The Birmingham News from Birmingham, Alabama • 35

THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS, BIRMINGHAM. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28,1913 THREE Jb itian-Haired Emma Bunting Hates to Wear a Wig Do You Wonder Why? Fascinating Little Star Is as Interesting Off the Stage at Lunch as She Is When Behind Footlights. BY THOMAS B. SHERMAN. This is a story of Emma Bunting.

The reader should, in the eginning, appreciate the hazard of anyone who attempts to write of this young woman. He has only the usual implements at his command a typewriter, two index fingers and a threadbare lot of inelastic words. What he needs is the magic of that amiable set of gentlemen who were wont to pay social visits to the late Mr. Aladdin he of the lamp. Me should be able to make his phrases dance and his sentences sing.

He should be able to paint into his paragraphs the swift, poetic glory of the sun afier rain. There should sound through his words the subtle gayety of a Chaminade rm Country; middle, Emma Bunting off Girl From Out Yonder. stage; right, Emma Bunting But chaps with these potentialities are not usually found around newspaper offices. If they exist anywhere, It must be on the edge of a filmy cloud, where the milk and honeys thick, and the cafe service Is past mortal ken. But there's a long stretch of white paper that hasnt yet been touched.

So here goes. Miss Bunting was caught at dinner time just a few days ago. It was raining outside, and she was storming slightly herself. To begin with she had been doing a lot of Christmas shopping in the stores of Birmingham and not being built exactly along the lines ol a fullback, she bad found It rather tedious. Then again she had encountered several worn-to-a-wlsp shop girls and the sight had disturbed her.

It didn't seem to Jibe altogether with the Christmas spirit. But this wasn't nearly all. The week before, In Atlanta, she was stricken with something that hovered between ptomaine poisoning and acute indigestion. So many tilings of that sort happen to one in Atlanta, you know. Tlie upshot ot It was that she nearly died, and the physician put her on a diet.

She could eat certain things, and you who have had the experience, know how extremely vexing to the appetite it Is to be confined to Just certain things. To all this was added the fact that In the character of Lord Fauntleroy she had to wear a wig. And If theres anything Emma Bunting doesn't like to do, its wear a wig. Newspaper Man There For a Battle Royal. In this state of mind she sat down to dinner.

Facing her was a newspaper man. Tills last may sound like a casual statement. Whoever has that belief should turn a. newspaper man loose In a cafe sometime, especially when the newspaper man doesnt have to pay the bill. Compared to it a Battle Itoyal has about ns much spirit as a Tango Tea and even a Dog Fight loses Its flavor.

What do you think of a large overgrown person playing Fauntleroy anyhow? queried Miss Bunting after she had adapted herself to the situation as well as she could. The answer, of course, was that thn newspaper man thought well of the particular person wtio was going to play Fauntleroy, though he questioned the accuracy of the large, overgrown" references. Whereupon Miss Bunting made a noise that was an admixture of a running brook and a flute obligato in Jin-zart opera. It was so unfortunate, she thought, that God had made her only so tail. Think of the things she might have played the large, heavy, lugubrious parts.

Instead of that she had to romp and giggle all the time, otherwise Her Good Friend, the Public, would turn his hack and sent some other favorite. yond Presidnnt Wilson and a few' of his cabinet, several prize fighters and baseball players, there are not many persons who are accorded the same respectful wonder. Miss Buntings Hair Is Loveliest Feature. Tlie young men have adopted the fad of falling In love with Miss Bunting's hair, which sometimes is like the scarlet coat of Autumn and then again the aureate glow of a sun setting in mist. Ks.me hair though and all hers.

She'll show you the title she says, if you are a responsible person. This hair, of course, is the reason for Miss Bunting's distaste for a wig. The combined skill of a convention of colf-feuses amt masseuses ami various other kinds of euses and seuses could arrive at no tint that eould approach this. She loses every time she covers it up. But why.

asks the Innocent Bystander, will Emma Bunting insists on wearing a yellow wig when she plays Marguerite in Faust Yes, she does that, too, she likes to do It. Let's put Faust to 'em." she says to her manager, who promptly replies, "Nix, the dollars are too ensv the NL'l lOKK, pec. The most Im other way. portent event at the theaters tills week, But "Question as the Senator from Is the appearance at the Knickerbocker Podunk says, "Why will Emma Bunting of William H. Crane and Douglas Fair wear a yellow wdg In tlie role of Marguer- batiks as dual stars.

