The Washington herald., 1916-07-04

wv dlC NOu WI 49,
words Mr.. Griffith ever
spoke to me.
q am Mary Pickford," l replied
saucily, "and I want to see the man
ager of the studio"
Well, Little Miss Independence,
won't do?" And he looked at me
with hurt eyes, but smiling lips.
Indeed you won't. And l glanced
at him haughtily. then continued,
Il will talk to the manager OF this
studio or no one"
IF that's the case, you can talk
to me-" And Mr.. Griffith smiled
down at me triumphantly, like the
great schoolboy he can sometimes
be-
For minute l stood my guard
and then | realized too late what an
uncomplimentary mistake ! had
made. But at fifteen one has a
great deal OF assurance which dIsap-
pears as one grows older. so / soon
Tcgained my poIse and told him con-
hucntly that had come there ex-
pectlng to be engaged as moving
picture actress.
W hat experience have you had
that makes you think you would 90
well IN pIctureS:' he asked me a
little arTogantly, to tease me.
Two years with Mr. Belasco and
ten years on the stage, / replied
with curl OF my lips. That's the
experience l have had
vi course this amused him highly,
SO he continued with his banterlng
questions.
"A young lady with such remark
able experience would demand a
great deal OF money. And he look
ed at me silly.
Then, at the question OF salary,
my whole manner changed a bit
q have been getting thirty-hve dol
lars week. and | laid great stress
upon it. But as an atterthought
added, Pm willing to take lcssG
His laughter following this struck
a jarring note with me, but still
| persisted in telling him how we'll
| would do in pictures once | was
given an opportunity.
Very well" and he led me from
the office out to the stage. well
sec what you can do this after
| noon"
OH I gaspcd. You're not 60
ing to make me act before a camera
today, are you, Nithout-w,thOut
rehearsing?" added.
YES" he tormented. you've as
sured me how splendid an actress
you are and now | am going to put
you to the test
AS we walked across the stage,
the group OF actors and actresses
turned and stared at nc, wondering
who the little girl was Mr.. Griffith
was going to try out before the
camera.
Kate Bruce, dear old Daddy Mil
Ter, Owen Moore, Arthur Johnson,
Mack Sennett, Marion Leonard and
Florence Lawrence all gathered
around the scene, listening to Mr..
Griffith giving me instructions as to
what l was to do, smiling at my
staring eyes and flushed cheeks
which betrayed me Immediately as
an amateur in this moving picture
field
What am I to do frst?" I asked
Mr.. Griffith, trying to look him
steadily in the eyes, though | was
fascinated by the studio floor. which.
in my nervousness, seemed to undu-
late in rising and falling waves.
"You are to walk through that
door and enter this room here"
were his first instructions. Once
you are in the room, do anything
that comes into your mind-in fact,
just follow your most natural i'm
pulse"
That walk of a few feet to the
door seemed like a long, tiresome
road to eternity, for l was conscious
of the whispering people around me,
I was blind from nervousness, and
l missed the footlights and audi
ence. Then, again, the blue lights
dazed me, and the click of the
camera terrified me.
Forget your voice" Mr.. Griffith
called out to me. 1--WE don't have
lines here-lines mean nothing and
pantomime is everything. Enter into