s ‘were a 5p RUP w. WLUSTRATED, BY( =~ . DONALDE RILEY #7 ’S GONE BEFORE Remember Steddon comes West to avoid revealing the result of an un- fortunate love affair to her father. The Rev. Dr. Steddon, a clergyman of kind heart but narrow mind, who attributes much of the evil of the world to the ‘movies’ and constantly inveighs against them. Mem, her lover, Elwood Farnaby, ,having died in an accident, at the advice of Dr. Bretherick, gives her bad cough as an “excuse to get to. Arizona and from there writes home that she has met and rnarried “Mr. Woodville,” a wholly imaginary person. Later she writes again to say that her “husband” has died in the desert. She takes a job as a domestic to avoid being a burden on her parents. A fall-prevents her be- coming a mother. In Arizona she had met ‘Tom Holby, a leading man in a mo- tion picture company, and through him gets the opportunity to play a part in a desert drama. With the company is Robina Teele, a star, fond of Holby and ; Leva Lemaire, an extra woman. After her accident, Mem becomes friendly with Mrs. Dack, a poor woman of Palm Springs, Arizona, and takes an interest in her bright little son, , Terry Dack, who has a great gift of mimicry. Inspired by a letter from TLéva., Mem plans to go to Los Angeles to take a job in a film laboratory. She gets a job in a film laboratory, NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY seemed wrong, wicked, cruel. made to act. She was of ee A On the lot Mem saw children, and they were always happy. The mothers with the little ones. Going to work was going to play. They lived an eternal fairy story. She was told that five-year-old Jackie Coogan had made his mother a present of a big touring car costing seven thousand dollars; that he had a salary of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars a week! ¢ ] She thought of little Terry Dack and his second-hand express wagon, help- ing his mother to pack her bundled wash home to bitter toil. She wrote Terry’s mother, urging her to come to Tos Angeles without delay; to bes, borrow or steal the necessary funds; to seize the chance to rescue the divine child from poverty and oblivion, and to earn luxury by giving the world the | sunshine of his irresistible charm. And the day after she tailed the letter she lost her job. The tide of hard times had engulfed the studio where she was engaged. All but two or three companies were laid off. The laboratory force was reduced to a skeleton. And now the dark room that had come to be a prison cell was as dear a home as the shut cage of a canary that cannot get in again. Pay day came around no more. She had debts to absolve for clothes no longer fresh. She had tomorrow’s and next week’s hunger dread. The girls at her house were equally idle and their hospitality lost its warmth for lack of fuel. They tried to make the best of idle- ness. They wore the records to shreds and danced together all day long to pass the time away. Young men who had no money to spend on excursions came to the house of evenings and helped to dance away the tedium. It became a commonplace for Mem to fling about in young men’s arms. She learned to dance. She learned to play a little golf, a little tennis. She went on her first beach picnic. And a little later Mem might have been seen in a bathing suit of popular brevity, substituting a general coat of tan for the forty blushpower she had aban- doned. Her soul and her body ‘were her own now. No, they had gone beyond even that. Her soul and body were the public's. Beauty was community property. She was committed to their fullest development into such joyous acrobatic agility and power that they should give joy and a delightful sor- row to the public. For which the grateful public would" pay with grati- tude and fame and much money. 2 ‘One day in Westlake Park she sat down on a bench and by and by was hailed by a sturdy mid-western voice. “Well, as I live and breathe! If it ain't Miss Steddon!” “Why, how do you do, Mrs. Sturgs. It was a mid-aged woman who had been a member of her father’s church | and had come west because of her | husband’s lungs. Mem’s first impulse was to welcome | anyone from home. Her second ‘was to fear anyone from home. Mrs. Sturgs’ life in this Babylon. had not changed her small-town soul, body or prejudices. Mem’s wits scurried in vain to bring up protecting lies. Mrs. Sturgs was too full of her own opinions and ad- ventures to ask any embarrassing questions beyond a hasty take-off for her own biography: ‘“‘And how’s your father and your mother and your whole family? Well, as I was sayin’ yest’day, everybody on earth gets to Los Angeles sooner Or later. It's a nice city, too, full of good, honest, plain—o’course those awful ‘moving picture people have given the town a— «Such stories as