The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31


4 v L 1t was at dancing school
May ball in Washington, my home
town. I had a solo dance, the "pas
seul" Mother had worked for weeks
on my costume, which was to startle
the May ball going public. The thea
tire was packed; the orchestra was
playing the lively introduction to my
dance then there was great hush in
the wings when 1, at the age of a.
gayly and confidently stepped out to
the middle OF the stage for the first
time.
I started the steps that l had re-
hearsed for months, when suddenly
discovered the audience! I stopped,
studied it with growing terror, started
once more to dance, stopped, looked
across the footlights at all those faces
staring up at me and suddenly decided
that 1 would be much happier away
from there. Mother was greatly dis
appointed over this impromptu de-
cision because I had not stayed long
enough for that dazzling costume to be
seen.
I continued at dancing school, but 1t
war two years before I had the conf
derce to attend another performance.
This time l gave an Interpretation OF
"The Gibson Girl" 1t was an unusual
number for an amateur affair and there
fore quite successful. Lew Fields, whU
was. opening a musical comedy in Wash
ington at the time, saw the May ball
and wrote a lovely letter about the
song to the teacher. But We thought
nothing of this at the time.
Makes Stage Debut Mt @.
Shortly afterward the manager of the
Columbia Stock Company in Washing
ton asked mother to let me play the
part of Prince Charles in his production
OF THE Royal Family" Thus IT hap
pened that at the age of I made my
professional debut At every perform
ance l had to eat a large piece OF
cake with orange iceing; then ask for
and receive a second helping. I distinct
~ remember rejecting, as I slowly de-
voured that second helping, that the
stage might be n very pleasant profess
sion. 1t was the birth OF ambition.
Two years later 1 played the first
Claudia in the "Prince Chap; then
small part In "A Poor Relation" and
then little Lord Fauntleroy." l
fought my first battle for success
at the opening of "Fauntleroy." 1 had
not shown TO any great advantage at
rchearsals--could not seem TO remem-
Der my lines. The other actors lost
faith. They predicted that l would
never get through the first act
Three days before the opening the
manager sent to New York for n girl
who knew the part to take my place in
the event that / failed. She was to be
made up and ready to go on In the sec
ond act II showed any hesitancy In
the first When heard of this plan
all my fighting instincts were aroused.
I studied like mad. / rehearsed all day
long in my room; and on the opening
night played the performance without
a mishap. The proudest moment of my
life, up to date, was when the most
sceptical actor OF the company, after
the final curtain slapped me on the
back and said: Gee. xiddie, that was
great" I had fought my first battle
and won.
Comes to New York.
At the close Of the summer stock sea-
son the director of the company per-
euaded mother to take me to New York.
I can remember so well when he ex-
claimed to mother that the managers
would Jump at child like me, &C.
had hazy notion of excited managers
waiting TO greet us in New York. Mother
wrote all OF them that we we're on our
way and we serenely left washington
bent on giving the theatrical managers
of Broadway their big opportunity.
When we reached New York and
started on our round of visits we found
no managers with outstretched hands
nor did they seem TO be in jumping
mood--at least not so far as we were
concerned. The few we were able TO SEE
Mt all did not even remember receiving
mothers letters and we're so sorry there
Is nothing to-day" and all that sort of
thing. We learned also. to our intense
surprise. that there were many clever
child actors In New York: several. In
fact, who had regulations that got them
the first chance at engagements. IL
was very disheartening.
Finally, after two weeks OF dlsappoint-
ment. on our last day in New York we
went dejectedly and hopelessly to the
office OF Lew Fields. He remembered
me from tho amateur performance and
Immediately engaged me for his next
winters production. 7 spent four happy
seasons under his management In "Old