davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

who recently. signed a contract to star
in Paramount spictures-in short, was
not, that. infant prodigy indeed ROSCOE
(Fatty) yArbuckle himself? 1t was.
Ny dream Of CULVER and his travels
faded and I realized that after all one
can look for almost anything extraor-
binary in a motion picture studio, and
that if !, had seen Sinbad the sailor
walking around the stage with the old
man Of the sea perched on his back, or
the ,Queenagof sheba eating an ice
cream Gone; u shouldn't evince any.
surprise at all.2
And the Reason.
But nevertheless l was curious.
What could be the meaning Of all this.
I knew that Roscoe Arbuckle was no
longer playing in slapstick comedy
in fact, he was at that very moment
%portraying the role Of Monte Brewster
in a perturbation Of "Brewster's Mil
lions" the famous novel by George
Barr McCntcheon and, the play by
Melville Stone and Winchell Smith. I
/. had ssr4ad the book and aeen the play
and so far as I could remember, there
was no mention of a baby in either. AMI
much loss Of, a.:baby5 bur,esqued in this
nlannsr. !
While ! was nerving myself to 80
right up to Mr. Arbuckle and ask him
to explain. the entire company saunt-
cred off tso..the projection room; It was
then about s o'clock and I departed,
by. dster1ninedSto return; on the .fol-
Aea pxsldsYSsg9sApok into this strange
sAssI .returned.b but found
nm I 5ahssh working on enoth-
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24
The Shining Power of the Movie Star

her to use Cancelled stamps, thus saw
ing Uncle Sam the expense of hiring
several extra clerks just to cancel the
Pickford postage!
The unfortunate thing about this
correspondence is that so large q pro-
portion Of letters contain preposterous,
impossible, and often insincere re-
quests.
These include proposals that the star
marry or adopt the writer or give him
Or her--a job; there are urgent in
vitations to appear as guest Of honor
at parties and receptions at far-away
places; there are demands that the
star purchase scenarios from the writ
er, sometimes with dire threats added,
in case he should prefer not to do so;
here are urgent and fearful appeals
for clothing, money, and locks of hair.
II Tony or Dick or Tommy attempted
to grant these latter requests they'd
have to play penitentiary-conyict roles,
their heads would be cropped so close
ly.
OF .course. the greatest number Of re-
quests are for photographs. 1t is par
fectly natural that admiring fans
should want photographs of their IA
vorites. But if the fans had any idea
CT the way in which their requests-in
the aggregate-were cutting, down the
stars salaries l think that more OF
them would inclose enough postage
stamps to cover the expense of the
photograph and the mailing.
1t is also rather discouraging to the
players to know-as they do-that sc
many Of their requests for photographs
come. through no personal interest III
the star, but because the writer il
simply trying to collect as many pho,
tographs as possible, at the players
expense. AS proof of this, requests
are received every day at the. Metro
studios for photographs Of Miss Lii.
tan Way" Lillian Way is the name o.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24
y * x
! E other day I looked through
a batch Of letters which ad-

~ T. Otner a 1 looked LlrOu 81
a batch Of letters which ad-
.miring fans had written and
sent to one of my friends, a we'll
known star. And as I laid down the
last one, I asked myself: "Has the
whole world gone mad? Are the peo-
pie Of this country suffering from a
plague Of letter writing lunacy?" :
Before going any further let me as
SURF you that I know, as do the play
ers, that the reading and answering
Of letters from the fans are among the
most valuable and important features
OF their work. AS a single example
Of this, it is said that Mary Miles Min
ter was able to convince the Realart
officials Of her popularity by the con-
crete evidence of her lists Of COR
respondents, which numbered far. into
tho thousands.
The letters which are courteous and
intelligent supply the much-appreci-
ated, and the only applause which the
player receives. And from these let
ters the producers have been able TO
ascertain, in more than one case, the
type Of play in which a star was most
popular. But in view af the tremend-
GUS personal expense to- which the
better-known stars are put by their
correspondence. / sometimes wonder
whether all of this expense is justified
For; I happen to know what 1t costs
some players to answer fan mail and
send photographs.
Thomas Meighan and Wallace Reil
receive equally as much epistolary at
fiction. Fortunately for them, the
Lasky studio relieves its stars Of thu
task of replying to the ELUSIVE bar
rage.
AS. for Mary Pickford, she has an Of
Ace full of stenographers, in addition
TO her,personal secretary. So .volunl
inous is Mary's outgoing mail that tn.
Los Angeles post office has requested
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

