The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-08
MABEL AND EDITH TALIAFERRO TWO LOVELY
CHILDREN OF EARTH AND DREAMS" SAYS DOLLY
by DOLLY DALRYMPLE
We never seen a wood nymph,

I've never seen a wood nymph,
I've never seen naiadl
But I've seen Mabel and Edith Talia-
ferro "on" the stage and "off."
They are the nearest approach to any
such creature, or sprite, or fairy or
dream child, of earth or heaven, that has
ever come my way.
They haye voices like the wind among
the pine trees, and the feel of them is
like moon light on the waters.
But that common humanity forbids I
should right here indite the sonnet to
the twain Of them, that has been strug-
Cling for speech in my poor little hum
BILE little mind, ever since l saw each of
| them as Polly of the Circus" some years
ago when they were little more than
children (they are nef much more now)
and first behold their unusual beauty and
heard their lovely voices of exquisite
cadence.
In the critical acceptation of the term,
you'd scarcely call either of these charm
ing girls" beauties
mean by that in the calendar or front
cover sense of the word-but they have
more than mere beauty.
You soon discover, especially after talk
ing with them few moments that be-
sides making wonderful stage pictures,
' each has a beauty of her own-each has
distinctive qualifications that make for
comliness, and each has an individuality
that is nothing short of exquisite
Mabel Talaferro is petite and dainty,
like q breath of spring when the flowers
are just bursting into bloom. and her fair
hair is like sun kissed gold, waving softly
above her fine textured skin. eburnean
in it's clarity.
Edith Taliaferro is directly the opposite;
even slighter than Mabel. and dark, with
glorious rrown eyes, and peachy cheeks,
and red lips and quantities of black hair
like a ravens wing.
You make up your mind that Mabel is
the prettier and the moment you turn
your attention to Edith you can't under
stand how you ever could think any
thing but that she is the prettier of the
two.
Such daintiness-such aristocratic bear
Ing, from the tips of their little pink
fingers to the tips of their neatly shoe
toes, you scarcely ever see in women of
the stage, and I laughingly remarked
yesterday to them, when we were having
nice little three cornered chat that
body didn't have to be told that they
came from nice white folks as we say
in the south for they look every inch,
and act every inch, the high born ladies
they are, by birth and breeding and edu
cation.
OF course called them "Tollivers."
Wouldn't you, when you've always
heard "Taliaferro" pronounced that way?
| had sneaking idea that maybe I'd
be inclined to meantion something about
how it was possible to make "Tolliver"
out of "Taliaferro' so on the way down
| to the Hillman l made up my mind that
no matter how much the conversation
might lag, or how terribly stupid l might
appear under no circumstances would
ask how they pronounced their name.
| The conversation, l may say en- passant
did not lag for a moment but | asked the
bromidic question almost Immediately
after I'd met them, and was roundiy re-
warded for my pains.
| In the tone of telling thrice-told tale,
Mabel began quickly to enlighten me
! by saying:
"You see it was this way. There were
| three brothers. ] don't know why there
must always be three. brothers to make
up story, but if you'll notice by no
! chance do you ever find two, or four,
| but alwas three. Well, there were three
Taliaferro brothers from sunny Italy.
They spelled their name then Tagliaferri,
| and they all went to war. TWO were
| killed and one was left The one VINO
| lived was a great hero. and so, also, was
one of those who was killed. That was IN