Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-21

fWO LITTLE MARYS,
ENGLISH AND CELTIC
4 Artcraft Star Alternately Ruled
Rv British and Irish Strains
in Blood

N - vou were an actress with a following
:. vas world wide II you had youth
- beauty and all the things stunning
LIMA ~ can give II you were, In fact, the
u.'ssr Of the movies (the "waities," a clever
Soung woman dubbed them after some
y,'a,o experience of sitting around), would
~. n,ne for other world audiences to con-
; ~ or for the care-free life of shop
With nothing to do from o'clock at
s,u., III the next morning? Probably
-, And yet Mary Pickford finds herself
-,shing she were some one else instead of
she most popular movie actress In the
world
h a .cor,etimes I wish ! were a shop girl
-.rking ten hours a day for SO n week"
ss,ss Mary was sitting in one of those half
L.Ij rooms that always clutter the floor of
3 nicture studio. There were half dozen
SIMILAR rooms sitting around, with players
sssbing In and out while directors shouted
nd camera men cranked. She hung her
S.ea with its little-girl curls and then cast
Ssr eves up in that shy, appealing way of
Ssrs that always elicits a murmur of joy
SSrnm the movie millions when they see 1t
On the screen.
.put the incest part about It," she con-
x,rued "is that l am not fooled by that
Ssenp wish I know that Is not the real
& Wary Pckford that IL l were any one else
A. n had to give up acting for the screen
ahOuld, De UlOSI unhappy "hu "pui" NohS
swing back If ! could. You see, | am two
~s,v different persons. My father was Irish
and my mother English; have my fathers
s,isb Imagination and my mothers Eng
Hsh practical nature. and between the two
I sometimes have a difficult time of it, SO
n Ia only when am tired out, as | am now,
mai find myself discouraged with myself
And wishing I were standing behind a
sounter instead of sitting in my Pierce.
1T is a terrific strain to keep up to a
sart through a long period, to maintain the
K same spirit and enthusiasm. to play In the
\ aame mood in the end as at the beginning
.r wish could be ttmperamental," and
Miss Pickford wrinlSled her pretty forehead
a. II she were seriously disappointed with
herself at not fully measuring up to the
artistic standard. when I was a little
sirl--I began acting when was five--I saw
10 many temperamental actresses that de-
cided would never be one. I really think
\ both the managers and the public expect
!. IN actress to be temperamental don't you
4 I believe they have much more respect for
Il 1 star who comes in late with her maid
and carrying two Poms, and who, when she
b criticized for being late, screams and
hints. Some time / am going to take a
month off and see If I can't learn to be
bmperamental.
II always try when I begin work with a
new manager, but he soon finds I am like
anybody else, and isn't at all frightened
I, Instead am the one who Is scared II I
en- late, for instance, think up a hundred
excuses for myself and almost make myself
\ m worrying for fear the director will get
me- Now, If were real actress l could
\ hint when he spoke sternly and wouldn't
have to worry"
Like the truck driver who spends his day
eh each week riding on his truck, Miss
pickford passes her spare time watching
he movies
Sometimes go to see a play" she said,
but more often go to the movies. The
Z nalism of pictures has spoiled me for
x nays OF the theatre; their settings are so
eften artificial. Usually when I 60 to a
X Picture theatre l go in late and with my
J hat pulled down and few persons recognize
= me- sometimes / even go in by the back
\ door so as not to be seen. 1t isn't that
~ don't appreciate the affection of my
public-all of us are human enough for
mat-it is the curiosity of the crowd ]
\ 6nt like"
In what form does the popularity that
yours express itself?"
IN letters mostly. My mail runs from
syhty to $50 letters day. Some of them
are expressions of appreciation of my work
X many contain questions about It, A large
number are from mothers asking my ad.
Vice about letting their daughters become
actresses, or from daughters themselves"
Are you your favorite actress?"
H Miss Pickford was startled just for ar
Instant and then she said
NJ IF I were-as bad an actress as I think
am wouldn't be given the smallest part!
"A % pictures. / know this sounds bromide
a and You may not believe me, but just the
eame l have no illusions about my work
sometimes / get awfully discouraged with