New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
BY HARRIETTE UNDERHILL

Up TO LAST WEDNESDAY we AWAY
\ thought that we could tell al
about people by watching them
on the screen. We believed that ones
personality was revealed no matter
what sort Of character one portrayed
and we boosted that We never had
made a mistake.
And then we met Peggy Hyland and
our calculations were all upset, and
now we confess that we don't know
anything about it. If Miss Hyland
could fool US as she has done, why,
then, so could others, and we shall never
again trust our screen impressions; for
just as surely as "a man may smile
and smile and be a villain" so may
a girl feed pigeons and water flowers
and smile sweetly and acquiescently on
the screen, and then as soon as the
camera stops grinding lead every one
in the studio mad chase.
1t is so with Miss Hyland. When We
went to her dressing room TO have a
talk with her we settled comfortably in
a big chintz-covered armchair. and
while we waited for our hostess we
tried to get in the proper frame of
mind 20 converse with this modest
little English flower, and then we heard
a shout and a rush of feet, and into
the room bounced fox terrier wildly
pursued by an enormous collie, who
was, in turn, trying to elude mad
sprite who wore a blond wig and a
blue chiffon Pierette costume. II was
the docile Miss Hyland.
"Look! Look! Look" she cried.
Don't you love me in this and these?"
and she pointed TO the blond wig and
the blue chiffon boomers. mo more
sweet, simple little maidens for mel
At last Pm vampire dancing girl,
who gets chased by Turk, and every
thing. Pm trying TO get Bobby and
Jack Pots to act in the picture, and
they won't behave. They chased back
TO the dressing room; and now, since
I'm here, III stay and talk to you
Here Miss Hyland's maid protested
feebly "Thc director said. Eyes,
] know he SAID he was waiting for
me. Well, he is an angel not like any
other director who ever lived. ! can
tell you all about myself in three
breaths. In me you sec the literary
wastepapcr basket Of the studio"
Miss Hyland pronounces literary and
secretary and cemetery almost as
though they had but three syllables.
1t is charming; so is her voice, and we
decided that she would not be allowed
to remain long in the silent drama.
every play which no one else wants
TO do comes to me. They say sweetly,
'Oh. well, then, since no ono else wants
to do Il give il to Miss Hyland'; when,
as a matter of fact, care only about
my plays. Money means nothing to me. |
never had any money. | don't want
any and 10 one expects me TO have
any.
1--WE had perfectly ripping times, you
know, wearing frocks which | made
myself, too, and had just as leave go
on doing it.
81 should love to have my own COM
rany, not only because | might then
select my own plays. II ! made money
/ should turn it into improvements for
my pictures. ] adore the pictures; the
possibilities are endless. Why, the first
time saw photo-play | thought Of
all sorts of things which might be done
with the films later on, and now other
people have thought Of the same things
thought of, and accomplished them
too. SO, the next time think of some
thing worth while I'm going to do IL i'm
mediately before some one else has a
chance.
you know | have been in America
less than year, but ! am crazy about
your wonderful country, and I'm crazy
about your pictures, too. Work Why,
il isn't work; it's play. could pose
before the camera all night and never
grow tired. The first picture | made
over here was with F.. II. Sothern. and
! was so frightened at having great
ness thrust upon me in that fashion.
81 worried my directors to death,
begging for suggestions as 10 my cos
tunes. makeup, etc, and they unfeel-
ingly and crushingly replied, 1t doesn't
matter about you at all P. r.; no one
will look at YOU and so | Immediately
made up my mind that | would make
them look at me, and ! will, too. You
wait and see" Here the long suffering
Miss Hylnnd's dircc-
tor-appehred in the door. He looked
stern and said that the camera was
waiting and up. H." vaa very fright