The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-30
Pretty Little Florence Webber Didn't Have to
 Court Popularity the Stage II Just Game
ny DOLLY DALRY MPLE

ously-all soft and round and deli- ciously lovely as she was, in the daint- lest of pale pink pegnoirs yesterday when I saw her In her apartment at the Tutwiler-and then she came out with. characteristic honesty and told me the whole truth
 "Did I have to be coaxed to go on the stage and try my hand at winning popularity and fame she repeated after me NO. I always meant to be a star and although I'm an 'only'-that means an only c-h-e-e-i-l-d of course -T persuaded my fond parents to let me be footlight fairy and while they re- luctantIy consented l finally gained my point
 How funny that they'd ever let you do so. Parents with one child are like an old hen with one chick--they make such a fuss I observed
 "yes. I know little Miss Webbel said ouaintly, but they'd get the moon for me if I expressed a desire for ii. The only thing they won't let me do is to get married and I've got the incest sweetheart you ever saw
 Here she interpolated little mote. that was perfectly adorable even if + did spell displeasure.
 'Yes.e she went on. T Just took things in my hands when ! decided to go on the stage and went. l had my own recipe for happiness and that recipe is doing what most appeals to you That's the way I'll do about get ting married when the time comes"
 -I. I1-i i,,e- about blackberry jam or apple but ter.
 Didn't you study al some sort of school, or coach, or do something like that?" l inquired. You must have, even if 1t happened to be only cor respondence school, or something of the sort"
 sOh, of course I had voice 10 be- gin with, and I studied vocal like any other girl when l was a little bitty up in Indianapolis You know that's my home town.'
 An adorable little 'Hoosier girl I observed.
 @oh, thank you, little Miss Webber said in a rather pleased manner as she threw her pretty head back show ing the lines of the loveliest white throat as she smiled the sweetest of smiles.
 Of course all this sounds like jar eon," if you haven't seen little Miss Webber with her big sparkling brown eyes, soft as "Yama- Yana" sounds and you haven't an idea what it all means, but--well, you see. l had the pleasure of seeing her before.
 Don't you remember her as Naughty Marietta?''
 or course l knew you did.
 Remember how she just fooled about and danced and pirouetted and sang?
 II was all so far removed from things theatrical and studied that you rather thought you were at some "dansant where all your friends had gathered to- gether rather than an exhibition on the stage.
 s Oh she does that charmnslyl
 How?
 We'll you can no more catalog little Miss Webbers singing than you can cat alog a woodland bird singing out in front of your window these beautiful spring mornings.
 Her fitting and dancing and singing can't be ticketed or labeled.
 She's just Mendelssohn's Spring Song in petticoats
 What have you been doing ever since saw you as Naughty Maretta9' l in quired presently.
 ''IIeavens, when tell you know you'll drop in your tracks, I went into vaude- ville."
 sorhats not so bad, I said observantly.
 ''To me it was simply fearful she said pathetically. 'I hate vaudeville. Three weeks of it settled me and went back to musical comedy with whzz and bang and here I am again at your service
 .As matter of fact, I did not want to play Lady Luxury" Miss Webber said with genuine candor q like the frislSy, prancy, foolish things like Naughty Ma rietta and the other light things that I've done so much better. To dance, to sing, to Hitter and flirt-yes, that's what l like until one is tune jeunne file for the tune being, at least so gay. so light, so 'siry- every note one sings joy, every dance one does a pleasure, whether 1t be light al thistledown, or ponderous as the stately minuet.'
 When she stopped for moment paused, too, in order to analyze little Miss Web ber's unusual voice--I mean her talking voice It is very big and deep. especially for a tiny little bitty'' like she is, but love the throaty quality it has-ft some how goes with her dimpled little arms and tinkly little toes
 Little Miss Webber dances with her voice just as she does with her feet, and she's a perfect joy with her youth ana sweetness and gaity and laughter.
 Presently said, growing "interview-y,' and that's an awful thing to do, by the way:
 What else have you found necessary for a star to possess besides hard work and stiGSability?" q think perhaps a sense of hu- nor" little Miss Webber said reflect ively '.I am really almost another Molly -Make-Believe in my creed. take it about with me on the read' or else I'd be lost. So many tantaliz- ing things happen. one night stands, for instance You can't imagine how fearful they are. Catching trains at the most unspeakable hours. It's dreadful. wasn't it Oliver Herford who said that trains that leave at the right hour never arrive and those that ar rive at the right hour never leave, or words to that effect? Yes. l should say a. sense of humor is one Of the most necessary assets for stage as- pirant to possess of | have all knowledge and all neauty and the best press agent in the world" I paraphrased, and have not a sense of humor, l--l- "Might as well be--lost," Miss Web Der finished out the sentence, hap oily "A sense of humor the one who lshas it to believe all things, suffer all things, endure all things for arts sake and--enjoy them all!' I agreed with her that sense of 1 hulnor is a free ticket in the orchestra circle of life's show. |