Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06


right cheek administered to him,
within full view of a crowded back
stage, by an extravaganza queen
then in the full glory of her monarchlstc
geign.
AS doorkeeper and general guardian of the
constant runnel of traffic OF one sort or announcer
through the small Office that led to the wings
of the theater, Peter constituted one-headed
Cerebrls who stood guard against claimants
for the attention of the high-han6ed musical
comedy despot of the moment, Hilda Taypay
A riot of colorful naughtineSS, temperamental
outbursts, generoSities, tempers, a1abllitleS ana
nonsense of brand that had captivated Broad
way, to be in her troupe or associated in any
way with her in the theater was to be victim
repentant favors.
Those who played with her, however, feared
her more than they loved her, and it could
not be said, even In the indulgent MOOD OF
widest charity, that Hilda was kind 70 the
Msser people about her. Impressed by great
ness. she was capable OF paying constant
homage to those whose professional rank tow
cred above hers. Little people she deSpSeo
because apparently to be able TO express ner
contempt emphasized her sense OF power
THUS it happened that on Spring morning
y during a rehearsal, Peter, admitting to the
wings q young man he had been instructed oy
the great Taypay never to deny admission
found himself suddenly the public victim OF ner
great wrath.
ing a distaf which she had been carrying in
dance number at him-"how dare you admit
that swine to my presence! ! never want 70
see him again!" And there, IN the fun view
of the assembled company, swung out an arm
full width, and let her hand bang resoundingly
against the young doorkeepers cheek.
It was one of those events that can come to
o sleeper during nightmare 1t was p0Dnc
humiliation of a sort that can cause the throat
to close and the eyes to fash into blindness.
There, in the presence Of at least 60 people,
many of the stage hands his personal friends,
a woman without the slightest just provocation,
had slapped him in the face.
For an instant his impulse had been to leap
ut her and crush his fingers into her orna-
mental throat. but that impulse die0 Almost
as it was born. Aside from the impregnable
soaidisy of her throne and the power of her
Brightest word, there was only further ind1gnity
ana humiliation and establishment to be
gained by letting go Of his wrath.
Peter Tarbell, then 80, well salaried, ambi-
tious, eager for advancement, turned without a
word on his heel and walked out, while to the
strain Of the interrupted melody exCravaganzas
darling prancing distah in hand, resumed re-
hearsal of the dance number she had been
practicing.
There were $50 for half months pay due
Peter, which he never claimed. There were
personal objects-books, papers, small baggage
lying about the Office which he never returned
to collect. The one idea was to get away,
securely, permanently, quickly, from the scene
of his humiliation, to forget, possible. the
fiendish onslaught against his dignity and his
peace of mind.
THE theater and everything pertaining to 1t
became anathema to the quiet-faced I'M
obtriisive young man, who from that day, for
many year to come, was to carry the sting
from q woman's hand across his face and heart,
and whose fingers throughout the years were
to itch to throttle the white neck of Hilda
Taypay.
It is, Of course, difficult to hypothecate what
would have been the destiny Of Peter Tarben
had he remained in the atmosphere Of the
theater. It is however, fair to assume he had
been on the way to higher position since his
90 rise had been steady from callboy to general
manager Of affairs Of rear stage.
Be that as it may, from the day Peter walked
out his destiny fell along lesser lines. At 40
he was superintendent of huge apartment
house on the residential upper west side OF New
York. Eleven men worked under him, cleo
tricianS, janitors, elevator boys and furnace
room men, but in reality, Peters position, while
the salary was practically that Of the stage
door regime, was little above that of man
aging janitor. His jobs were chiefly mental
chores. Locks to be repaired on apartment
doors; foyers and elevators to be kept in show
state. vacant apartments to be shown to prs
peetive tenants and alterations of one sort or
another to be adjusted between his heiRsi%ss yas~
= There were compensationS, of course. He