The Washington herald., 1914-03-01
Of
anew LUMINARY
Unspoiled Star of Daddy Lons-Less"
Declares She Never Had Any Use
for "Cynthia" but Adores the
Quaint and Spirited Judy"

for "Cynthia" but Adores the
Quaint and Spirited Judy"
BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI.
During the second engagement Of "rhs
Rainbow" in this city Henry Miller In
formed me one evening that Miss Ruth
Chatterton and Cynthia" the girl she
was vizualizing in the play. were two
distinct and widely differing personalities
I had quite forgotten the assertion until
he left me alone with Miss Chatterton
at her hotel last Thursday afternoon
when the truth OF the remark flooded my
consciousness. and mentioned the mat
ter to the little lady with whom had
gone TO have a chat
Did he say that?" she questioned with
a tone Of gladness in her voice which was
accentuated by a quick fash of her
spontaneous smile. and without waiting
for a reinsurance on my part she con-
nded:
II never liked Cynthia"
Remembering the conquest of hearts
which the talker had made from coast
To coast in this stage girl whom she
created / felt a deal surprised.
That sounds ungrateful," Miss Chat
terton went on to say, but 1t really isn't,
for there was no depth to he character
just honeyed sweetness from head to toe
or course, j am grateful to the role in
that II brought me 50 prominently before
the public, but I have always felt that
as effective a creation of the girl could
have been achieved by any one She was
In the play and II required no genius To
present her to the public. She had no
temperament: no emotional depth; no
knowledge Of life. and less idea of IT'S
sunerings. j didn't like her. and the fact
made IL seem very funny to me when
the New York critics kept insisting thar
Cynthia" and I were one; that I was
Just myself In the vizualization of her,
Just the reverse was so much the case
that II was almost like playing charac-
ter part"
j admitted that the sweetness OF the
si1teen-year-old girl who had so much
TO do with the success Of The Rainbow
would have become cloyins in less skill
ed hands than those of Mr.. Miller's new
star. observed that her new role in
daddy Long-Legs" was quite q different
matter, and at once little Misc Chatter
ton was agfow with interest and enthu-
siasm-
"Judy Is wonderful" she told me, .-Mr.
Miller could not have selected q play Ia
which to feature me which / could ever
have loved so much as do Daddy Long
Legs nor fictitious girl to vizualixe SO
filed with possibilities as Judy You see
with Cynthia II was as have said She
was there In the play, and what
achieved in presenting her to the pubic
was all due to Mr.. hillers own ideas
and training. There was nothing for me
to create But from the very beginning
OF rehearsais for Daddy Lons-Legs' he
has left me pretty much alone to work
out my own salvation, and that Of IN.
heroine Of Miss webster's story. Aside
from some technical training, he has
allowed me to present my own concep-
ton OF Judy and IL has been a great
delight, for she Is so human. She has
temper and temperament. brains and
heart. and a sympathetic understanding
or what goes on In the hearts OF other
foik, and Just as vital a part OF her Is
her keen and genuine humor"
While Miss Chatterton talked The
Judy 1 had seen her create IN the first
performance of Miss lean
Webster's dramatization OF her own story
at the New National Theater last Mon
day seemed to have come into the room,
FOR the temperament. the charm, the
culture, and refinement which the play
wright has given the young ward Of
Daddy Lons-Legs" is embodied by
Miss Chatterton.
And Mr.. Miller was quite correct in the
-emark he made TO me more than a year
ago. Miss Chatterton and her Cynthia
'f The Rainbow" are in exact anthithe-
sis, for Miss Chstterton, like the
quaint and appealing heroine OF Miss
oh fs
,apable Of deep emotion. ana has an un-
Of life despite her tender and
protected years For she is the youngest
'tar on the stage. being just twenty, a
act which she does not altogether ap-
srove.
Il have been begging Mr. Miller for
/ year not to feature me-" she told me
With n frankness and honesty which
'ould not doubt, as strange as 1t all
ounded.
1T has never seemed Just right to me
or a girl who has achieved so little OF
cal success TO be starred while there
IRE countless others who have worked
or years and years to gam Just this
hing"
And who will work many more with
tut gaining IT," l interrupted. Years
4 labor cannot extract from any one
hat which does not exist within them
Which did not seem 10, IN any way,
liter the opinion of the little lady that
he honor which Mr.. Miller has bestowed
pom her is quite undeserved. I laughed
utright at her very great modesty. II
eemed very funny to be considering for
moment that Mr.. Miller would stake
o much as he is doing in featuring Miss
'hatterton in this new play by a new
playwright unless he was very sure of
he worthiness of both, a fact to which
called Miss Chatterton's attention
That is a comfortable thought she
Omitted.
And after a little silence she turned
er fiower-like face to me. and II was
right with the sort OF smile that cries
ut to the world:
II have youth. I have ambition.
elieve in myself. believe in eveesbody,
nd l am very happy"
But the words which came to her lips
ere:
II have worked hard. for the most Bit
IT grief that can imagine for myself
ould be to have Mr.. Miller disappointed
me-
nTnrI nm A A