The Vaudeville Star

In his review of the troupe, he gave a scathing review of Zeta, calling her “past it” and Lou’s comic routine “at times inventive.” He wrote coolly about the rest of the troupe but took almost two paragraphs to single out Ruby. He called her a “shining star” and a “supreme example of Southern womanhood.”

Edward Rose was a theater critic for The Sunday Times. His review was much more flattering for everyone, and he highlighted Ruby as “luminescent” and mentioned King Edward VII’s attendance of the show.

Another influential critic who had been on hand to see the performance was Clement William Scott. He was known to be cutting but also flowery in his critiques and seemed to enjoy all of the acts except one.

He was known to attack the morals of theater people and especially actresses and had given an interview on the subject in 1898. He said theater warped people’s character, and it was impossible for a pure woman to be successful in a stage career. He further stated that all leading actresses were immoral and could only achieve their success by compliance.

He later apologized and recanted his remarks and was ultimately barred from theaters, and his newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, fired him, though he freelanced at other papers.

In his review of the show, he singled out the Vadas sisters for showing too much petticoat and too much leg. He said it was “unseemly” and “unnecessary” and furthermore went on to say that even “the undoubted star of the show, Ruby Sutton” showed “far too much breast.”

“How dare he!” Ruby said, throwing the newspaper down.

Bessie bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Ruby, come now! Look at these papers! Everyone is singing your praises!”

“It’s undignified! My costumes are nothing out of the ordinary. Zeta wears the same.”

Bessie rolled her eyes. “Zeta is not a beautiful young woman who has captured the eye of the king of England!”

Ruby was instantly diverted. “Not captured. But he did invite me to the ball!”

“I’m extremely jealous,” Bessie told her.

“Don’t be! I’ll probably be bored stiff with no one to talk to.”

“Ha! More like danced off your feet and fending off the men from all sides.” Bessie took a sip from her coffee cup. “You must tell me every single detail tomorrow morning!”

21

Ruby didn’t know what to expect at the ball. She wore the garnet-colored dress that she had purchased at Bloomingdale’s as she knew it showed off her figure.

Devonshire House was the London residence of the Duke of Devonshire. It was a grand house where many ostentatious gatherings were held, including a costume ball in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Louisa, Duchess of Devonshire, was one of London’s foremost political hostesses.

Ruby was greeted by the butler, and when she gave her name—as she had no invitation—he merely bowed and admitted her. Once inside the foyer, she joined many women who were dressed beautifully in all manner of colors, and it seemed as if Ruby had walked into a field of pretty wildflowers. The chandeliers sparkled, and the women in their jewels glittered. She nodded to complete strangers. When a footman passed by with a tray of champagne glasses, she took one.

She sipped it carefully, remembering only too well the consequences of the last time she had drunk champagne. She recognized no one, but several men eyed her with interest while one old woman took out her quizzing glass to view her. Ruby almost felt like an exotic caged animal. She took another sip, and then a hush fell upon the room.

The king and queen had arrived. The king looked as he had the night before in his freshly pressed evening clothes while the queen was dressed in a cream-and-gold gown with her auburn hair pulled back. She had a regal and serene way about her, and Ruby watched as everyone bowed and curtsied as they walked through the crowd.

The king was gregarious and made comments here and there as he nodded to his friends.

“My dear Alix,” he said suddenly. “I told you about that vaudeville troupe I saw yesterday. Splendid they were!”

“Yes, Bertie. So you did,” the queen acknowledged.

“Come. Let me present the star of the show to you. She was most magnificent.”

The king moved forward, and Ruby had only enough time to put her drink aside before she was facing the king and his wife.

“My dear Alix. I would like to present to you Miss Ruby Sutton. Miss Ruby Sutton, Her Majesty Queen Alexandra.”

“Your Majesty.” Ruby descended into her elegant curtsy.

The queen smiled at her. “Bertie has spoken of little else since he saw the show yesterday. He spoke of a Chinese magician and a dancing duo.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I very much wanted to see it, but I was feeling poorly last evening.”