The national leader., 1889-05-04
ELSIE LESLIE.
The Child Actress Who Plays Lord
FauntlerOy.

Mrs. Burnett had written for ST. Nich-
olas a short story called "Editha's
Burglar, ." the story of little girl who
tried to influence burglar not to
"burgle" loud enough to awake or
frighten her mother. Mr.. Augustus
Thomas dramatiZed the story, making
acharming little play which MT. Froh-
man of the Lyceum Theatre wished to
bring out. The question was who.
could act Edithd- 1t must be child,
of course, and 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 Well she embodied the
character. Her success as Edithd
led naturally to her playing the part OF
Fduntleroy and now the little girl is
lnseparably 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
family are English. but they have for
some years been settled in America.
On neither side have there been any
actors, though there have been a few
writers and more clergymen. Elsie's
dramatic genius IS surprise to every
one, and it is as great 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 III
her ears, But this only proves that she
can act FaWatlerOy because she is like
him In heart, and spirit. and feeling.
She had been playing for little time
with Mr.. Joseph Jefferson in "Rip
Van Winkle" before she undertook
Edithd. AS Meenie and HendricE her
ability was clearly shown. and when
"Fauntleroy" 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 admirably trained and very judlci-
ously cared for. Undoubtedly she pos
sesses a genius, which, sooner or later,
surely would have asserted itself. And
she has her future to consider above all
things. She is 10 be we'll educated. and
l think her professional life at present
tends toward that. No chilG's per.
fornance could Re better than her
FduntlerOy. Through the pages of st.
Nicholas the story had SPOKEN to
thousands; and dramatiZing it was only
10 extend its sweet influence. There
had never before been a play all cen
tered about child; with DO love-story,
very little slde-plot; the moral lesson
just what the child's life taught.
Here. at last, was such a play, ard l
think of all children l have known;
Elsie was best fitted to enact the hero.
Perhaps l could do no better than to
give my readers All account of an ac-
tual day in Elsie's life.
l have told you Of Elsle's sunny
room-there, late in the morning, she
awakes. Meta, her French nursery
governess, appears, and Elsie is bathed
and dressed and has simple, whole
some breakfast. I think sometimes it
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 bit better than any other
little girl to have the little tangles
combed out of her profuse golden hair.
(And just here may mention for the
benefit of Interested readers that Elsie
never wears wig.)
The shower of golden tresses which
FduntlerOy tosses about are all natural,
as she knows to her sorrow many a
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
full doInment, though L 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 la'iy''-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 or at
the riding-sehool, then home again
blooming and gay, She has her lun-
cheon, more play-and then cOInes the
tug Of war, the afternoon nap! Oh, |
know all children will sympathize with
her dislike Of this! Tie other day
visions OF my childhood arose as Elsie
tried TO postpone the unWelcOme hour!
We had been talking and then cams
the order:
Now, Elsie, time for your nap!"
Elsie Is sitting on my lap. We have
been discussing various things. and she
remarks: "Oh-well-one moment
sUhat-were you saying about-'um-
riding--''
"Elsie!" comes gently from her
mother again: You must go to bed
now"
Elsie slides down NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the door-goes down the hall-comes
back.
"Well-see heretofore you 60
oh, / knotD what wanted TO say. Car
you play any or the "Pearl o. Pekln?''
l confess my incapaclty for this per-