they do tell about their— Why, that Hollywood is just a, plague spot on the earth! And the women—Ilittle pink ninnies that don’t know enough to come when it—they get fortunes for just making eyes at the camera, and they rent nice respect- | able homes and hold—well, orgies is the only word—orgies is just what they are. | “t's a sin and a shame, and if some- thing isn't done about it—why, young girls flock there in droves, and sell their souls for—it's simply ternible. Every one of them has to pay the Price to get there at all. “I declare, it makes my blood run cold just to—don’t it yours?” She had heard a vast amount of gos- “I don’t believe it,” said Mem. sip, but she had not heard of anybody paying such an initiation fee. She had seen no vice at all. Mrs. Sturgs flared up. There is nothing one defends more zealously than one’s pet horrors. “Don’t believe it? Why, it’s true as gospel! Thay sell their souls for bread. Any girl that’s too honest to pay the Price don’t get engaged—that's all—she just don’t get engaged. Oh, dear! that's my car.” * * * Next day the mail brought her a shock in a letter from Mrs. Dack. It said: Dear Mrs. Woodville: I was awful glad to get your letter. Been meaning to answer it but trying to fix up my affairs sos I and Terry could come up to your city. Yesday I was to Mrs. Red- dicks and she said she had a telle- gram for you but had no address and so could not forward it. It said your mother was so worrit not having an anser to her letters she was comeing out on the first train and would reach Palm Springs day after tomorrow. HoD- ping to see you soon ether there or here. Mrs. P. Dask. P. S.—Both I and Terry send you lots of love. Mem was petrified. Nothing could stop her mother from coming. The first blaze of joy ate the thought of the reunion was quenched in the flood of impossible situations her presence would create! Mrs. Steddon had raised a family and been habited to a mother’s slum- ber, light and broken with frequent dashes to bedsides troubled by bad dreams or imagined burglars or mere thirst or a cough. If her hasty feet found both her slippers or one or neither, she hastened as she was. She would not have paused for a wolf, an Indian, a murderer, a fire or an earth- quake. Mem was still her bady in the dark, and it did not matter whether she lay needful and terrified in the next room or beyond the deserts or the seven seas. The mother’s one business was to get her. Her telegram was her old night ery: “I’m coming, honey. Don’t worry. Mamma’s coming to her baby.” She shot this cry across the continent and called Mem “baby,” although Mem felt as old as night. When Remember learned that her mother was already on the train, she could devise no plan for turning her back. Somehow she had to be met and provided for. Every one of the women of Mem's Hollywood household was out of work. She who had savings was lending them- to her who had not. ’ And now her mother! (With a few dollars from Leva's wan- ing resources Mem took the train to Palm Springs. With Mrs. Dack and her boy she stood on the platform of the little desert town waiting for the up train, and when Mrs. Steddon dropped off the steps Mem put her right back on again! Mrs. Steddon had been prepared to find a scared and sickly child in a shack in Palm Springs. She had come as a rescuing angel. She found that her wings and halo were old-fashioned. When they reached Los Angeles they left Mrs. Dack and Terry at the home of a cousin, then sped on to the bung- alow, where Leva made Mrs. Steddon welcome. y \ * * * And now Mem recalled Mrs. Sturgs and her statement (so glibly did she substitute faith facts) that “every one of them has to pay the Price!” Mem grey grim as she meditated. “The Price”’—it was only a vague phrase. But she was ready to pay it, whatever it was! The question was, to whom? She brooded a long while before she thought of a shop to visit. She smiled sardonically as she remembered The Woman’s Exchange at home where women sold what they rmade—painted china, hammered brass, knit goods, cakes and candies. Well, she would sell what God had made of her for what man might make of her! ‘At the studio she had met the cast- ing director, Arthur Tirrey. It was he who said to this one or that one, “Here is a part; play it, and the com- pany will give you so much a week.” He was the St. Peter of the movie heaven, empowered to admit or to deny. He was the man for her to seek. He had seemed a decent enough man, and he had looked at Mem with- out insolence. But you can never tell! Mem studied herself a long while in the mirror, since her eyes and her smile must be her chief. wardrobe, her siren equipment. She practiced such expressions as she supposed to repre- 't invitation. They were silly and they made her rather ill. She reached