The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-09
Frederick Haskin's Letter
The Stage Door Inn.

resses, according to Miss Hns.
Spong, president of the Nationsi
Stage Woman's exchange. They can
wait better than Mattresses sSa
says, because, in the first Mac
they have the artistic instinct IN d.
everything beautifully and, in tbo
second place. they have been train.
ed professionally to handle thajr
own personalities harmoniousl,
and efficiently"
With the exception of the cookiD,
and the laundering of the table In
en-, all of the work in conneetion
with the Inn is done by actresses
Upstairs, in the room above fba 10,
room, a character woman, who has
just returned from a long eng,so
ment in London, may be found hem
ming napkins and tablecloths AZ =.
sewing machine, while in apothar
corner is Miss Madge Corcoran
once popular in the companies NJ
E. H. Sothern and John Drew
working on the Brady decoration
contract. The room in the rear NJ
the second floor, which at present
contains nothing but a cIothes-ljne
usually strung with napkins, and
ironing apparatus, is presided over
by another actress, Elsie Coin who
was recently located by the EN-
change when she was i'll and out of
work.
Another pathetic case narrated
by Mrs. Hesse was that of a young
actor who came to the Inn the 9th
er night and asked for work. He WAS
war veteran who had been in
hospital for several months. Since
then, he had not been able to Sc
cure work of any sort, although he
was willing to perform any task
that woud pay the price of room
and board.
las he stood in the hall telling
me his story, the smell of fried
chicken was waited through the
door, and / saw him turn pale and
grip the arm Of the divan. The
man had probably not had food for
days. So l invited him in to din
ner, and later sent him to see an
eX-army officers who might help
him"
What the Exchange Handles.
In the Exchange itself, which Is
in the basement, various products
are on sale. There are chic little
hats, some of which are made by
very clever milliner who is also
member of the Sally" company
here in New York; handmade baby
clothes, jelly. jam, candy, lingerie,
dolls, slippers, hand made hand
kerchiefs, mems neckties and party
favors. Already the Exchange has
been slightly embarrassed by a
hurry order from one Of the so
ciety matrons for 81 different va
rieties of flower favors max
ing of which," said the Titan-haired
actress in charge OF the Exchange
will certainly tax my knowledge
of botany.
The exchange" she explained.
will act as a clearing house for all
those in the profession. Those who
sew, mend or darn, will find an out
let for their labor through our bu-
reau. Members of the profession
who do fancy work, beading, GRO
cheting, knitting. interior decorat-
ing, painting, lamp-shade making,
fancy dress costumes, children's
dresses, underwear and art novel
ties will find our services valuable
in creating demand for their
work.
There is also a big demand for
kitchenette specialties, such as
meat pies, plain and fancy baking,
bread, mullins, pies, pastry, can
dies. preserves, pickles and jams,
and sailed nuts. These little jars
of jam at 45 cents jar are going
faster than anything else we have
on hand.
Arrangements can also be made
through our bureau for work out
side the profession, such as dT2c-
ing, reading. professional shopping
for elocutf0nists, pageant and the
atrical coaching. Margaret Allen
treasurer of the organization. hires
herself out as a social guide Tor
shopping and sightseeing, and as
companion for theatres and din
ners."
The Stage Door Inn is already
turning guests away by the hun
dreds; the basement headquarters
of the Exchange is always crowded,
and it will doubtless not be long be-
fore the manicuring parlor is doing
a large business. If it keeps up
this phenomenal growth, the enter
prise should eventually prove
great aid to the profession.