Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-27
BY Claire Whitney,.

THE stage is supposed TO be n minja.
ture replica of the world. a tabloid
world as II were. Actors and &C.
tresses are presumed to know this world,
which. in its turn. would seem to mean
that they ought also to know the greater
world Of which II Is the mirror
They know the technique of acting In
manner of speaking. the technique of act
Ing is the technique OF lying. mean by
that 1t is make-beleve. How closely It
approaches the reality to the audience out
side is. OF course, the test OF greatness in
actor or actress But every woman OH
the stage knows that when an actor falls
upon MS knees and clasps his hands and
with languishing eyes. means. II am dying
for love OF you," they read their own re-.
spending line without Il thrill. However
fine the speech. however close to nature,
however impassionate its delivery or care.
fnl the posture, TREY know that it is
acting.
Certainly the actress, above all other
women. ought to be able off the stage to
know sincere love making from the insin-
cere kind. They ought to know when
man is Iying-but do they? They do not.
! didn't-scores Of other didn't. Why?
AS the latest example of the feminine
Thespian who has been bunked, let me for
a moment reveal the process where I was
concerned.
Recently Justice Finch. of the Supreme
Court OF New York City, listened to my
plea to be allowed TO drop the title of the
Marquise Van Hoegaerden. 1t was a
cloudy" title OF which was rejoiced
to be shorn. For the name bestowed upon
me after a brief but most impassioned
woong belonged to another woman
My romantic lord was a husband and
father. He had left wife and two chill
dren in Belgium! Last Summer he was
deported as an undesirable alien" His
deportation was the end of a brief. in
glorious career in this country. But he
took me In.
met him one day in studio 1 do not
recall who presented him. The presenta-
tons were general The tall, dark, good
looking foreigner was the Marquis Jean
Van Hocgaerden, Belgian diplomat. Why
did not know that was lie, since every
lie is little drama, and should know the
drama?
actresses judgment Besides, do not for
get, 1t was the Summer OF 1917 Many
Europeans were here on diplomatic er-
rands. We had just entered the war. 1t
was not the thing" TO ask questions of
Europeans here on diplomatic missions
7 believed him. Yes. swallowed the hook.
bait, line and sinker. So, may plead in
extenuation, did many, others. He had.
until unmasked, fascination that was all
conQuering.
The moment Of our meeting he burst
into the very flower Of chivalry He
boomed on and on until such sordid mat
tiers as not paying the rent brushed some
Of the bloom from the flower. And such
incidents as repeated phandering shriy-
elled its flamboyant petals.
Flo had, to one who knew him not, an
irresistible manner. He pursued me with
his eyes when 1t was unfeasible to follow
me with his feet. was flattered or
course was. Every one admired him. It
was pleasant to hear. "Wbo was that stun.
ming chap l saw you dining with?" or Who
was that kingly looking person who
Drought you to the theatrc?" or "Who was
that divine dancer who wouldn't let an.