Tirrey’ office and found him idly swapping stories with his as- sistant. He spoke to her courteously, motioned her into his office, closed the door, and took his own place behind the desk. The telephone rang. He called into it: “Sorry, Miss Waite, that part has been filled. The company couldn't make your salary. I begged you to take the cut, but you wouldn't. Times are hard and you'd better listen to reason. Sorry, good-bye!” This was a discouraging background for Mem’s siren scenario. But she de- termined to carry out her theory and, in all self-loathing, adjusted herself in her big chair to what she imagined was a Cleopatran sinuosity. She thought of her best lines; secretly twitched up her skirts and thrust her ankles well into view. She turned upon Mr. Tirrey her most lanquishing eyes, and tried to pour en- ticement into them was into bowls of fire. She pursed her lips and set them full. She widened her breast with deep sighs. x Tirrey seemed to recognize that she was deploying herself. He grew a little uneasy. But he was as polite to Mem as if she had been Robina Teele. “What can I do for you?” “I want a chance to act.” “What experience have you had?’ he asked. Mem was suddenly confronted with the fact that all actors must offer themselves for sale—not the pretty women only, but the old men, too, and the character women. Actors are much abused for talking of themselves. Few of them do when business is not involved, but when it is they must discuss the goods they are trying to sell. Shoe merchants, shoes; railroad presidents, railroads; politicians, politics; ;clergymen, salva- tion. Each salesman must recommend his own stock and talk it up. So Mem had to grope for experience and dress her window with it. And she had had so little she lied a little, as one does who tries to sell anything: ‘I was with the company that Tom Holby and Robina Teele played in. I took the part of an Arabian woman. Mr. Folger, the director—er—praised my—er—work.” k “Well, he knows,” said Tirrey, “but he’s not with this company, you know. Have we your name and address and a photograph outside in our files?” “No? “Well, if yowll ‘give them to Mr. | Dobbs, with your height, weight, color | of eyes and hair, andd experience, we'll let you know when anything oc- | curs. I'll introduce you to Mr. Dobbs | and he—" He moved toward the door to escape from the cruelty of his office, but a frenzy moved her to seize his arm in a pierce clutch. (Continued on Page 6) | TURDAY, SEPTEMB ER 28, 1929 omeroy's Golden Harvest Sale begins ‘Tuesday - October 1st Bringing a Harvest of Rare Values in every department of the store | Big Savings in Fall and Winter Merchandise An 11 day Value -- Event Oct. 1 to Oct 12. Dont miss these Golden Harvest Opportunities - Pomeroy’s New Issue Dated June 1, 1929 communities. Cr CAGO VN VA RRR RY NNN NN NN NN NN NNN NN NNN NNN NN NN NN NN NNN NN NN NNN NNN NNN NN NNN EY VY ry vy vyvvrvyvvvvvvrrvvyvvvvvvyy VA A YY Tr YY YY TTT rT TTT TY TY YT YY YY vy vy vy Convertible 6% Gold Debentures (this issue)*.... Preferred Stock (no par value) issuable in series............ Participating Clas~ { Stock (no par value) Common Stock (vn par value) 3 Subject to divisional liens of $1,176,800. —- Further issuance of Debentures is limited under the conservative restrictions of the Debenture Agreement. 130,000 shares reserved for conversion of Debentures. This ixform-2i _ acd eo ctati~tics, while not guaranteed by us, have all been examined and ado rAatoataiah. hod hd hh AAA A fata ha a aia ate aE Send $3,250,000. INLAND UTILITIES, Inc. 5-Year Convertible 6% Gold Debentures Due June 1, 1934 Interest payable semi-annually June 1 and December 1 at the principal office of the Trustee in New York, without deduction for Federal Income Tax not in excess of 2%, which may be lawfuil $500, registerable as to principal only Redeemable as a whole or in part at any time on 30 days’ notice at 100 and accrued interest remium of 3 of 1% for each full year of unexpir.d term. The Company agrees to reimburse Debenture holders residing in Pennsyl vania, alifornia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, * District of Columbia or Virginia for certain personal property and/or income taxes levied by said States or District on the Debentures or income derived therefrom, properly paid by such holders, to the extent and on the conditions set forth in the Debenture Agreement. ped at the source. Coupon Debentures in interchangeable denominations of 31,000 and us a INTERSTATE TRUST COMPANY, Trustee Conversion Privilege These Debentures are convertible at the option of the holder at any time after June 1, 1930, and up to and including the 10th day prior to maturity, or, if called for redemption, at any time up to and including the 10th day prior to the