The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-24


which II war Mattresses
who no, take the place Of
walters in New York hotels-have
been recruited. the stage is well repre-
scented. Among the long list Of apph-
cations at the hotel restaurants no less
than fifty young women have signed
actress" after former occupation"
and 1t has since been discovered that
at least sixteen OF them are already
giving satisfaction in their new work.
An amusing situation among the
actress mattresses was disclosed the
other day when Violet Heming, wish
ing to show her admiration for the
spirit of these former stage women,
invited the sixteen to attend her per-
Torrance of Three Faces East" and
afterward to have tea in her dressing
room. ..
While the tables were thus turned
and the girl walters found themselves
waited upon instead Of waiting, at a
party, several stage secrets were d.
vulged. First. as TO how these sixteen
lucky ones were engaged when several
hundred other applicants were denied
"But that was simple" laughed a lit
tie stock actress. I'VE were all classi-
fed as experienced you see. We
stated in all truth where il asked what
former experience We had had that
we'd carried trays for Corse Payton,
or Princess Pat or Chauncey Olcott,
as the case might be. II We had ever
served a stage supper or breakfast so
much the betteri"
Still more strategy confronted Miss
Heming when she attempted to con-
graduate her guests upon their wis
dom in giving up the stage for more
steady employment. sss.-.
"Mercy. We don't intend to abandon
our art" spoke up a dark eyed m
genue. Cant you see the advantage
OF being war waitress from an
actresses point of view? Not only Is
she able. with a living wage and her
food provided. to stay close to Broad
way, but consider this: Nearly every
theatrical manager takes his luncheon,
dinner or supper in one of the hotels
where we are now employed. Don't
YOU think we will be brought to his
attention in a much nicer way serving
him his Hooverized collation. with a
IL
him in his Officer"
Before Christmas each of the six
teen war mattresses expects an offer
to return TO the footlights. And most
of them are hopeful of header roles
than carrying on a tray.
Joseph Lertora, the young Lieuten-
ant OF "Glorianna," who nightly woos
and wins Eleanor Painter at the Lib
erty Theatre. in Mr.. John Cort's new
est musical comedy. was born in that
abode of art, Greenwich Village, where
no reigned as the heir presumptive
to the marshmallow king, for Lertora
pere is known many miles beyond the
precincts OF the village as the manu.
facturer Of creamy marshmallows.
Until a few years ago Mr.. Lertora
led the normal-so to speak-life of
the village folk. He was student at
the Art Students League: he took
part in amateur theatricals, and be-
tween times he was an ardent partici-
pant In the intellectual "gabfests"
which have made the village famous.
But one day Mr.. Lertora made bet,
n gambling proposition. which changed
the course of his life. He bet with
Florence Nash that he could get a Job
on the stage. and keep It. So he put
aside the night life of the village and
went out to seek his fortune.
His first big opportunity after he
was heard in Miss Daisy" came with
the chance to play with Eleanor
Painter in Mr.. Cort's Princess Pat"
During the successful run of that