Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-10
CHAp1EK NXXIII

CHATTER AAAllI
lin only an outsider, but that's
my dope. Ill make you a prediction
this Shirley never does make
a big. successful picture. because
what she put over doesn't convince
you Of anything. She might just as
well be a mechanical doll"
Jane, watching Irene in the e
which followed, wondered if Hardy
was right. Tony Hull had taught her
every look, every gesture, every ex-
preston she used, but, as Ben said,
they didn't mean anything, didn't
convey anything, because there vas
nothing back Of them to convey, save
a small, shrewd, hard little nature.
thinking every moment Of the time,
not Of the part she was playing, but
Of herself-not Of making her role a
living. sentient thing. but Of max
ing herself a popular, high-sRlaried
star. The way in which she pro-
jected Irene Shirley, instead of the
m in the play. was well-nigh
uncanny-not for one instant did she
forget herself. or allow the audience
to forget her.
Now take you part Hardy went
on. to the very evident annoyance of
Mr.. Evans, on his left, 1T isn't a big
part, but you make il real. | feel IL.
] feel. when you take your sister In
your arms and comfort her, that you
mean it-that you are suffering with
her. And for all she gives you in
return you might as well be asking
her TO take lunch with you. Say
| wish you'd been playing this part
the picture would have been a knock
out"
Hush" Jane told him, realizing
that Mr.. Evans was not only hearing
a large part Of what was being said.
but was r~esenting il. you only feel
that way about me because you like
me. Miss Shirley has lots Of friends,
all about Us. and they might not like
what YOU are saying. Wait till after
the show"
AS the lights went on for the in
remission. a tremendous buzz of
conversation rose. People went
from seat TO seat. greeting friends. or
hurried "a the smoking rooms, for
cigars and cigarettes.
A group Of eager sycophants sur
rounded Davidson and Irene; she
listened to their flatterinE comments
with a ~fatuous smile. If Lew had any
doubts. she had none; il seemed to
her. Az she watched herself on the
screen, that Sarah Bernhard, in her
palmicst days. had nothing on her.
Now that you've given me my
chance she murmured, pressing
Davidson's hand tenderly. I'm going
TO make you millions" She really
believed il, as one after another of
Davidson's friends came up and told
her she was the coming m OF
the screen.
Lew. himself. was sufficiently ex-
/ rerienced 70 discount these opinions.
IN spite or this infatuation for Irene
he was a Snowman. 70 whom the
only opinion Of any value was that
registered by the public at the box
office. Those who told him he had
discovered a star Of the first magni-
tude had nothing TO lose and every
thing to gain by their flattery. II the
picture later on failed to please. then
the public, not the picture, was at
fault. To have expressed a frank
disapproval would have merely hurt
and angered Lew to no purpose
They knew the theater too well q
be sure even OF their. own judgment;
too often they had thought a play OF
a picture n dismal failure. on opening
night, only TO see the public reverse
their opinions completely, BY keeping
the 5. K. o. sign out for months tc
come.
Those honest and sincere friend:
who felt in their hearts that Irene
was hopeless, remained away, in the
lobby. the smoking rooms, preferrine
to express no opinion at all, If they
could not express a favorable one
As a result. Irene went home walking
on air. dreaming Of a future as royaI
as that Of any queen. picturing her
self the mistress Of Dayidson's house
his fortune. his business, fitting
from Palm Beach TO Deauville, OF
Monte Carlo, acting when she pleased
but never allowing her art to inter.
fere with the pursuit of pleasure, the
enjoyment of life, which made W the
sum of her small and selfish ambi
tions.
Just what Lew Davidson's feeling:
were. as he drove Irene home. il
would be difficult 10 say. The flat
terry Of his friends had pleased him
as flattery always does. even wher
we suspect IL 70 be %insincerc. TIL,
mere fact that others think III
worth flattering is in itself q com
] pliment; the commodity Is not usu