redemption date, into Participating Class A Stock ($1.70 Cumulative Dividend) at the rate of 40 shares for each $1,000 De*enture, subject to the pertinent provisions of the Debenture Agreement. Class A Stock Provisions The Class A Stock into which these Debentures are convertible is of no par value, and is entitled to cumulative dividends at the rate of $1.70 per share per annum, in priority to any dividends on the Common Stock; in and for such calendar year after dividends are declared on the Common Stock in amount up to one-half of the aggregate amount of the Class A Stock cumulative divi- dends paid or set apart for such calendar year. Redeemable as a whole or in part at any time on thirty days’ notice at $100 per share, to date of redemption. The Board of Directors has announced a policy, which is subject to change, of permitting the holders of apply cuch cash dividends toward the purchase of Class A Stock at the quarterly rate of one-fortieth of a share of such stock annual rate of 109% in Class A Stock. Mr. Robert Hall Craig, President of the Company, summarizes from his letter to the bankers as follows: Bus ness and Territory: Inland Utilities, Inc., organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, supplies, in addition, it shall participate equally with the Common Stock, class for class, in any additional dividends declared lus accrued and unpaid dividends lass A Stock at their option to for each share held, being at the through its constituent companies, one or more classes of service to a population estimated to be in excess of 225,000. Water or manufactured or natural gas for domestic and industrial pur- poses is supplied to 15 centralized communities in Pennsylvania and 16 centralized communities in the Kanawha Valley and Coal River districts of West Virginia, together with certain rural territories surround- ing the communities mentioned above. The water reservoirs have a capacity estimated to be in excess of 278,000,000 gallons ; and the gas and water systems supply their respective services through more than 150 miles of 4 inch to 20 inch mains. Water is supplied to approximately 6,610 retail consumers, manufactured gas to approximately 1,230 retail consumers, and natural gas to approximately 2,520 retail consumers. Sub- sidiaries own 136 producing gas wells, and have 13,541 developed acres under lease in the long-lived West Virginia and Kentucky fields with an estimated reserve of 53 billion cubic feet. also are supplied to a number of wholesale consumers, natural gas in particular being supplied in large quan- tities under favorable contracts. Martinsburg, W. Va., and Charlottesville and Fredericksburg, Va., together with a number of surrounding Various classes of service Ice service and refrigeration service are furnished to Hagerstown, Md., Capitalization Authorized dk 100,000 shs. 500,000 shs.*#* 340,000 shs. Outstanding $3,250,000 87,000 shs. 340,000 shs. Ceecsecresesene terest es stresses sss ees Security: These Debentures are, in the opinion of counsel, the direct obligation of the Company, and con- : stitute its sole funded debt, subject only to divisional liens in theamount of $1,176,800. The con- solidated balance sheet, giving effect to the present financing, discloses total assets of $7,744,482.82, which, > after allowing for divisional liens, and outstanding minority interests in subsidiary companies, is equivalent to more than $2,000 for each $1,000 Debenture. Earnings: The consolidated annual net earnings of the properties for 1928 after operating expenses, interest ——— — on divisional liens, maintenance, depletion and depreciation, but before Income Taxes were, as more particularly set forth in the bankers’ circular describing 0 interest requirements on these Debentures. e issue, equivalent to 2.57 times the annual Price 9815 and Accrued Interest to Yield Dver 6.35% Abpraisals of gas properties by Clark & Krebs, Inc., and all other appraisals by Ford, Bacon & Davis, Inc. Legal details incident to th: issue have been passwd or. by Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, and Edward H. Tatum, Esq. of New York. Audits by Messrs. Lybrand, Ross Bros. © Montgomery, Certified Public Accountants. E.R. DIGGS & CO. INCORPORATED ESTABLISHED 1914 46 CEDAR STREET NEW YORK Scranton Representative, Mr. G. R. Lawler, 512 Brooks Building, Scranton 81. LOUIS BALTIMORE KANSAS CITY NEWARK HARTFORD approved for publication by an official of the Company issuing these Debentures, : = ihe IE oa ah Ah aa a dA AA A AAA AAA AA dodanie athe - - A NINN AAAAAA AAA Auditor Anh dd dh dA A A A hhh Ahh ddd hh dA ami oa : AndnuuiuuiuiuiuiuAniuiui AuuiuisieuiuiurAniuAcAuieuiuutuie Auta atid hd dh A dd 4 A A A dala aa A a? pooh for tu Py AAAs
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers