The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-15
She Found Her
Vocation
By EUNlCl:. BLAKE


of age. by the death Of first her fathc
and a few months later her mot.rr,
found herself responsible for the sup
port of herself and several brothers
and sisters very much younger than
herself What should she do t. feed
and clothe her little ones? She had
shown some talent in private theatri
Gals for histronics and had been told
that she would achieve success Oh the
stage. An old friend of her mother
offered to advance a certain sum by
which she might receive some educa-
herself Of 1t. taking lessons Of an elo-
cutionist.
Her instructor did not encourage her.
He told her that her enuncation was
peculiar to herself and that it was I'M
attractive. AS for her action, especial
ly her facial expression, it was all that
could be desired. But she could not
hope to please with that alone, and her
enunciation would SO repcl an audi
ence that her valuable qualities would
not be appreciated.
Helen's friends told her that this was
rubbish. She had pleased private au-
diences and she would with the same
gifts please the public. Helen believed
them because she preferred to believe
them She did not know that intimate
friends, even If competent critics, will
seldom give an unbiased criticism. AS
for professional critics. while they may
Judge as to what is artistic, when it
comes to Judging what the public will
fancy they are as much at sea as any
one else.
Helen. encouraged by her friends,
persevered. After hasty preparation
she attempted. with the assistance Of
friends. to get an engagement. She
was offered parts In which she would
have but few words to say. but she
felt that they would give her no OppOr.
tunity to show what she could do, and
she pushed on for something better. |
Finally, ut the earnest solicitation Of
a friend, she was given trial. 1t was
arranged that she should understudy
for part that would test her powers,
and the person whom she was under |
studying agreed to give way to her as |
soon as she was ready to make the |
trial.
In due time she appeared In the role |
she had been preparing for. She made
a dismal failure. She felt her part,
acted her part, but she could not speak
her part. AS her preceptor had warned
her, her enunciation spoiled the whole.
"What shall | do?" she moaned. Il
have spent the money furnished me to
study and have failed"
II have heard" said her instructor.
that these men who show moving
photographs are beginning to give little
plays. IL you are In need Of money
you might make something In that
way"
Helen's heart sank within her.
What-give up her dreams of having
her name posted In enormous letters
rs famous actress, to be photo
graphed for Il ten cent show! Horrible!
Nevertheless, going home to lot of
hungry children. with nothing to buy
food for them, sent her the next day to
a studio where Il picture play was just
beginning to be made ready for pres
entation to the public. Although the
manager had no experience at that
early date in producing such plays, 1t
occurred to him that the chief feature
In them was the acting. especially the
facial expression. Beauty was also an
advantage, and Helen was comedy.
'Let me see You look like n thief
caught red han''"d." he said
Helen Obeyc,
"GoOd. Now laugh. Good again!
Look at me with naughty contempt.
Excellent! You are condemned to
death. You are an innocent girl listen
ing to the first words of love. That
will do. You have the power Of ex-
pressing by your face what you feel.
In your case words are not needed.
What salary do you expect?'
Whatever You choose to pay"
81 will start you Mt S25 n week. but
I am sure you will soon be worth more
than that
Helen was surprised. How easy was
the getting of this situation compared
with her efforts to secure trial mt
which she had failed. The manager
advanced weeks salary, anxious to
bind the bargain and fearing some 9TH
er manager would get her away from
him.
He gave her Il part In the play that
he was about making photographs for,
and 1t was at once evident that she
would make great success. And she
did.
Helen Wartield within few months
was receiving 500 week and is now
a prime movie favorite. She has seen
the day when famous actors and
actresses are proud 10 perform by pho
tograph. She has Il genius for in
terpreting humanity by expression.
though she has no gift whatever for
rendering 1t In speech. The plays Sc
ected for her are such as may be rem
Tered In this way. She has acted the