Evening star., 1919-03-23
BY EDNA FERBER

housed the archives of the American
stage, If Hahn g. Lohman prided
themselves on one thing more than on
another. it was the lavish generosity
costumes to carpets. period play
was a period play when they present
ed 1t. You never saw Fr0nch clock
on Dutch mantel In u Hahn u Lob
man production. No hybrid hangings
marred their back drop. No matter
what the play. the Arm provided its
furnishings from the stars slippers
to the chandeliers. Did play last a
year OR n week. at the end of its run
furniture. hangings. scenery, rugs,
gowns, everything, went off in wagon
loads to East AID street.
No gently sentimental reason caused
Hahn & Lohman to house these hun
dreds of costumes, those tons of seem
cry, these forests of furniture. Neither
h:.d josie Fifer been hired to walk
wistfully among them like spinster
wandering in dead rose garden.
No. they were stored for much
thriftier reason. They were stored,
If you must know. for possible future
use. II. Il l.. were too clever not to
use last years costume for a this
years road show. They knew what
a coat of enamel would do for n bed
room set. 1t was Josie Fifer's duty
not only to tabulate, and care for
these relics, but to refurbish them
when necessary. The sewing was
done by little corps of assistants
under Josie's direction.
But all this came with the years.
When Josie Fifer, white and weak.
first took charge of the II. & l.. lares
ct penates, she told herself 1t was
only for n few months-a year or
two at most. The ~end of sixteen
years found her still there.
When she came to New York
"s"'endour"" wos Just beginning its
phenomenal three-year run. The
vas mad ABOUT the play. People
came to see 1t again and again--a
sure sign of a long run. The Sarah
Haddon second-act costume was pho
talked about, until it became as
familiar as uniform. That costume
had much to do with the plays sue
cess. though Sarah Haddon would
never admit 1t. "Splendour" was
famous dress was Of black velvet.
made with quaint. full-gathered
skirt that made Haddon's slim waist
seem fairylike and exquisitely supple
The black velvet bodice outlined the
delicate swell of the bust. A rope
Of pearls enhanced the whiteness OF
her throat. Her hair. done in old
time scallops about her forehead, was
a cleaning marvel of simplicity, and
the despair OF every woman who tried
to copy It, The part was that of an
Italian opera singer. Sarah Haddon.
her pearls and her pallor. was an
exotic, throbbing, exquisite realiza-
tion Of what every woman in the
audience dreamed Of being and every
man dreamed of loving.
Josie Filter saw the play for the
her by Sid Hahn. 1t left her trem-
bling. red-eyed, shaken. After that
she used to see 1t, by hook or crook,
whenever possible. She used to come
in at the stage door and lurk back
Of the scenes and in the wings whom
she had no business there. Then. one
night: she indiscreetly. was led. by
her absorbed interest, to venture too
far into the wings. 1t was during
the scene where Haddon, hearing q
broken down street singer cracking
the golden notes of Aida" into a
thousand mutilated fragments. throws
open her window and, leaning Tar
out. pours a shower OF Italian and
broken English and laughter and sill
yer coin upon her amazed compatriot
below.
When the curtain went down she
came off raging.
standing in the wings7 How dare
any one stand there! Staring! It
ruined my scene tonight. Where's
McCabe? Tell Mr.. Hahn I want to
see him. Who was it? Staring at me
like a ghost!'
Josie had crept away. terrified. con-
trite, and yet resentful. But the next
week saw her back at the theater,
though she took care to stay In the
shadows.
She was waiting for the black velvet
dress. 1t was more than dress to
her. 1t was infinitely more than q
stage costume. 1t was the habit or
glory. 1t epitomized all that Josie
Fifer had missed of beauty and hom-
age and success.
The play ran on. and on. and on.
Sarah Haddon was superstitious
about the black gown. She refused
to give 1t up for O new one. She IN
sisted that If ever she discarded the
old black velvet for new the run OF
the play would stop.
But Josie waited patiently. Dozens
Of costumes passed through her hand.
She saw plays come and 60. She
sewed on satin. She mended hne lace.
She polished stage Jewels. And walt
ed. She knew that one day her pa
tience would be rewarded. And then,
at last came the familiar voice over
the phone: Hello, Fifer! McCabe
talking"
"Well?"
"'Splendour' closes Saturday. Had
don says she won't play In this heat.
They're taking 1t to London In the
autumn. The stuf'll be up Monday,
early"
Josie Fifer turned away from the
telephone with radiant face.