They were seen in ite?" "The New' Henrietta," a comedy by Wln- Beeause, she answers, "that's the ciw-U Smith and Victor Mapes, founded way its done. Ion Bronson Howard's famous play, with Mr. Crane in his original part of Nicholas VanAlstyne, and Mr. Fairbanks as Bertie, the lamb. The old play has been Which is Hie correct tiling to say when one doesn't possess a hirsute crown which is like tlie glory of autumn.

But Nellie Melba Oh, Im just crazy to plsv that for it pleases the children. Really I'd lather please file children than the grown-ups. Their approval Is spontaneous ami true, and they'll stand by you. That's one reason why I like to play Fauntleroy." Mr. Schiller, her manager, suggested that a play that pleased the children would also please the grown-ups.

for every man enull well remember the time that he was it ho.v. "Not such a boy as Fauntleroy, she said, for I dont believe there are any. If 1 ever met one, Id push him in a mud hole, slick chewing gum in ids ear and a plug of tobacco In his mouth. Fauntleroy is too good to live. But I like boys parts.

I'm about the size you know. "But the things I'd rather do are the things the public doesn't want me to do. And every' now and then I get one over. Over In Seattle once the newspaper men dared me to do Camille. I did it to a crowded house all thn week.

"But wanting to do those things, 1 suppose, Is a perversity of human nature, with which I am afflicted in common with the rest of hu Miss Bunting became engaged about that time In chasing a portion of recalcitrant lamb through a riot of green peas an act, itself, accomplished with no little grace. Public Taste Has Changed Recently. And (tie public my but theyre wise these days. The public won't let you act these days. Ive changed my methods entirely within the last six years.

No more declamation no climax after climax. The public wants you to be natural, wants suggestion and calm logic. "There, was a time, you know, when any sort of a beautiful speech would fetch em. They liked and required pompous style and oratorical delivery. But now they are tremendously exacting and very reluctant to applaud.

The actor expects and gets but few hands now. Rarely do they eomo in the middle of tlio lines ami when they do the actors don't like It which limy sound strange to you. Really, though, they feel as if the continuity of the piece were being interrupted. This condition of the public taste was a promising one. admitted Miss Bunting, when quizzed.

It worked ill for synchronism in a. play, when everybody on the stage was continually moving toward some small climax with tile idea of "sweeping them off their feet" each time. But all the same, applause was pleasant und Emma strange to say never was satisfied unless the remainder of her company received as much as she. There are persons doubtless, who will say that Miss Bunting must be in a perpetual state of agony. But such remarks as that are not admissible to this screed.

They bear many interpretations. if Emma's fond of her company its up to the rest of us to feel the same way about It. South Sticks To Its Favorites. The South has taken to Emma Bunting, and now she's almost a tradition. Southern audiences stick.

Miss Bunting says so. Show the people once, and they begin to pour out to see you ami nothing, neither pestilence nor fire can stop them. For tills reason though born in Ohio, Miss Bunting loves to run through Richmond and Atlanta and Birmingham and Memphis ami New' Orleans. She knows people in all these places, being In each a sort, of revolving institution like Christmas ami pay day. In those and the other cities in- the South she visits, her entrance into a cafe is tlie signal for a general sitting up.

Why there's Emma Bunting, is tlie comment, Tills in itself is mi small tribute. Be- "Officer t66" is booked for an early appearance at the Jefferson Theater. Dixons Leopard's will be given at the Jefferson Theater for four performances during the coming month. "Tlie Governors Lady" will he an attraction at the Jefferson Theater about tlie middle of January. Tlie complete company which appears in support of Mrs.

