The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-11

sonality and perfecting her graces, why,
producers and stage directors have been
doing that sort of thing since Hector was
pup. That is part OF their job.
But all of them will admit that the &C
tress must have great deal of personality
that she has developed by herself, other.
wise she would not be worth their palms.
The training they give her simply means
more hard cash in their pockets. as her
added popularity draws more and more
people to the box office.
Nor can they see why Mr.. Carlton should
be entitled to very much sympathy because
OF what happened that June evening at the
dukes garden party Mr.. Carlton had been
there before. playing "Beaux and Bottles"
with the rest of them. He was a man Of
the world He knew what to expect IL he
brought his pretty and high-spirited wife
into the free-and-easy atmosphere and en-
vironment of the dukes palace a second
time.
Why on earth should he precipitate a
situation by charging into the naive tete-
a-tetes Of ell the other guests, demanding
to know II they had seen his wife and Pat
Somerset! 1t was preposterous, and no
doubt caused the duke to think that all
Americans were boisterous and ill-man-
nered fellows who would talk out loud in
church.
And think Of the embarrassment It must
Lave caused the duchess, whose renown as
hostess is established among the worlds
social elect. What apology could she make
TO her distinguished guests whose privacy
had been so rudely interrupted? Mr.. Carl.
toms tactless insistence on the obsolete
rights of husband had caused a social
catastrophe.
As for Edith's friendship for Pat Somer-
set, her friends consider that Mr. Carlton
also brought that on himself Who had
hired him for the part he played in 'Trene"
Was 1t Edith? No; it was Mr. Carlton
himself And everybody knew with what
enthusiasm Mr.. Somerset played the role
Of lover to young and pretty women. on
or of the stage.
Even Somerset's wife knew It and had
elready separated from him as a prelim-
mary to divorce. Wasn't Mr. Carlton
tempting Fate with his selection of a lead.
i2E man! There were plenty Of other win.
Ing actors around London who had far less
physical charm than Mr. Somerset, and
stme Of them had cork legs and wore q
Wig. Why did he hire him?
And thnn, after Ediths friendship for
Pat became apparent, her friends are in
clined to think It was helped to a danger.
ous point by the producers conduct In,
CT o. nf nnn oil f,cy hnr soxfx ~
he did. they think that his behavior was
such that Mr.. Somerset was the only per-
son from whom she could get sympathy.
Mr.. Carlton, they say, threatened the girl
until her nerves were unstrung and she
was morally irresponsible.
Did her husbands inconsiderate conduct
drive her into the arms Of man who gave
FER the comfort and confidence she craved?
Her health became impaired Her good
looks began to vanish. She lost much OF
her charm. She could not dance with the
careless animatio that had distinguished
her New York success. Her figure lost its
girlish contours, and, harried by worry and
imagined persecution, followed everywhere,
She says, by Scotland Yard detectives en-
rloyed by her husband, gossiped about in
every London club and cafe her mid was
en- the verge OF collapse a. she denced over
t" the stage box that night Carlton at
lenueu tUe SHOW ana saw NeT husband rise
from his seat and regard her with that
dirconcerting stare
Early in her London success an anono-
nous donor had sent her a box Of poisoned
candy. This latter circumstance was at
tributed to the jealousy of English actresses
at the time, but It added to her nervous
condition. OF course, she didn't believe
her husband had anything to do with It.
So, everything put together, Edith has
had wretched time Of 1t since she went
to London, and her friends think she has
been punished enough.
She has been driven into second rate vaude-
vile with her husbands rival. And rumors
attribute to Somerset all the cruelties with
which Mr.. Carlton has charged him. For
the first time in her career. dramatic critics
are saying unkind things about her per
formances Because Of what has happened
II Is hard for her to get engagements. for
the public has no federation for those If
its favorites who become involved in messy
scandals.
earle Carlton may think It was that
piercing look from the stage box that
caused her 10 topple from her Celestial,
but Edith who know that in theatrical
circles ths wages OF publicly recognized
sin is Oblivion, probably attributes her
troubles to her own conduct. For by re-
Gently sending for her parents she has sig
nffied that she will remain abroad and face