The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-12-25
DOLLY ENJOYS A LITTLE CHRISTMAS EVE
CHAT WITH MR.. WILLIAM PRUETTE, JR.
STAR OF WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE.
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

K TO, it isn't true, believe me, Mr..
IN William Pruette, Jr., isn't en-
/ gagged, and he isn't likely to be
unless Dan Cupid catches him unawares
and shoots one of his deadly darts into
him while he's looking the other way and
unable to dodge it.
So
There's chance for all of you, or
or rather there is no chance at all, per-
haps, for Mr.. Pruette, although model
$780, up-to-date, young matinee hero,
evidently doesn't believe in matrimony
for a rising young man, and he certainly
is voung-the very protagonst of youth.
Matinee heroes. you know, originally
used to be awfully rakish and daredevil
and dashng, with a halo of romance sur
rounding them, but that was in the long
ago. Nowadays, my word! how the style
in matinee heroes has changed (and for
the better, I'm glad to say).
Mr. William Pruette, the son, by the
way, of the famous singer Mr.. William
Pruette who used to do wonderful things
in vocalizing when Emma Aboott was
the fashion and later warbled generously
II Want What ] Want When want
IT," with FRITZ Scheff represents the
very latest type of matinee IDOL He's
a model young man, l observed before,
and if his name had been MIR. Prude'
instead of Mr.. Pruette," he couldn't have
complained for he fulfills all the require
ments Of a hero of a front page story
in the Youths Companion, and the super
intendent of the Sunday school from
which he graduated has no cause to COM
plain
/ don't mean by any of this, you under
stand that young Mr.. Pruette is
.'goody-goody'' boy, not by a long shot,
could you say that of a fellow who was
Harvard graduate $500 and New
Yorker by birth, and all that? What
do mean Is that this tall, slender, grace
full young fellow. is very much of a gem
tleman, very elegant and well hammered,
and oh! so terribly nice for one so ter
ribly young.
Aren't you ashamed of being star at
your age?" I promptly reproachd when
met Mr.. Pruette yesterday afternoon
1.-THE idea of such q little bitty' being
away from his mother and at Christmas
time. too why who'll play Santa for
you?'
Mr. Pruette smiled a very attrac-
tive smile and said
why I can't remember when I've
spent a Christmas at home. You see,
Christmas means to me a very lonely
time and Santa Claus means two per-
formances on Christmas Day. Not much
to look forward to-eh? You see I'm a
veteran of the stage now"
Il suppose you and Mr.. Nat Goodwin
get together and compare notes." / sug.
gested facetious1y-
mot as bad as that" he laughed back
"but I've been on the stage SO long
can't even remember when I made my
debut. L chose the stage as a profession
more to perpetuate my fathers name
than anything else. You see, when he
can't sing any more I hope to be able to
follow in his footsteps and make people
remember him through me. It's a. big
| ambition, I know, but YOU see he's my
| IDEAL
| Ahem. My word! Such thoughts from
| a mere youngster were interesting, and I
| couldn't resist saying:
"And you are not ashsamed of being
| so young? You can't be over 1872
| "'Pon my word I'm lots older than
| that, he smiled back
"Granted under protest" I said quickly
when he looked so serious. "Still that
doesn't explain how you happen to be the
star of such a big show and follow Mr..
Joseph Santley, who created the part you
are playing
| YES it does" he reminded, because
| you see, as I told you, I've been on the
stage so long. However, I did feel rather
| complimented when I was chosen to fol-
low Mr.. Sant,ey because he is real Won
| der. You see I received coaching from
! playing in all the big Broadway successes
| in Stock In fact, I've done everything
except circus stunts and minstrels; but.
as you observed a few moments ago, I'm
still young
| "And, like all young men, suppose you
occasionally indulge in dreams?" I sug
gested
| "I confess that I do" Mr.. Pruette said
reluctantly.