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Show BELASCO DENOUNCES THE TRUST. j The following circular letter has been received ! at this office from David Belasco: "To Whom It May Concern: It having come to my knowledge that members of the theatrical trust, through their advance agents and representatives, represent-atives, have been active in spreading so-called 'information,' 'in-formation,' false 'news' and malicious statements concerning my players and myself, with the declared de-clared purpose of injuring, In advance, the business busi-ness of my attractions, I take this means to inform in-form all newspaper men and theatrical managers thrpughout the country of certain facts: "These members of the theatrical trust, never daring to fight in the open, and true to their practice and reputation to make war upon women, have lately chosen Mrs. Leslie Carter and Miss Blanche Bates as their favorite objects of attack. Failing in efforts to tempt either away from my-management, my-management, they have sought, by surreptitious methods, to spread reports prejudicial to the professional pro-fessional standing of these artists and the success suc-cess of their plays, with the avowed intent of compelling my surrender to the trust, or forcing me from my profession. "1 shall not surrender, nor will I be 'driven out of the business' (as they are pleased to tit it). As the above mentioned reports have been invariably invar-iably false, I respectfuhy ask that In the future the editors of all newspapers and theatricals managers man-agers will regard as authoritative and true only such news, concerning my players and enterprises, as may be issued officially by my accredited agents, or from the offices of the Belasco theater, New York." tf & In spite of the fact that Miss Blanche Bates plays the dramatic role oi the Princess Yo-San in "The Darling of the Gods," says the St. Louis Republic, she is in private life and off the stage a most light-hearted person. She is occupying a house at 4161 LIndell boulevard, together witn ,k.er mother, Mrs. F. M. Bates, and ner friend, Miss Ada Lewis, who appears In "The Darling of the Gods" in the character of Set-su, Yo-San's Yo-San's maid. Some years ago Miss Lewis won much fame, through her Impersonation of the "Tough Girl" in Harrigan's farces. When Miss Bates took charge of the Lindell bouievard household she immediately issued a set of rules to be observed. Here are some of them: RULES FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE YO-SAN YO-SAN SHOJI. Rule 1. The occupants of this house are supposed sup-posed to retire at 3 a. m. and to rise at 12 m. This is done in order to avoid the trouble of , making breakfast in hot weather. i Rule 2. Lunch will be served from 12:30 to'l. and dinner from 6 to 6:30. World's Fair prices , will be charged for meals obtained beyond those j hours. Rule 3. Pass keys may be obtained from the landlady, but passes for two will not be honored I at th door. Rule 4. The bath tub must be sponged after each ablution, otherwise the coat of a new por- i celain covering will be charged to the negligent occupants. Rule 5. Miss Lewis must not chew gum, nor wear large hats. Rule 6. Any one desiring to receive "company ' will please do so on the doorstep. Strangers aio not invite'd. Rule 7. Each guest will obtain napkin ring on i i arrival. If the ring is lost the supply of nap kins ceases &ule 8. One round only of each couuse will "be served. If extra portions are desired, double prices will be charged. Rule 9. If you have any kicks on the streetcar street-car service, do not blame the landlady, but the superintendent of the street-car system, or else tell ydur troubles to the policeman oil the 'beat. 'His number will be furnished without change. , ? Preston Gibson, a wealthy young Chicagoan, is the latest aspirant to fame as a silage1 writers A few nights ago his flrt play, "Mrs. TDrsklne's Devotion," Was presented" ' in Milwaukee, and great has been the pother about Mr. Gibson's "rfpi talent" in the Windy City. Tine play was started on its doubtful way to the accompaniment accompani-ment of applause from leaders' of soolety in Chicago -and Milwaukee. Mr. Gibs'on Is a popu-Jar popu-Jar youth in these cities, and he Introduced a $)velty that may yet take the place of the inane speeches attending the majority of opening open-ing nights in Broadway. Irrespective of the fate of the play Mr. Gibson planned a banquet in honor of, fifty friends, who, after becoming weary in hand-clapping in the Davidson theater, gathered around the festive board in Pfister House. Small wonder that the host leturned to Chicago firm in the resolve to devote himself to the writing of lays. A speech by the author was a feature of the banquet, and under the. stimulus of- a sympathetic sympa-thetic uproar he revealed his plans in the" following follow-ing story: "I fear my frame of mind regarding playwritlng is like that of the negro who, when questioned by a white man as to whether he could remember Henry Clay, replied: 'Yes, suh,' whereupon where-upon the white man asked: 'Well, do you remember remem-ber as far back as George Washington when he crossed the Delaware?' 'Yes, suhj 'cause I was in dat boat.' 'Do you remember George Washington Wash-ington when he took a hack at the cherry tree?' 'Yes, suh, 'cause I drove that hack.' " Mr. Gibson will take another "hack" at dramatic work. His ambition is as long as the negro's memory, and what matters it if he dusted oft Old ideas in "Mrs. Brskine's Devotion?" |