New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-21
Just Enthusiastic, Normal
Girl Despite Fact She's
a National Celebrity.
HELPS HER MOTHER
WITH HOUSEWORK
Also Takes Care of Baby, Goes
to School and-Builds
Battleships.

Jast what is Marjorie Sterrett like.
this thirteen year-old girl whose i'm
prlsive letter Of two weeks ago has
started the battleship fund 10 which
thousands Of children ell over the coun-
try are contributing? Almost every one
by this time has seen her in the news
papers or in the motion pictures and
has formed an impression Of a pretty
and healthy young girl, with long eurls
and a laughing mouth. But there are
lots Of school girls OF her age with
curls and & nice mouth and blue eyes,
and Marjorie has , disposition and a
character that are all her own.
The principal thing that her brand
new friend was anxious 70 discover
about her was Simply the solution OF a
problem;
Here is . school girl, just in her
teens. whose life until two weeks ago
has been concerned with going TO
school, helping her mother with the
housework and with the baby and in s.
few simple amusements, principally
reading, for she devours everything
that comes her way. Suddenly she be-
comes a celebrity, with columns and
columns printed about her every day in
newspapers from New Yori. 70 the Pa
cific. Even her friend T. r. might envy
her the publicity that she is getting,
AID already people are beginning 70
stare at her in the street or IN the
cars, with an 81 wonder where I've seen
her before" expression that would make
a wise and older young lady than Mar
jorie quite vain. Nine out of ten girls
and boys and about nineteen out of
twenty crown-ups would undoubtedly
be spoiled by this in a week.
But Marjorie has been in the lime
l;-ht for more than twice as long as
that. and she is still the simple, i'm
py!sive school girl that she was before
she swoke one morning TO find herself
famous; and il is the confident behet
of every one who knows her that she is
going to stey that way, even though she
eventually have TO employ secretary
10 help her with the exciting task OF
opening her mornings mail before she
goes off 10 school.
Mariorie's life in the last FIVE or six
years has not been in the least dull.
She has lived on a farm and has at
tended q little country schoolhouse two
miles from home; she has spent one or
two years, she isn't quite sure which, IN
snail villages, and besides that has
lived in Pittsburgh, Erie and Philadel-
- OIL, as she graphically says, some
whers between all Of them" She hai
had lots of good times that most city
children know nothing about she has
ridden miles buried deep in swaying
hay wagons; there have been winter
battles behind snow forts, sleighrides
and picnics, but in spite OF them she
likes the city best. The country is too
sleepy. and you can't find good books in
the library. even If there happens 10 be
one where you live"
In other words. Marjorie Sterrett is
lust a bright, healthy and pretty
American girl, though she may have
mere decisive ideas and convictions
than most, with an ambition TO get
ahead that will carry her far some day.
She is the sort Of girl that everybody
likes at first sight; not in the least pre-
cocious just nice girl, with an ardent
conviction and faith in other people.
And that may be the reason that Mar
jorie will some day ehristen new
wsrship, with the name America, under
the Stars and Stripes.