The Washington times., 1919-03-30

She came on to New York She secured
third place from the left in the back row
in Around Town" In three months she
was promoted to a part, fighting down
every obstacle. She passed through '"The
Three Twins and. "The Pink Lady"
flashed for a time among "The Ziegfeld
FOllies" and then won notable success in
dancing at the Beaux Arts.
Suddenly she was missing. Smart folk
who appreciated her asked in vain for her.
"She isn't well; she cannot dance nOW,%
was all they could learn.
AS a matter OF fact, the veil Of dread
that had hung above her since she was
two years old had fallen. She was going
blind.
How long win it take, doctOr?" she
calmly inquired Of one medical attendant
after another.
"One does not know. 1t may be few
weeks or months-hardly a year. Why
do you ask?" they answered.
Because" she said, serenely, when
that time comes shall kill myself
But the words Of one physician, less final
in his judgment than the others, echoed In
her memory
"You are tired, nervous, oVerWorked.
Rest may do a great deal for you"
She went to England. She sought out .
little questionable inn. She walked every
day until she was tired in the green lanes.
Staid country folk, passing. looked curi.
ously at the young girl sitting or walking
with closed eyes.
For FIVE months she had awakened each
morning in the dark. The brightest sun
light had become as twilight to her. Yet
one morning she saw a sunbeam lying
across the carpet. She flung her arms
above her head and danced. Hope was
born again in her heart.
True, she bumped painfully against the
edge Of a table. She could not see well,
but she could see better than she had.
One day she met a friend from America.
run up to London and spend a few
days." he advised.
That evening she danced at Ciros. A
certain manager, who was about to offer
Half Past Eight" to cheer English audi
ences, saw her. I'VE need her here" he
said.
Miss Adams felt uncertain Of her steps
that night at the opening of Half Past
Eight" At first she was sicA with fright.
The old sensation of cropping returned. But
she swung into the rhythm Of the dance
and forgot all else.
The next morning every newspaper in
London praised k,r. Miss Adams had
achieved fame over light.
One mark onE her Ordeals remained.
Her hair had become the color of silver.
81 can't read" she said. Il keep a COM
panion for that But the danger Of blind
ness Is quite gone. My advice to girls who
are in the slough of despond is, Drive ont
fear. Claim what is your right-happiness
Call in your Yankee grit"
The same American determination has
carried this bright little American actress
to a prominent place in. aristocratic so
ciety Where will she end?
Miss Adams, as already remarked, Is dis.
tinguisned as a wearer Of clothes. She has
worn numberless costumes, and her own
taste was the principal factor in their
creation. Who but an artist in clothes
could have thought of this combination:
"A gown Of two-tOne green and rose satin
imperial, veiled with flesh-colOred chiffon.
The bodice is of Empire effect in hand
embroidery, showing several tones Of rose
silk picked with steel beads. The sleeves
are of chiffon edged with velvet ribbon,
reversed, showing satin back and Persian
buttons"
OF course. hair and complexion matched
this remarkable creation.
Ida Adams, it is said, can take piece
Of fishnet and twist it into a becoming
costume, or she can wear the voluminous
robes of a duchess with all the air Of one
to the manor born. Even now perhaps she
is thinking how to produce the best ef.
fects with the ermine trimmed scarlet
robes Of a peeress, which are generally
regarded as exceedingly trying.
She is statuesque but slender, nymph-
like but sophisticated. Her evening
clothes have been admired as much as
her theatrical costumes.
Evidently British titled society is about
to enjoy some new sensations in the art
Of dressing.