New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
Marilynn Miller
Is Back Again as
A Sweet Songster
by Harriette Undcrhill


were sn interviewer there was moth
3ne in her manner to indicate it. And
If she knew that she was being inter-
viewed she was not at all impressed by
the fact. nor did she seek to impress
US. She talks just like she dances,
spontaneously and lightly.
For those who never have seen Miss
Miller off the stage let US say that she
is even prettier off than on. She has
Tire most wonderful skin, almost trans
parent, with just a little bright red
spot on each cheek bone, and her eyes
are bright blue, and her eyebrows and
lashes are blonde. just little darker
thsn her hair. 1t was fun watching
her dress for the street. First she put
on her stockings and pumps-fat
like those worn by little girls, and
then she put on her hat and last Of
all. a very full. short, black taffeta
frock, with white linen ruffles in the
neck and sleeves. When she talks to
you she gives a little laugh every
once in while, Just as she does when
she dances We never heard any one
do it just like that before. When we
mentioned it to her she said: yes.
I'VE always done that since ! was four
years old When | dance there is
feeling Of exaltation and laugh be-
cat Sc | feel that | ecu Id go on forever
and ever It's the same sort of feel
ing you used to have when you jumped
rope and knew that you could jump
lorg ger than any of the other girls"
"You love your work, don't you?"
"Oh, yes; | couldn't live without it.
haven't my husband any more. He WAS
going in this show with me and we
were going to do a lot of dances to-
gether. He was such a wonderful
dancer wasn't he? Here is his picture"
and she pushed forward a big photo
graph OF Frank Carter in leather
frame. and here is another" and she
held out an exquisite min ature set in
diamonds which she wore around her
neck on string of pearls. al had this
made in Paris. Isn't it like him 2''
But we couldn't bear to see this sweet
child sad and she seemed about 70
burst into tears, so we tried to make
her talk about her singing. ooh, yes"
she said, with her little laugh, ii did
surprise them. didn't |? can sing,
can't |? And some of those songs arc
difficult, too. Why, Irving Fisher is a
wonderful singer, and he says they
are very hard songs because you have
to have such a big range to do them.
I'm studying all the time, and next
season they may make my songs as
hard as they like and won't be afraid
of them I'm going to get at least four
more notes on the top of my voice. It's
funny I've lived to be twenty and just
found out that could sing
And when did you learn to dance
and how and where ?"
Il have Mt idea. You see | was born
=
always there and the first thing | re-
member was dancing on my toes, | al
ways could do it; but they wouldn't
let me appear in New York until
9r, "' ur. you know. on account of the
Law. 1- played all over for years
IN places like Honolulu and Australia
and South America and Europe" 1t
seemed so funny 20 hear this child ia k
so casually of having danced for years
N places scattered all over the globe:
But that is like Marilynn. You feel
that she wouldn't be impressed by the
King of England occupying the stage
box at the New Amsterdam Theater.
and yet she is singularly unsophisti-
Gated. 1t is just the perfect poise Of
unconsciousness, which becomes the
more difficult of attainment the more
one strives for it.
Do you think Sally will be a sue
cess Z" she asked as we walked down
the stone gtairs from the dressing
:rod since the days of Caesar and
Cleopatra"
will be successi 1t is success.
Think OF the opening, my child and
think OF today A Wednesday matt
nee and not seat left in the house,"
Yes. they do seem to like it. don't
they Then we'll stay here long time.
I'm glad" which is as near as Marllynn
ever gets to enthusing