Fiske, in "The High Road." which she is to present in the Jefferson Theater next month, includes Arthur Byron, Eugene Ormonde, Kenneth Hunter, Aldrich Bmvlter, Harry J. Holliday, Foxlmll Daingerfield, Richards Hale, Fleming Ward, George Fearing, Gharles Burleigh and Nina Melville. The play overs a. span of twenty-three years, one occasion her cajolery brought about a siowness of action on the Admiral's part that might have resulted in a parallel of Antony's action at Actium. Lady Hamiltons Influence over the victor of Trafalgar is not contemplated with relish by British historians.

Out of the decorated pages of the royal fairy tale hook steps -Marie Antoinette, consort of Louis XVI. of France. Vivacious and glowing, tlie figure of the daughter of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria is one to stir tlie imagination. in her ran the best blood of the old world. Fiance was already oppressed when tin young Louis and his bride came to the throne.

The 1'ompadour and Du Barry, successive favorites of Louis h.id almost drained the treasury of the nation dry. They had squandered money in their favorites. Their lovers had been legion, und as favorites to the highly placed must be royally paid. France had suffered. Muttering was abroad when Hie aged Louis died, but it was a muttering that could have been stilled by wise King and Queen.

as the country looked hopefully toward the new re gime. But Louis anil the Antoinette were not wise. Louis was dull. His wife was worse; she was frivolous, with a penchant for handsome men. The combination was disastrous.

Neither tlie king nor ilia consort read tlie writing on the wall. Ruin came upon the royal pair while the nation ran blood. A dozen or so years ago a young and beautiful girl went to New York from Pittsburgh. She wanted to make her wav in tlie world and was accompanied by lici mother. The purse of mother and daughter was empty, but they were fortified with ambition, tlie daughters loveliness and I lie mother's nimble needle ringers.

Tlie pair took humble lodgings. Then some artist discovered Evelyn Nesbit's beauty and painted her. A newspaper' writer found her ami wrote story about New Yorks most beautiful artist's model. Thereafter Miss Nes-liit posed for artists. About Ibis time the eyes of Stanford Wliile fell upon Miss Nesblt.

She was desirable and he lavished money on her. got her a place on the stage ami she became his toy. But what of Evelyn? Her sorrow is in his grave, sent there by the Indict of Thaw. Thaw himself is a pariah, with the hands of the law and his fellows against him. Destiny sent Harry Tlmw, Pittsburgh millionaire and gilded youth, sprawling ill the paths of Miss Nesbit' and White.

Tin: vivid story is still unfinished. White seems to have been her fortune. Because of tlie terrible tilings that have come into her life she is paid highly to do a simple dance on the vaudevillo stage. Is her trail of disaster ended? WRECKERS OF MEN AND NATIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY FEMININE CHARM HAS SWAYED THE STERNER SEX. was a black-haired Marguerite, and Emma, who otherwise does tirouprlit up-to-date, retaining the story tilings in Iter own way, could give us and its better features, something to think about If she were to ill this version, Mr.

Crane appears to From Jezebel, who was thrown to her vwu dogs, to Evelyn Ncsbit. Thaw, who hared her soul as few women ever did. snowy arms and languishing eyes have entieed men to doom. Empires have fallen before the wiles of woman, says the Chicago Tribune. England reveres no mime more than that of Lord Nelson.

Yet Lord Nelson succumbed to tlie charms of Lady Hamilton who had already scarred Hie heart many a man before her matured eyes: fell upon Britain's in Inelble old sea dog. i if Some New Plays Will Try. "But then I've got other new roles, said, "I'm going to play 'The you know the Telephone Girl's uirt, and Ive always wanted to play Jfjfora, In 'A Doll's and then I hern's 'Snow White, that Marguerite Clark starred in at the Little Theater in New York. We're going put that on. depleting tlie epoch-making periods In tlie life of the principal character, Mary Iage, during that time.

Nazimova will he seen at the Jefferson Theater during tlie month of January, and she will be accorded a most hearty welcome here. Miss Beulah Poyntor will appear at the Bijou Theater commencing Monday, January 5, In a series of well known plays. Miss Ioynter, who is heading her own company titled The Beulah Ioynter Stock Company, is well known to all theatergoers of Birmingham for her clever work in the different plays that she has appeared in here. Her friends and admirers will no doubt welcome the announcement that she Is to come back here for an indefinite run in stock at the Bijou. provincial beauty was foreordained to disaster.

