The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-19

on the stage. I was so surprised that
1 said Yes without thinking.
Well, 1 went into the chorus of
The Belle Of New York Not the New
/ York company, but a road organization,
with Edward Connolly in Dan Days
role. we played in every spot on the
map that was small enough. I was
promoted to show girl, and they gave
me line to say. No one but the actors
ever heard me say it with my weak,
scared voice, but when the season
closed Mr.. Connolly gave me his photo
graph inscribed TO the rising Young
actress 1 was a fat little girl in those
days, and Mr.. Harris's present press
representative. who was ahead of the
I show in those days, didn't recognize
me as the same girl until I reminded
him recently of the incident. He doesn't
remember me now, though he
Then came Liberty Bellies We
weren't chorus girls or show girls in
that. Everybody had at least a line
to say. In The Two Schools which
came later. had even more of think
ing part Nothing to say. / had two
months as show girl in The Girl from
Kays, but-weH, 1 didn't like it, and
I didn't do anything else that season.
Then I was with Louis Mann in The
Second Fiddle and with Lulu CHASER
during her New York engagement, and
then again with Louis Mann in Julie
Bomb
u think the first time attracted
attention was in The BOndsman.' Will
ton Lackaye noticed me one day when
he came to rehearsal.
Who is that girl? he asked the
stage manager.
Her name is Ferguson said the
stage manager I think she's English
Mr.. Lackaye looked at me.
No, she isn't he said Look at
her feet That was a compliment.
wasn't it? I got my first real news
paper notice with The BOndsman.' too.
l saved it, of course, and I sent copies
to all Of my friends, especially to those
who hadn't taken me seriously.
"One Of my pleasant experiences was
playing in London with Cyril Maude in
The Earl of Pawtucket.' Ny engage
ment was for eight weeks, and Mr.
Maude wanted me to stay on as his
leading woman.
'Oh. almost forgot one of my am
billions. 1t was to have a dressing
room on the stage level. In the DAYS
when had to climb two or three
flights of stairs half dozen times dur
ing a performance used to envy those
lucky people who could walk right into
their dressing rooms without going up
single step. How those stairs used
to stretch during a performance"
The memory of stair climbing, or
WEAKNESS from a mornings shoDDin q
caused Miss Ferguson to fall into a
reVerie from which she was aroused
by a request for some amusing stories
Of her experiences.
What, without having a chance to
think them up?" she exclaimed. You
are like "a vaudeville agent I once heard
about When a performer went to him
to ask for bookings thls agent used to
glare at him through thick glasses and
say, SO you are a comedian and want
a job? Well, make me laugh
Some people always seem to have
things happening to them. but I'm not
one Of them. Now that Pm a star /
suppose I shall have to- think up in
cidents Of my early life. OF ask some
one to invent them for me- But. hon
estly, 1 can't think Of a single thing"
Miss Ferguson disprOved the letter
Of. her remark by remembering an an
pointment with a photographer.
4 don't mind having photographs
taken" she said. only about one in
for lot to get that"