Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-11-29
~
from the
Democrats Pen

Gene Raymond; but, whether he was
listening or not, or whether it was
RAYMOND or not, he heard, without lis
tening no good of himself, when the
ladies talked about him last week in
the dining room of the Parker House.
Blest if that wasn't coincidence
that a movie star should drop down
out of the clouds, as it were, into the
dining room Of a small town like POGO
moke, only to hear himself discussed,
pro and con, by group of ladies.
Talk about movie star, I'll bet those
ladies were moved when they received
that note, and I'll bet it struck 'em
so hard, they saw stars for awhile.
However,, it's better, they say, to
hear nasty things said about you than
to hear nothing at all, and I have
a sneaking idea all the fan mail Ray
lnond receives, does not contain sweet
and honeyed phrases; and maybe, af-
ter all, what he heard here was mild
in comparison to the verbal cats and
cabbages he has had hurled at him at
times during his screen career.
There's where the movie actor has it
over the performers Of the legitimate
drama. The players who strut on the
real boards are exposed to the deri-
s;.s Do3s Of the crowd assembled, and
there is nothing to protect them from
the carrots and aged eggs of dis
pleased and critical audience. The
silver screen role is safe and sound.
The parts are portrayed !, the fic-
titious scene c-.oe+;rr z won
sta,iro, and a brick bat, bunch Of
stale celery, turnip or two, makes
no impression on the insensate cur
tain. The actor may be hooted from
a career, but he escapes, at least
without the humiliation often handed
out to the real-life interpreter of the
many roles of human existence.
But here, at least, is one time when
the movie man was present in the
flesh CD and heard himself spoken
of both favorably and unfavorably.
And, you know, it seemed to cut, too.
He came back with thrust and stay
ed not to argue the question. He was
good enough to say the "eats" were
all right, and under the influence of
the unequalled cuisine Of the Parker
House, he may have left without any
hard feelings, but thought he would
let his critics know that Gene Ray
mond was present, heard and inward
ly digested the mental pabulum along
with the physical diet, and the mix
ture was not so difficult after all to
absorb.
There's another lesson to be learned
from all this: the Bible says we should
put a bride on our tongues; some
body has also ventured to remark
that "Walls have ears" and so when
we speak of anybody critically, we
should know to whom to speak and
learn we'll how to whisper when speak
ing. However, Gene Raymond and
everyone else in public life, must
know that they are talked about, and
they should develop rhinoceros hides
as, no doubt they have.
So, Gene, when you come to POGO
moke, again we'll intrduce you to Jean
of the Parker House, and I'll bet you'll
hear the incest things in the world
said about you. But, blest if we
don't want you to bring your Gre
dentials along with you. A good
looking car with chauffeur at the
wheel is not prima facie evidence of
screen stardom. And I'm here to
tell the man who signed that note, if
he wasn't the man the signature in
dicated, advise him not to drop down
here again, and eat at the Parker
House at the same time that group of
ladies is there. They are going to
prove that signature, Mr.. Raymond,
and look out for squalls, if yours and
the notes do not "paralyze."
Well, if it were the real Raymond
Til bet he's gotten as much fun out
of it as we have, and has written it
down as an outstanding episode of his
career. So, also, have we gotten out
of it just little surcease from the
humdrum work of an editors sanction.
So, come again, Mr.. Movie Star, who
ever you are; and if you weren't the
real honest-to-goodness man those
ladies were talking about, hunt the
real Gene up and bring him down.