Tlie story of Lady Hamilton's first lapse is pathetic. It was tlie girl's good-hearteilness and unselfish devotion to a friend that caused her initial false step. Amy came to London from Flintshire. Soon after her arrlvel she heard that one of her fellow villagers, and a friend of long standing, had been captured and was about to lie shipped to sea wit limit the knowledge of ids wife and children. Viny determined lo assist him if.

she could. Blie had met at her mistress's home a young sea captain. To him she went and requested him to intercede for her friend. As a result Hie young Flintshire mail was released and returned to ids family. But tlie sea captain asked dear payment, and Amy paid.

Tills officer deserted tier and Amy went under the protection of a dissolute young nobleman. Sir Henry leatlierstonebaiigii. Bv tilts time the girl had grown reckless nud she almost ruined her protector by her wild extravagance. Featherstone-bauuh was obliged to repudiate her in order to save tlie remnants of his fortune. Through Hon.

Charles Greville. nephew of the man who was later to marry her, Amy established relations with Sir William Hamilton. Most of ills time was spent in Italy, but on his occasional visits to tlie British capital he met tlie girl. X'ot many months after Amys first meeting with William she left Grevlllo by mutual agreement, though it was known that the separation tried the young woman surely. They hud been very happy together.

Greville until Ills deatli felt the evil Influence of his life with Amy Lyons, He died misanthropic bachelor. it was after her marriage to Sir William Hamilton Hint Lady Hamilton, the former Amy Lyons, plunged into a series of intrigues which kept the chancellories of Europe busy checkmating her, and which almost caused open rupture between Sicily and tlie court at St. James. Her influence over her husband was less than that slip exerted over other men who came into her life. This was duo to the fact Hint Hamilton was beyond middle an when he married her.

However, Lady Amy gave her spouse, many a had half hour by her political trickeries and her fingers were forever in his purse. Though Lord Nelson knew Lady Hamilton before the death of her husband, It wus not until after that event that she gained such an Influence over him. On o)ICORDS VITAL RESTORATIVE price $1. At all druggists. Always on hand at Collier Drug 109 North Twentieth Street.

Mall orders solicited. Restores Men's Vitality. No Matter How Little or How Large I. make a Titian-haired beauty nut of Goethe's mistreated heroine. She May Attempt a Red-Haired Marguerite.

Some time, no doubt, shell do this, if her manager ever allows her to get out rf ingenuetsh atmosphere. In regard to the art of Miss Bunting, I believe most sens will ugree with me that she is so charged with temperament that site sparkles and crackles like a heliograph. Temperament is something on which you can't exactly place your hands. About tlie best you can do is lo decide that some have It and others haven't it. Miss Bunting has it, plus.

She, therefore, reads into her trltest idles, a charm that makes all of her work delight. Her excellence is accentuated, of course, by her being far and above any one else in popular priees, but it's an unfair critic who would not say that lie would go anywhere and before anybody. There's something of the nhandon ol Nazimova ill her work; something of tlie chic and charm of Billie Burke: yet she is hardly like either of these. She is like nobody in fact. She Is a star unto herself and lives by her owm light.

For twelve years she has flamed never once playing other than a lead. And if the wishes of the rest of the people and myself are any assistance the will flame for twelve more. ONLY THING TO DO. In a natural history gaiifest the other day the talk turned to th evolution of the butterfly, when Senator Ellliu Root, of New York, was reminded of a children's fancy' dress affair at one of the theatres. Just previous to the beginning of the entertainment a woman excitedly lushed up to the stage door and demanded entrance, but the attendant In charge barred her way.

"I -am very sorry, madam," he said apologetically, "but tills is a childrens affair and no adults are admitted. But my little girl Is In there, Insisted tiie wonmn, with a look of deep concern, "and she has forgotten part of her costume. She Is to take the part of a butterfly, but has no wings." "1 cant help It, madam," was the obdurate response of the doortender. "My orders are to let no adult pass. Your little girl will have to go on ns a caterpillar.

