The Washington herald., 1918-11-12

SPECIAL Correspondent Of The Washington Herald
New York, Nov. ia silly, frivolous
paragraph written in an overseas
pubncation for soldiers has stirred
the hiaito and brought forth a de-
Inahd Tor an apology from the Actors
Equity Association. The paragraph
was nippant bit OF journalistic bad
taste.
NO profession has given more freely
OF It's time, services and money than
the people Of the stage. A year ago
the stage Woman's War Relief was
organized with six members asd now
II has 1900 active workers.
Actresses drawing fabulous sums
Elsie Janis is an example-have glad
ly given up their work to face the
hardships OF the battle fronts to cheer
soldiers.
The Stage women's War Relief
have offices and workrooms at 366
Fifth avenue with branches all over
the city. including a large service
house. a factory for windproof vests
and a tumble Inn shop.
Just now the organization is doing
something hitherto considered impos-
sible-it is going to get David Belasco
into the films as an actor. II will be
a two-reel picture and the proceeds
OF its sale will go to war relief.
Belasco was one Of the original Illm
scofrers and still is.
The stage women have such starr
as these for officers: Rachel Crothers.
Margaret Anglin, Geraldine Farrsr.
Minnie Madden Fiske, Elsie Fergu-
son. Blanche Bates. Jessie Bonstelle
and Louise Closer Hale.
I dropped into their headquarters
the other day. There was not a loafer
in the place. Everybody was work
ing. Henry Miller dropped in while 1
was there. He was doing messenger
boy work, but glad to do IL. No job
is too small and Undignified.
Al Jolson came trooping by TO see
il he could run an errand or sweep
up or anything. / cornered him long
enough TO get this story. When Otis
Skinner was trouping with companies
in smaller towns he hit small village
in the West. One OF the old inhabi-
tants met him in front Of the post
office" and asked him IL il was a sad
or comic play. Skinner advised him
to go that night and see.
Afterward he found the old resident
er outside the stage door. We'll
what did you think Of the play? h.
asked.
1t was purity good. You was good.
The fend was good, too. But you've
got the darndest finest grief woman
in that show l ever seen"
Lawrence D'Orsay was telling the
other evening of two Englishmen IN
a London club shortly after the war
started discussing the big event
Percy and Algy after a couple OF
Scotches declared they were going 10
enlist right away. They grew more
patriotic as the evening wore on. III
nally they turned 10 Ferdie.
"Ferdie. old thing, are you with u.s.
will you go?"
Ferdie was noncommittal. Finally
Percy said: You must go Ferdie-
You simply must. You will 80 as our
guest"
At a frst night Performance on
Broadway the other evening there
came down the aisle a woman whose
erect carriage instantly drew all eyes
She sat in a box between William
Fave-shan and Julie OPP. II was a
natriotic play and at the climax the
audience turned 10 the woman IN the
hox.- She stood and saluted the Amer
ican flag Nothing in the play was
as dramatic. The woman was the
great Bernhardt. younger than ever.
Then the orchestra played. Il Calle0
You Nv Sweetheart" whose words
might have been written for the Ll-
vine Sarah. They are: They TOOK
tho stars out Of the blue dear. gave
them 10 YOU, dear. for eyes They
nicked a rose. covered with dew, dear
then made those cheeks. l prize They
made your hair fro mthe bright golden
rod, gave you your soul as present
from God. They said TO me what
shall we call her So l called you
my sweetheart"