outside, and the most
liberal crowd that ever patronlzed an
auction sale here swarmed in.
Ordinarily. the people at an auction
are trying TO get things as cheap as
they can. but this crowd seemed anxious
to pay all It could afford. and maybe
a little bit more.
While the people were pouring into the
theatre. Colonel" Hopper and Mr..
Stotesbury in the wings Of the stage
were getting ready for the sale. Intro
ductions We're crisp ana snappN'
Colonel" Hopper and Mr.. Stotesbury.
both being rather important men in their
particular lines OF business. were both
late in getting to the scene or action and
there WIS little time TO spare.
The throng in the theatre was in
hurry to spend its money. So Mr..
Stotesbury looked after final arrange
ments such as stationlng the clerks in
their proper places. while Hopper went
downstss's to look after his throat
When Hopper returned Lady Duff-ior-
aor Win her beautiful dog. was there
ana Mr. sto;esbury and Colonel Homer
hod ,he onnortunit, oS meeting her
Mr.. Stotesbury called upon the throng
which was already liberal and patriotic,
for that matter. to be more liberal and
patriotic. which IT consented TO do.
He introduced Lady Duff-Gordon, who
s.id she knew It was unnecessary for
her "a ask any one present to be gem
erous on such an occasion. America
Iva. done much for the sake Of democ-
racy she said. and will do more.
Colonel Hopper needed no introduc-
ton. as Mr.. Stotesbury said in introduce
ing him.
hopper :" '.''"' "o''
The 'Colohel admittsd somewhat
proudly that he was professional buf-
foon," but then he grew serious long
enough to say he was here for some
thing very different from buffoonery.'
He then described the show. "Out
There" written by j. Hartley Manners
H. nsoroa ArIiss Iulia Ar,hur Jar,ss
r. Powers, George MacFarlane, George
NJ. Cohan, James X. Hackett, Beryl
Mercer. Nine. Eleanor Cisnero. II. B.
Warner Mrs. Fiske, Helen Ware, o. p.
Hegsie Chauncey Olcott and others
Burr Mcintosh will sell the programs
which will bear signatures of all the
stars engaged.
Colonel Homer said he didn't know
much about the Metropolitan Opera
House. mot having been a tenor for
several wears" but that there we're seat
diagrams around, so everybody would
Lrow how 10 hid He asked the aud
ionce 70 do as well as BaIt,more did
witch nm 10 the time he lef, had maid
,on an tor ssa,x n, auct;op and was
still buying.
How they are going to get the
people in I don't know" he said. The
theatre must be elastic
Lady Dun.Gordon started the bidding
for choice OF the boxes at $500. From
the balcony came a voice, Five hun
dred"
"All right, Jimmy" Hopper called
back TO the man. II can't see you very
enough TO call you jimmy. III was