"Does old Tom Splinters drink'." "No, replied Farmer OoriHossel. He aint tempted that way at all. lie kin talk an act foolish enough to satisfy anybody, Jes' naturally." AVnsh-Ington Star. New Colonial Hotel 209 N. 2 1st Street Opposilo new Jefferson County Hank building, Is now under new management and will be run as a first-class family and commercial hotel.

Steam heat, elevator service and all modem! conveniences. Kate ffhc, 75c and $1.00 per day. Special rates by the week. Smith Props. R.

E. Hollowell, Mgr. Just as good advantage as lie ihl when tlie comedy was first produced, upwards of twenty-five years ago. The role of Bertie has been modernized, and as acted by Mr. Fairbanks, created a strong Impression.

Amelia Bingham scored heavily as Mrs. Opdyke, the widow. "The New Henrietta Is a vast improvement over some of the plays now on view at the local theaters. large audience gave Messrs, and Fairbanks an enthusiastic welcome. Elsie Ferguson moved to the I Theater Monday she appear in "The Strange Woman" for an indefinite period.

She has made one of tile solid lilts of the season In this play, which tells an appealing' story, and is capitally presented hi the star and her supporting company. Ill spite of tlie hard times, Klaw A-Erlanger are having an active season. They have in preparation for early production a play railed "Tlie Iliseen Empire. and "The Governor Folly," a musical comedy, of which Glen Mac-Donough is tlie. author.

They are also under contract to produce a new play entitled, "Marie Glaire, by A. E. Thomas, and a drama by Frank Mantel and Irma. Kraft called "Silk." It is a notable fuel that Klaw A- Erlanger never have "cold feet no matter what the theatrical outlook may lie. Billie Burke and Frances Starr.

The other new offerings for tills week are Billie Burke In "Tlie Land of Promise" at the Lyceum Theater, "We Ahe Seven" at the Maxine Elliott, and Frances Starr in "Tlie Secret" at the Bela seo. in The Land of Promise" Miss Burke has the role of a young English woman, who has some very tiling experiences, before she finds herself on a farm in Western Canada. The play lias strong situations, in the, supporting cast are Shelley Hull. Lumsderi Harp, Henry Warwick. Lillian Kingsbury and Marion moving pictures of Hall Caine's, "The Christian, on which tlie, Vltagniph Companv of America, and the Liehler Company have I working for several months, are finished, and will Ite shown at one of tlie Broadway theaters early in the new year.

II was In tills play that Viola Alien scored one of her best successes. These pictures represent thn finest achievement. In movies, and have been made at great expense. "oh I Sav" will end Its engagement at tlie Casino Saturday night and will he followed by Amin. Held and her company 111 "Mile.

Baby." "Tlie Girl On Hie Film comes to tlie Forty-Fourth Street Theater next week, it is a musical piece, and will lie made known with an all-English cast, Including Emma Wchlen, Connie Ediss, Mailn-lein Seymour and George Grosmith Eyar and Garina Leigh, two sensational (lancers, are also In the company. "The Secret. Frances Starr's new plav, was written by Henri Bernstein, author of The Thief." Tlie lending character of Gahriclle, which was acted In Paris bv Madame Is particularly well' suited to Miss Starr, and Is the fourth role created by her. under tlie direction of David llelasco. Basil Gill, Robert Warwick, Ged' Harriet Otis Dellenbnugh and Marguerite Leslie are in tlie cast.

Pointers. A near-at-liand new attraction ut the Criterion Theater, Is Mabel rind Edith Taliaferro, who will he seen as dual stars in a play entitled "Young ls-dom. "We Are Seven, the new offering lit the Maxine Elliott Theater, tell of a young woman who has peculiar ideas on eugenics, and goes so fur as to anticipate having seven perfect children. She is also Interested In slum work, In which she has tlie escort of a supposedly deaf and dumb voting man. in the end she discovers tlie young man's duplicity and marries him.

