Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-12
.'LITTLE LORD FAUNTLERoY., ,,
The Original of the Hero Of Mrs. Bur-
nett's Popular Story.

From the New York Morning Journal
Perhaps the world may be better because
my little child was born"
A million mother hearts all over the land
have echoed this sweet hope VIII CHI Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett, the famous au-
thoress. has made the mother of Little Lord
Fauntleroy" say. Every one on both sides of
the ocean has read the story of the little lord,
and many have seen the play, which is now
being played to packed houses at the Broad
way theater. The name of the real little Lord
Fauntleroy is Vivian Burnett, and he is the
younger son OF Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett,
the lady who wrote the story. He is now
twelve years old, and has brother Lionel two
years older. These only children of the gifted
aushoress have been their mothers constant
companions all their lives, and although they
are both fine. healthy, sturdy lads, they are
different IN way from most boys.
Ihelr father Is physician, and they have
lived most OF their lives in Washington, going
to the seashore for the summer. When they
were tiny little tots, with long. golden curls,
and big. velvety brown eyes, they used to call
their mamma sweet, charming mammal" as
they grew older they called her sweetest"
and then that did not seem sweet enough, so,
by mutual consent they changed it to sweet
dearest, and then to dearest" the name the
little lord calls his mamma. The unusually
clever and lovable nature of the little Vivian
led his mother to put him in story, and many
Of his bright sayings are in the book. Mrs.
Burnett wrote the story in six weeks, and as
soon as her friends read it they recognized her
little Vivian as Lord Fauntleroy, and soon it
became generally known. This little Vivian is
child OF remarkable beauty, and seems to
make friends with every one. He has full,
round cherubic face. lit by great dark brown
eyes. a delicate, straight little nose, o broad
white brow and a sensitive, firm little mouth
and chin. Two years ago his long golden curls
fell over his shoulders, but they are now cut
of and put away in his mothers sandal-wood
box. He goes about with his crop of curling,
golden hair tumbled over his fair brow and
whistles and sings, laughs and plays like any
other little boy.
A year ago last September, when Mrs. Bur-
nett and her two boys went to England, little
Vivian became a social lion. He was known as
the Real Little Lord Fauntleroy.' and was
Invited to luncheons and breakfasts, where
people Of the greatest note and highest social
position delighted to do him honor. His
mother feared that her little boy would be
spoiled by so many attentions. but he seemed
to go through the furnace of hattery like pure
and unaffected child.
Vivian has been so closely associated with
grown people that he naturally uses their lam
guage. He is continually finding new ways of
to his mother were signed: Your loving son
and obedient servant, Vivian Burnett"
When the artist began to draw the pictures
for "Fauntleroy" Mrs. Burnett sent him photo
graphs of her little son, and SO the beautiful
pictures all through the book are really those
OF Vivian Burnett, even to the picturesque little
velvet suits and silken sashes. Mrs. Burnett
has always dressed her two boys in picturesque
fashion. They were photographed together a
few years ago as the princes in the tower, and
the picture was greatly admired and much
sought after. Little Vivian's shoes pinched his
little toe just as tbe camera was put i'll place,
and the pathetic Expression on his face exactly
suited the hapless little prince he represented.
This dear little lad was almost a year abroad.
and during that short time he learned to speak
French huently, and also to write it quite well,
and also to speak Italian 50 as to be under
stood. His mothers companion and secretary.
very lovely Italian lady, taught him both
languages. He can ride, fence, and play tennis,
and owns a pretty bicycle.