The Washington herald., 1920-04-29
New York City
By o. o. Mcintyre


tense moment at a play in Broad
way Theater the other night when a
vast audience went through the emo
tions. that rarely come to even the
most calious seeker of thrills. The
play had logged through two acts
with faultless precision. The leading
lady Is famous ailuring beauty---a
creature out OF some Kingdom Of the
fairy.
She has a way of essaylng melo-
dramatic roles with swimming eyes
and trembling lips and a voice that
rings in the ears after the play. 1t
was the beginning of the third act
that she made a rather awkward en-
trance She recovered herself. but
there was a peculiar flush to her
cheeks.
After a few lines she left the stage
and was to return some ten minutes
later for the big scene. The lead
! ing man, finished actor, awaited
her. He Is a man with a face of
firm cast, a hard jaw and eyes Of
steel. 1 know of no other who could
have SO gracefully carried away
such a situation
y The leading lady came on. She
fumbled her lines. suddenly realised
that she had lost grip on her cues,
and then. as little shivers ran up and
down the audience. she looked
around wildly and gave tipsy gig
gle. The leading man had been
plunged into an amazing situation.
He knew the actress was in danger.
the direst danger that could menace
a woman of the stage-the sudden
sacrifice of a great career.
You are excited" he said, calling
her by the name she used in the
play. His voice was calm. I'VE
have had" he continued, referring to
the unfolding of the drama, "our big
moments tonight. It is your right
to be hysterical. But there is some
thing ahead of US. We must go on"
His voice was hard, but the woman
seemed to awaken under this simple
stimuli.
She shook herself as though shak-
ing OF a horrible nightmare. He
gave her another cue. and the act
was continued before the excited
stage manager had put his hand on
the bell ordering the curtain rung
down. The woman was under the
influence of liquor. She admitted 1t
afterward.
But the audience left wondering
just what had happened. They
sensed what IL was at first but so
smoothly had the leading man car
ried on the performance that the
majority left believing II was mere
tly a bit OF business" in the play.
Down In one of the Bohemian art
honky-tonks a group of short haired
soul sufferers who admit they
haven't any future, but goshi what
pasts-were discussing a young
woman who renounced their circle.
let her hair grow. moved up in the
perfumed atmosphere of the West
Side and finally married such a COM
monplace plodder as an automobile
manufacturer.
1T must be a terrible life for
her." said one -fiicking the ashes
from her cigarette. How can ones
soul expand in one of those cold
marble hotels?'
why" said another, II hear she
has to get up and sit with her hus-
band while he eats his breakfast.
The next thing she'll be darning his
socks. II there is anything worse
than sock darning for soul culture,
can't imagine It."
This sign is dipIgyed in a Fifth
| avenue window: Especial ale
Powder puffs, washable, eugenic.
In queer little book store on
Eighth avenue there Is a clerk who
does not get a salary. He is the son
of very rich and progressive man.
But he has never cared for toll. He
is a book worm. His father recent
ly told him he would have to work
or he would not support him. 'T
don't care whether you make a cent.
I'll support you, but you must
work" So the young man took the
bookstore clerkship, and trade Is
so dull that he spends nearly all Of
his spare time reading.