The Washington herald., 1921-06-15
"MY LIFE. "
By MARY PICkFORD.
Copyright. 1871

Continued from Yesterday
By the end of the season, thanks
saved enough to afford to go to New
York instead of returning to To-
ronto. Needless to say 1 was de-
lighted in anticipation of seeing the
wonder city. But mothers hard
common sense was behind the idea.
1t was no idle holiday spirit that
prompted her to take us to the big
city for the summer. 1t was be-
cause she had discovered that New
York in July and August is the one
place to be to get the most oppor-
tunities of work for the following
season.
Had Developed Popularity.
In New York are the headquar-
ters of all the managers who send
out the road companies. BY now
had developed a popularity in one
night stands all over the country
which my mother decided could be
Capitalized-if we were on :hc
ground and could start rival man.
ayers bidding for nv services. IE-
cidentally l had given voice to my
determination not to go out on the
road ever again unless l could have
my whole family with me. In New
York we would have the best
chance of finding a play that would
have three children's parts in it.
Out of that trip to New York and
of ct ar N at
AZ gain to be separated from my FAM
lily came one of the funniest incl
dents of my whole stage career.
We found a manager who was
putting out company in which
there was room for three children
Gall girls. by the way). and he
clined to the idea of my playing
the leading childs role.
Makes Part for Mother.
But there was one difficulty-and
when he first mentioned it to moth
er and me it sounded unsurmount-
able. He wouldn't consider carry
ing" a mother unless the mother
could play the character part in
:he play. And of course my mother
had never spoken a word on the
stage.
When the manager told us that
mother must play the character part
if we were to be included in his
company. l looked helplessly at my
mother. Thank heavens l didn't say
anything. For the manager went
on talking himself.
But I've heard such good things
about your daughter" he was say
ing to mother. that / don't care
how bad you may be in your part.
You can have it if you want.
never heard anything about your
work. but / do know all about
Gladys Smith"
She Accepts Condition.
Mother and 1 9th realized at the
same instant that he was taking it
for granted tht she was an actress,
He was doubtful enough about her
being a clever actress, that was
plain: but that she was the rankest
amateur never entered his mind.
For a moment my heart stood still
as / waited for mother to speak.
Then to my joy she said quite calm
ly that il this were the only condi-
tion under which he'd agree to take
us. she would consent to play the
character part!
Sarah Bernhardt herself couldn't
have been more calmly confident
than mother. The manager was
deeply impressed. 1 could fairly see
his mind cropping to recall some per-
formance of my mothers. Her self
assurance had made him wonder II
his up-to-the-m minute knowledge OF
the theater and it's player folk were
really as comprehensive as he had
imagined.
Let's see," he was saying-and
again my heart leaped into my
throat-"what was it you did last %
Again mother rose to the situation
beautifully. If only she could act as
well on the stage as she was acting
now. there'd be no doubt about her
making good. For she. was saying
that she had last played "charac-
ters' in the stock company in To-
ronto
She was taking a chance that the
manager would not be too familiar
with that organization, Nand she
didn't specify any especial year. And
It was all right. When we walked
out of his office we had a contract
placing all four of us under salary
for the ensuing seasOnf