Evening star., 1927-11-20

,Ss's s,sps . 2" y the tss,s as, ) ~Y u
leap for the step ~ /A.sssS.
1t was leap that ~ -s& :
failed, so he took y @S#&
to running after ,,-
line. :, =,
Two young men and girl IN a
snort suit. who were on the side seat
next to the door. welcomed the mis-
han with hilarious gracelessness, each
poking a head out of the open VIII
dow back of them to call out to the
iucklesS runner:
'Step lively"
Get aboard, please"
"Move up front. please.
The conductor grinned at his own
luck,essness, but was about to lose
his marathon, when the girl pressed
a button before bawling back to hlm:
"Wait till the car stops. lady.
And. of course, the car stopped at
the corner and the breathless one
hopped aboard. And that would have
been all there was to it, except that:
An austerely superior passenger
said to husband who had worry
lines between his eyes:
THAT girl ought to be ashamed OF
herself, acting like that in public.
"She doesn't mean any harm-Just
q little fun
''Of course, you take up for her
but if had done it."
The man might have mentioned that
there is q bit Of difference between
mid.age-on the shady side Of 40, say
and joyous, untrammeled youth, but
he was wise enough to keep quiet,
which ended that little talk.
Highly superior people are gift to
humanity, of course-provided they
keep to their pedestaIs, but 1t is the
everyday. rollicking sort that one
likes to have around-exeept-
Sometimes.
ITO be dignified citizen of today
i and beloved memory of the past
is the double distinction of Miss
Jeanie Winston, who was recently
forced back into Washington's spot
light by admirers of the dashing opera
singer, who was once the supreme at
traction of the town.
Miss Winston responded recently to
the pleadings of the drama section of
the Womens City Club to be its hon.
or guest at a tea. 1t was lovely
bringing together Of old fans and their
idol, but the public, in a larger num-
ber, was accorded the pleasure Of see-
ing her as honor guest Of the opera,
'.The Black Hussar." at its opening
here a little while ago.
In these days. when most of us ac-
cept genius and eminence with non.
chalant What of it?" the younger
generation may have wondered at the
near-adoration of Jeanie by the boys
and girls of her day. They rallied
around her between acts. and she was
continuously receiving callers in her
box or leaning over to greet those
lined outside in the orchestra. Today
was forgotten. Every man and woman
in that theater old enough to remem-
ber back a couple of decades was on
hand to pay loyalty to the once be-
loved prima domaine longer the ras'
cally gallant Fra Diavolo or pictur'
esque Boccaccio, but stately, melody
voiced woman, who was a dream to
look at, in soft white silk and lace:
a chiffony scarf that deepened from
pink to crimson, and diamonds--and
diamonds!
Today. when business hours are
over, many of the let-out clerks look
like high school girls. but back when
Jeanie was the toast Of the town,
such youngsters stayed at home with
mamma. Instead of being young busi-
ness women with bank accounts or
their own, they were dependent on
parents for pocket money and were
doubtless just as happy-though their
efforts to buy tickets for the success.
sion Of operas made some funny little
confessions to tell to Miss Winston on
that wonder night. IL one had space,
it would make a real funny little stock
Of Notwithstanding in other confes-
sions told her at other times, but: here
are two, anyway:
One is a physician, who, by right
Of family prominence and success
full profession, occupies place OF
high social distinction. He was a col
lege boy when Jeanie's star was at
It's zenith, and perfectly sure that ne
had to go to the opera every week.
He spent all his pocket allowance on
tickets, and when the money gave
out he would root around the house
for old bottles, rags and papers, to
raise a quarter for the show.
And q woman who introduced her
self to Miss Winston on the street
excused herself in a fashion some
thing like this:
II just had to speak to you, be.
cause we were such devoted fans of
yours, especially my sister. We were
not so well off at that time. and when
tickets she would hunt around the
home for something she could steal
away and sell. One time she found
gold set" that had belonged to a
deceased grandmother and which we
were keeping in retired tribute-sort
OF hand. down memento, you know.
And. as gold always has its value. she
sold it for enough to get up an opera
party and take us all along"
Some dramatic critics Of that day
estimated that Miss Winston's attrac-
tion for young girls had never been
eaualed in this city. Instead Of TAX
ing that romantic valuation to her
personal self, she explained that
feminine alteration must be credited
70 her hero roles in operas, with a
heavy vote in favor of Fra Diavolo,
that gay young bandit of song.
Miss Winston can look back without
regret to those glamorouS days OF
youth and song. for the reason that
the undercurrent of her life was one
Of helpfulness and self-sacrifice. Some
Of these same beloved old fans may
rot know it, but in her deep and
honest love for music she pioneered
her way to the far West to carry
opera to men and women who had
rleyer seen a stage. With small
and arduous company, she produced
f,pod scores in any old place thai
GOULD be procured--many times III
;ents. But it was opera. And the
people loved it.
Old conditions have given way tc
progress, but there must be many
oldsters out in the once wild and
wolly who love their Jeanie Winston
---even as you and ].
y X y
THE servant problem, like that
medieval shield. has two sides
and the view you get depends upon
whether you are discussing it in the
living room with neighbor. or on the
:treet-say at o'clock in the morn
ing on the way to early church.