Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-05-01
ELSIE LESLIE.
Tho Child Actress Who Plays "Loro
Fauntleroy-


Fauntleroy-
Before Little Lord FauntIeroy,"
Mrs. Burnett had written for 81. Mich
olds a short story called "Editha's
Burglar" the story of a little girl who
tried to influence a burglar not to
''burgle" loud enough to awake OF
frighten her mother. Mr.. Augustus
Thomas dramatiZed the story, making
a charming little play which Mt. Froh-
man of the Lyceum Theatre wished &c
bring out. The question was who.
could act Elitbd 1t must be a child,
of course, and a child who would enter
into the spirit of the part So it came
about that a little girl named Elsie
Leslie Lyde was chosen; all who saw
her know how we'll she embodied the
character. Her success as Editfa
led naturally to her playing the part of
FlmtlerOy and now the little girl is
Inseparably associated with her per-
feet personation OF the little lord.
Elsie Leslie Lyde is not 10 years old.
She was born In New Jersey. not far
from Newark, of mixed English and
American ancestry. Her mothers
fam ily are English, but they have for
some years been settled in America.
vi LNlNAArI oAOC nave IA4CAC DOCA &Ay
actors, though there have been few
writers and more clergymen. Eisie's
dramatic genius Is a surprise to every
one, and it is as great a surprise that
she has preserved her entire unaffected
ness, her simplicity and childish charm,
when we consider that much of her
life is passed before the footlights, and
that applause is constantly ringing in
her ears. But this only proves that she
can act FdlmtlCTOy because she Is like
him IN heart, aud spirit, and feeling.
She had been playing for little time
with Mr. Joseph Jefferson in Zip
Van Wiukler before she undertook
EdttI AS NCeHfe and Hendrick her
ability was clearly shown, and when
"FauntlerOyr was dramatiZed by Mrs.
Burnett and brought out in England.
Elsie was engaged to create the roll in
America. The child, in her home life,
Is admiralty trained and very iudlci-
ousIy cared for. Undoubtedly she pos
sesses a genius, which, sooner or later,
sue would have asserted itself. And
she has her future TO consider above al
things. She is TO be well educated, and
think her professional life at present
tends toward that No child's per.
fOrmauce could be better than heI
FGtutlsrOy- Through the pages of ST
NictOldS the story had spoken tc
thousands; and dramatizIng II was only
TO extend its sweet influence. There
had never before 1een a play all cen
tered about a child; with no love-story,
very little sIde-plot; the moral lesson
Just what the child's life taught.
Here, at last, was such play, ard i
think of all children / have known;
Elsie was best fitted to enact the hero.
Perhaps l could do no better than to
give my readers an account or an ac-
tual day in Elsie's life.
have told you OF Elsle's sunny
ToOm-there, late in the morning, she
awakes. Meta, her French nursery
gOverness, appears, and Elsie is bathed
and dressed and has a simple, whole
some breakfast. l think sometimes II
must be hard work to dress her. for she
is ION the hop, skip and jump" wanting
to take up this, that or the other, and
not liking a bit better than any other
little girl to have the little tangles
combed out or her pIofuse golden hair.
(And Just here l may mention for the
benefit OF interested readers that Elsie
never wears wig.
The shower of golden tresses which
EdImtleIOy tOsses about are all natural,
as she knows to her sorrow many
morning. AS to her dress, she wears
guimPes and Greenaway gowns at
hOme-simple, childish and pretty. and
she has keen sense of color and taste
ful idOInment, though 1 have never
detected any vanity in her. Natur-
ally she likes to find something to make
train out of and to walk about
''play ing laiy''-I should be sorry for
her If it were not so.
After breakfast she plays with her
dolls or amuses herself at her desk.
Midday sees her in the park OF at
the riding-schOol, then home again
blooming and gay. She has her lun-
cheon, more play-and then comes the
tug of war, the afternoon napI Oh,
know all children will sympathiZe with
her dislike of thisl The other day
visions OF my childhood arose as Elsie
tried to postpone the unwelcome hourl
We had been talking and then came
the order:
Now, Elsie, time for your napl"
Elsie is sitting on my lap. We have
beeu discussing various things. and she
remarks: "Oh-well-one moment
tchdt-were you saying about-'um-
| riding"
"E.sie!' comes gently from her
mother again: You must go to bed
! now"
Elsie slides down reluctantly--reaches
the dOor-goes down the hall-comes
back.
| "Well-See heretofore you go
| oh, kROt1 what l wanted to say. Can
| you play any o. the Pearl OF Pekln?''
| l confess my incapacIty for this per
formance, while Elsie hovers around
| the door.
| "Well-I cana little-oh, pleas. let
ueI'
y moment later she Is at the piano,
with head on one side, busily picking
out one of the operatic airs.
! Now, Elsie, YOU must CO."
We'll, very lugubriOusly, 81 sup,
! pose So"
And the little girl disappears in
Meta's direction, TO awake two hours
later, have a light dinner, and then
drive to the theatre
Culinary Wisdom.
Much taste. much waste.