The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-06
By DELLA AUSTRIAN.

" HOCSANDS and thousands or
i women know Edna Ferber as the
author Of Emma McChesney,
Roast Beef Medium and Person
atty Plus" Many Of these admirers
have had the pleasure OF seeing Our
Mrs. McChesney" walk across tho
stage and of watching her at close
range to see why she is success III
business where others have failed.
Out Of all this number. how many
Know Edna Ferber. the brilliant lit
tie woman. so full of life and energy,
slight of build. auivering at times
with enthusiasm? Only her intimate
friends have been fortunate to enjoy
the lovely face, square in its outlines
and beautifully nodded. expressing
strength and keen intelligence. The
firm Jaw and aaniline nose have so
much character and determination
they suggest the strong, masculine
likeness Of Elizabeth Barrett Brown
ing; but Edna Ferber's countenance is
softened by dark. liquid eyes. eirish
smiles lowering ON those firm lips and
plenty OF enthusias SIN, that gives color
and life to an otherwise serious ex-
preston, made more serious looking
by tho olive tint and the dark curls
that nestle on her high forehead
Misc EerbAr Is a born actress. She
would have been on the stag re II news
paper and magazine work had not
claimed her first. As YOU watch her
expressive face respond to her every
mood and her gesture emphasize her
thoughts. YOU arc sure she has dra-
matte ability, which her confessions
hear out. As she herself says. II was
an elocutionist Of no mean ability
when my pigtails were stili hanging
down my back. and am sure that
would be elocutionizing now had I
not been fortunate enough to learn
how to express nv heart throbs and
secret thoughts on paper"
Highest Paid Writer. "
Miss F'arber Is the highest paid
short story writer in America having
received $500 for Our Eldest Sis
ter" and 81. 900 fog every one Of "ou..
Mrs. McChesney'' stories. Gossip
has it that she Is making $4,000 a
year from short stories, book royal
ties and play royalties.
Edna Ferber Is girl Of many in
teresta. three of which are ever pres
ent-her devotion to her mother, her
love OF the stage and her fondness for
skating, dancing and swimming: in
short. all outdoor sports. II there il
one thing that amuses her more than
another It Is the fact that ever since
she has won fame and fortune she
has oeeq claimed by Illinois and Iowa
lin addition to Appleton. Wis. The
truth Is she was born in Kalamazoo
Mich. lived in Ottumwa. Iowa, started
In the newspaper game in Appleton,
Wis. but has written and lived for
. number Of years in Chicago.
1t Is especially worth while to havA
her turn the x-ray Of her mind on
her own personality and analyze her.
self. MS she has in this instance. Il
am most GRATEFUL" she says, "that
J spent two years of my life in APP
pleton, Wis.,. that I worked on a
snail newspaper there. that my
health broke finally. and this took me
out of the newspaper business and
forced mo to try my hand at writ
ing short stories. Last but not least
] am thankful that am a slow and
hard writer. There Is more work than
inpsiration about my writing.
You may not know Appleton, but
II IL q flne town. 1t has a court
house. a drug store. hotels and manly
interesting chata cters. Though APP
.plstap u not to b compared with
.