The Washington herald., 1918-08-29
By DMc

New York, Aug. S.-The passing OF
Anna Held. who rose from . feather
curler in a Parisian hat shop 10
musical comedy stardom. set Broad
way to recalling the milk bath"
that made her famous The idea for
the milk bath came from a newspaper
man and not press agent Miss
Held was appearing in her first play
as star on Fourteenth street.
A newspaper man dropped around
to the theater to chat with the man.
ager. Il want to make Miss Held
talked about all over the country.
What would you suggest?" said the
manager. Shortly before this a side
street in Gotham had been carpeted
with tan bark 80 that street noises
would not annoy an English actress
Mrs. Pat Campbell.
The newspaper man said Miss
Held's manager ought to 60 her one
better. Just at that instant a prop
erty man came into the managers
Office with a bottle Of milk that was
used in the play. He dropped It and
II split over the floor. Right there
the idea was born. Let Miss Held
take a milk bath" said the reporter.
And the next day gallons of milk
were sent to her hotel and the tub
was filled so the reporters who came
to investigate the story could see
for themselves. As a matter OF fact,
of course. Miss Held never took
milk bath. But II was a good Josh
story and it went all over the world.
Anna Held died as she had lived-a
0NN Ill
had no fear Of the King of Ter
rors. visited her during her last
illness. The imminency OF death she
regarded with sort Of gay toler-
ance.
VOLTA, What would you.- sh.
said. IF I must 60, must go.
C'est toutm That was the spirit Of
Anna Held in life and in what we
call death. Anna Held was a Polish
JeWess. born IS years ago in War
saw Her father was a poor glove
stltcher and hat maker. To help the
family the small mademoiselIe went
among the cafes of the Quarter
Laun to dance and sing among the
students.
Even then. when a mere slip OF a
girl with only the lightest of trills.
her wholly original mannerisms-a
little trick Of using her big dark eyes,
a suggestion in gesture and pose Of
the improprieties to which the audi
ences were not hostile. provided the
touch was dainty-made her extremely
popular.
In after years II was her naughty
twinkle and flickering OF eye lashes
and the graceful undulations that al.
ways reused storms OF applause. Miss
Held's marriage TO Florence ZiegfeId
now the husband Of Billie Burke, did
not conform to custom. The ceremony
| consisted In mutual declarations be-
fore witnesses to accept each other
| as husband and wife. They separated
as friends and she continued under
his management. Anna Held left an
estate Of $500. .oOo-much OF her wealth
went to aid others. She never forgot
friend. She loved life and excite
| ment,
Automobile Row-which lines Broad
way from Fifteenth to Fifty-ninth
streets-has been in a blue funk over
the governmental order requiring
pleasure-car manufacturers to re-
strict their output to war material.
The order has worked a hardship on
many statesmen, but there Is q silver
lining in the cloud. Secondhand cars
are in demand. Many big dealers are
going into the used-car business and
many others are arranging to enter
this field.
It was on an elevated train. An
old lady entered with q little boy In
Scout suit. An old colored gentle
man arose and offered his seat, salut-
ing the little boy. who returned the
| salute. Three younger men remained
seated. At the new station a stylish
young girl entered. Three younger
| men arose at the same time-and
there you are. A little later, how
ever, the three young men were sub
tected to giggles when the stylish
young girl arose and gave her seat
to the old colored gentleman. There
10 no place in New York, where one
may get so many slants on human
| nature as on an elevated train.