The evening world., 1911-11-18
Acting Is Only "Child's
Play" and Good Acting IL
Gust Being NATURAL and
Not Up-Stagev," All Very
Easy II You knop HOw.
YCHARLES

puttoheu ieeI uiuhI Co"io
within Q foot Of the door.
yet the Littlest Leading Lady Of the
stage sat up straight and talked IN
the same way. And the charmingly
childish part OF II all was that the
Littlest Leading Lady OF 1.-THE Lit.
tlest Rebel" wasn't the least bit lofty.
She Just talked and talked as though
the stage were a playhouse for chill.
dren and then ended the bothersome
old interview" with a period that
my closed lips won't forget in a
hurry. Some day. when she 70 tall
and naughty. I may chat with her
again, but It will not be the same.
for then she will merely give me her
hand instead OF her
But I'm going to keep that a deep
secret. because It's worth keeping. An.
other thing that I must be careful
about is the Littlest Leading Lady s
age. That's important. because the
Gerry Man may be peeking over .hs
top OF this column. And the Gerry
Man. o must know. is the long.
armed. grim DOGGY that catches help.
less children OF the stage who are under
eight. But don't be afraid; Julie,
Shelby Is old enough 10 know what
she Is doing.
stage whisper" a Gerry man almos,
scared me to DEATH"
Her hushed words sank into a deer
pause. We glanced around. Thank
heaven, We were behind closed doors
YES" added the pretty child. "hs
came to me In Chicago and asked s
lot OF questions. and I didn't know
what to say. I'm sure he thought
wasn't eight, but"-she turned to lool
through her yellow curls agaln-"I'n
eight. really! And. anyway. I've beer
acting ever so long,"
whats acting?" I asked. anxiou,
TO learn.
ACTING IS "cHlLD's PLAY" II
HER.
! "Chlld's play" answered Miss Ruth
without turning a curl.
"what?" 1 gasped.
"Child's play the knowing It'll,
one repeated. regarding me with open
eyed surpeise.
You don mean it's like playing Will
dolls?" I-gulped.
"oh. no!" cried Miss Juliet. That
quite important.
Important I demanded.
Yes" she emphasized. dwelling he
blue eyes at me. ''Oh. yes! ! couidn'
go on without Katherine, you know"
who's Katherine?" I inquired u o
the darkest depths Of ignorance.
why. she's one OF the most i'm
portant characters in the play. Dom
you remember"
l a sorry. but l didn't.
"Oh. dear.' fldgetted Miss Juliet
she's Katherine Thorpe; now you know
don't your"
There was nothing to DO but throw
up both hands. Miss Juliet spread he
blue eyes over my painful embarrass
ment. and then added:
She's named after the dearest littl
playmate | ever had-Katherine Thorpe.
This vas the place for a large, expires
sive "Oh!'' and / put 1t In.
Yes continued Miss Juliet. Katie
r!ne comes from Blanchard. Louisiana
where l was born. and she's such
noted DOLL"
II didn't know" I apologized
Amusement again lighted those blu
eyes. A m passed before Mis-
Juliet could bring herself to say:
Katherine vas with me in Game
Kirby and The Master Key and 'Th
Woman OF To-day with Nine. Kalici
and A Fool There Was with Robel
Hnliard. and all sorts OF plays In stock.
Then she's not a new doll?"
"Oh. no." replied Mss juliet. "Kath'
rine's really old-timey. She's been In a
the plays that / have. and ! couldn
get along without her. She has cha
acter-that's what makes her 30 In
%portant.. They had to send on for HI
when we opened In Chicago. The
brought me dozens OF dolls. but thu
wouldn't do because they didn't ha'
any character. Katherine was In Brady
, storehouse for two whole months. az
/, wasn't | angry. thought
ONLY IoW-ClAss ACTORS AR
4 mia -