It Is an obvious story, hut cleverly told. The best net lug til tlie play Is done by Ituss Whytul. "Idle." a new musical comedy made from Robert V. Clmmliers's novel, which inis been produced by II. H.

Frazee. with Frank Lawler in tlie leading role, comes lo the Lotigacre 'i heater December 29. "Adele" will move to tlie Hants Theu-tr, Wllile Collier follows "General John Ragan" at the Hudson Theater January 6. Maude Adams begins an engagement at the Empire Theater January fi, all-1, earing in J. M.

Barries, "The Legend of Leonoia." "The I'hltanilerer," an English play, will he presented at the Pile Theater shortly. NANCY SYKES. aiety is tii Rome sang of Hie achievements of An tony. Anlotty looked Into the eyes of Cleopatra and laid down honor and life. Louis XV.

dallied with tlie Pompadour and Du Barry until his kingdom tottered. Tlie royal roue died and left ills grandson and heir a heritage of death. Mary Stuart played at love with many men until she lost her throne and at lust her head. These women have been the lure that led men to destruction. They baffle scientists and sociologists.

By all thn rules of Hie game they should have been wholly creatures of evil. Some were, but that others of them were warm-hearted, impulsive and bewitching to good and had people alike Is a puzzle to alienists. When face to face with tlie lives of these wreckers of the world scientists hold ui) their hands, shake jheir heads arid say: We cannot tell you about It maybe some day we can, but not now it Is too much to expect us to solve quickly the riddle of the ages, the puzz.le that has remained a secret through ihe centuries. The redhaired, corrupt Cleopatra still sways us ill her spell. Her painted likeness looks down from many an office.

Profligate and unscrupulous as she was, she showed at the supreme lest that her heart was the heart of a. woman who loved much. When Antony, fell her only solace was death. Could there ho completer payment? And what a beginning this romance had! It was Springtime In Egypt. The land of the Nile yielded from tlie richness of tier oriental bosom all of tlie wonders of North African beauty'.

Happiness was abroad. Ptolemy XIII had been restored to ills ttirone after four years of exile. Back to the palace at Alexandria came the King, bringing with him tlio wonderfully beautiful Prliccss Gleopntru, heiress to her father's dominions. Ptolemy had been restored through tlie aid of Roman arms. The commander of the cavalry of tills Roman army of assistance was Marc Antony.

Graceful, dissipated, debonair and daring, Antony was just tlie man to capture tlie fancy of the young Princess, then fourteen years old and emerging Into W'omantiood. They saw each other and they loved. Tlie full blossoming of the romance was delayed by adverse fate until years later, after Cleopatra bad been the intimate of Julius Caesar. Then fate sent Antony hack to the Egyptian Queen. Antony came with his legions from imperial Rome to levy tribute from the Queen of the ErsL He remained to become Cleopatras slave Instead of her master, lie forgot wife, home, honor anil country.

When Amy Lyons, afterward LaJ.ily Hamilton, came to Ignition mid secured a place as serving maid In the home of a great lady, her knowledge of the world was limited. Her outlook on life was Innocent, Seventeen years old, slender, yet well rounded, with a sensitive face showing Intelligence above her station, this For Sore Feet, Chilblains, Frost iiite, Sore Nipples, Cuts, Galls, Burns, Sores or Scalds, DARBYS PROPHYLACTIC FLUID is a marvelous remedy. It relieves inflamed conditions, heals the flesh and eases pain. Taken internally for Cramps or Dysentery it corrects the disorder at once. Price 5o cts, per bottle.

Constant and regular deposits make the strong reserve fund. Why not begin to deposit a certain amount each week in our Savings Department? You will be surprised how it will grow. The Orpheum Musical Comedy Company Presents I fi SEE THE B. A. C.

Road Race At The Princess Mon. Dec. 29 30 Phoebe a Farce Comedy at the BEST Week of December 28 2:00, 3:30, 5:00, 7:30 and 9:15 P. M. ADMISSION 5c and 10c Why Pay Moral" Get one of our little banks.

Costs but $1.00, and worth its weight in gold. Jefferson County Savings Bank Miss Maxwell 4.