The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-07
BILLIE BURKE. 2e TODAY,
 IS DAUGHTER OF
 TRICK MULE CLOWN

There are some people so all-fired stuck-up and egregiously egotistical that, given a parent who was trick mule clown. they would seek to hide that fact Not 60 With Billie Burke, the beautiful little actress who. all though her Dir thday celebration today marks only her twenty mile stone, has risen to the front rank of stars on both American and English stages. Miss Burke's father, also named Billie Burke. was a clown, but he was a leader in his profession and utation he made. All of the biggest shows on earth sought his services and those of his wonderful trick mule, which was at the time the most re- markable jackus in captivity, and could do most everything but talk
 Although she has spent a large part of her life in Europe, Miss Burke is of American birth. She was born in Washington, D.. C.. August ', 1886. Her mother, Blanche Burke, had been on the stage, and was a woman of con- siderable theatrical ability Originally Miss Burke's front name was. Ethel, but she later adopted the monaker of Billie. in honor of her father. The young lady was about ten years old when her father decided that*the mu- sic halls of Europe offered greater financial opportunities for himself and mule than American circuses and the family went abroad. Miss Burke was educated in France and became pro- f1ciept in languages and music The teachers of s'little carrot-top" assure ed her parents that Billie, IT,, had a great future as an. opera singer Her moth CT thought she was destined for the s'legit.'' while her father believed she would become star of the music hall and variety stage Anyway, every body who knew Billie was certain that she would do something. and do if better than it had ever been done be- fore. Many paths opened before the girl, but alT led toSSome theatrical goal and success.
 Miss Burke decided that she could sing, and at the age of sixteen she made her professional debut at the Pavilion Music Hall in London, sing ing coon song and German bal lad George Edwardes saw, her, and at once engaged her for a small part in The School ,Girl.'' in which Edna May was the bright particular star Miss Burke sang a little ditty entitled My Little, Canoe,'' and the .morning papers the day after made her the talk of the town.
 MT George in which Miss Burke next appeared, was an utter failure but the girl actress did not suffer in reputation from the fizzle, and she immediately made a hit in, the role oi the adventures lin Mrs Penderbury' 5 Past.'' Charles Frohman then decided that it was time for his find to re- urn to her native land, which she did as leading lady for John Drew. She scored heavily in My Wife" opening in New York in the autumn Of 1907 Next year she became star in Love Watches" and won host of admirers from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
 Miss Burke has a home in both Lon don and New York. She is a mother by due process of law, having adopted Miss Cheridah Watson-commonly called "Cherry"-as her own daughter 'fCherrys" mother was friend oi Miss Burke, and when she died the actress adopted the orphan and has given her an excellent education with a view to fitting her for the stage. Miss Burke is said to have Journalistic as pirations, and expects to become a newspaper woman when she retires from the stage.