The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-26

reticence and told the story of how
she had made an actress out OF the
child-sirl of the tent world And as
the first Polly OF. the Circus progressed
in her narrative of the successful de-
Heiopment Of the new Polly, her blue
eyes smiled and spanked out of sheer
delight and enthusiasmhan and infinite
pleasure over her achievement and
what il had comeito mean and be to
the girl who had watched her for so
long from the wings. then hoping. al
ways hoping for, What now was. a'
So My attention" Taliaferro be,
gan. was first attracted TO Ida during
the play of Polly oh the road had
noticed her watching the performance
from the wings night after night until
her time for appearance came. and
even afterwards. She never hurried
away fromLthe .theatsr when her act
in the stage circus ring was over but
remained back of the scenes i'm her
costume, keeping track of every turn
in the final evolution of the play. Her
dainty personality and the fact that |
felt that the part l was interpreting
IN the play WAS the little girls own
real role in life gradually drew me to
hcr. one day | said to her: Tell me,
dear. why you are always so quiet?'
The child looked at ME for IA mo-
ment and replied. simply: Because |
want to watch YOU
Watch me- | said. Why
Because you and Polly are what |
want more than anything in the
world
In this way" continued Miss TaIia-
ferro. Il learned Of the child's ambi-
tion. and was astonished when she told
me that she had memorized my pairt i'm
its entirety. | made up my mind on
the SPOT that the child would get an
opportunity IL show what she, could
do. although | kept my little scheme
all In myself. Several days later. i'm
bridgeport, Conn. accordingly, | pur-
pnsely remained away from re-
hearsal and the girl of the circus ring
Was gwen change to read Poily's
lines. Unseen by anyone | made my
way into the auditorium of the thea
ter after the rehearsal had got under
way, and, from behind pillar.
watched the child go through nv part.
Although l could see many flaws in
her work. 1 saw enough to convince
me that my judgment of her ability
Was right. and forthwith determined
on a real test
The test came at Wednesday mat
ihee week later, when | sent word To
the theater AT the last moment that |
was too ill to appear. The little cir
Gus girl was told 10 go in in my stead.
and the way she played the part
earned her several hearty curtain calls.
The manner in which she had survived
the test to- which L put her convinced
me in my determination. and | started
in To help the child to reach the goal
of her desire. In the first place | kept
her near me as much AS possible. max
ing frequent suggestions la her as To
her Carriage, her dress and her man
nerisms.
Bertha NJ. Clay and Laura Jean
Lihhey had been Ida's fayarIte forms
OF literature aud l made her throw
all Of these yellow-backed possessions
OF hers away and gave her sheridan's
plays and Dickens novels instead.
told her l didn't want her To oSerbur-
den her mind al the outset with heavy
works of shakespeare. but urged her
To read something good every week.
and tn talk the novel or play over with
me subsequently. If you can't read
something good | told her. look out
of the window The child did begin
reading. and. in her talks with me. We
went over together various points in
the study ot literature.
- Then l made her stop going 10 the
vaudeville shows, to which sh.. had
taken a fancy, and got her To gu with
NE whenever the opportunity pre-
scented hsef, 10 see good plays. At
such times | would point out tn her
the snhtlct."s and graces and tricks