err setting, adjoining the one which had
been used the day previous. l also dis
covered that Mr.. Arbuckle had mirac-
'ulously grown up overnight, from two
to five years of age, and was now sit
ting in another scene Of Brobdingna-
gian dimensions, furnished with q
large table and an enormous high chair.
The star was dressed in a black child's
suit, cut on the lines of a 5-year-old
pattern. The trousers came to his
knees and he wore kiddie socks and
dat-soled shoes. He was sitting in the
high chair, %partaking Of an enormous
bowl of mushswhich stood on the table.
while the Gamers was turning on the
scene and director Joseph Henabery
was voicing his Instructions.
The Scenar1sts Explains.
I was now, more in the dark than
ever. but happily 1. saw Mr.. Walter
Woods. who wrote the scenario, stand
ing by the director. IL walked over
and esxplaineedd[ttthat ! ahouldsy very much
like I / know what it was; ALI about
and IsakaasE Of no, who icoulaa
better inform me than him. (
EIpdo not rkmember having seen q
baby In 'Brewster's Millions,s and
am completely In the dark asto%show
they, can make a mar weighing as
much as Roscoe Arbuckle look like
anything but. a b~urlesque baby I ex-
planned.
I'm regard to: .y6ur FIRST exception
he repNleas The scenario Of a picture
,eftens dittsgg in many respects from the
SnftsfnnlAIasnsory o. play upon which it is
stpprpdlsldfaytiSstrue, there was no baby
mrNSatshtb1lHs fKAsnovel or the play OF
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

the street on which the studio is locat-
ed. ~
1 have not written this in order to
discourage the fans from writing to
the players. AS I emphasized at the
outset, intelligent, a%ppreciative, our
teous letters, and even those which
are honestly critical, are eagerly
looked for, read, and answered, so far
as the players time allows.
The proportion of letters which fall
into this class is so small that this is
not so large a job as might be in
agined.
But certain types OF letters should
be discouraged, if only to help relieve
the overburdened se~cretarial and post
Office forces. In order to point out to
the fans some OF the things to avoid
when writing to a star. Miss Betty
Blythe. recently had widely Circulated
the list of "Don'ts" for correspondents.
The list, which is worth repeating, is
as follows "
Don't ask a star what she does with
her old clothes. She probably wears
them.
Don't ask if she is, married. Lee
gal action may be pending, so she can't
really tell you.
Don't ask a star,s~age. 1t encou:-
ages lying. -e.,s ~
Don't propose marriage to- a Aim
actress She might accept you and de-
stroy your illusions.
Don't ask advice about entering pic.
lures. It's bound to be discouraging.
Don't submit a scenario to a star.
She's probably trying to sell one of her
own.
Don't forget Uncle Sam demands
postage. Hes no philanthropist.
Don't be angry il a star does not
! answer your letter. Her intentions
may be good. but her right arm. weak.
And remember sincere, sane letters
always are appreciated" 80 &
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

tuted and used in the longer shots.
The same principle applies in minia-
ture. scenes. The camera does not take
in the surrounding objects and the
miniature thus looks perfectly normal
in size"
9What:a deceiving thing is sense! It
was then perfectly clear to me that. 1t
is only by comparison that objects
look large or small, that good or evil
seem to be in evidence, or that the
weather seems hot or cold. With the
absence of n extreme, the other
would cease to be an extreme and
would be perfectly natural, bearing no
special significance Even as I on
centrated my gaze upon this enorm-
Gus setting, with Mr.. Arbuckle dressed
as a baby sitting in the high chair, the
cyene seemed for a moment to look
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24
Ea9cog HcbUGT2e
PIERCING wall, somewhere
between the voice of a baby
ond - full o,o1,,, MON broke

III IA ANAS
~ between the voice of a baby
1s and a full grown man, broke
the Stiffness, or rather. by comparison,
made the ,multitudinous other noises
seem like stiffness, at the Lasky studio
n day while I was making the
rounds" 81 y. @a~s 49, =.
hurried over to the direction from
where the cry seemed to come, wonder
ing whether a calamity had happened,
orSEif not, what kind of a new wonder.
which one might expect, at almost any
time in a motion picture studio, would
greet, my vision.
5$%a n I soon arrived on the set, and there
beheld something entirely unlike any.
thing I had ever see before. Anyone
who thinks he knows all about motion
pictures is deceiving- himself. There is,
something new everyday =
Where People Are Giants.
1 had always believed that Dr.
6wift's account of Gulliver's travels
into the land of the Lilliputians, and
the country of Brobdingnag, where the
people were giants, to whom CULVER
was a mere pigmy by comparison. and
the sucking babes were more pom
Aderous than the biggest ordinary-sized
human being,-were the results of the
widest sort Of imaginative fancy, but
for a moment after i entered that set
ting, l began to. believe that 'Gurliver
readily did make his journey and that
such people really existed. For there,
before my eyes. was a specimen.
The "Weigh' of the Child.
Reposing in an enormous baby car
riage. as large";asHthee tonneau of a
modern touring car. was the "baby"
who had let out the sQuawk which had
first attracted my attention, The di-
rector was standing behind the cam
era and the scene was in progress. The
Brogdingnagian creature, looked to be
something under three hundred pounds
in weight and was very fat and chubby.
MI In one hand he had a toy rattler that
would we'll have served. as. a life pre-
server and In. the other. a bottle of
milk that would Have fed family Of
hungry children for a couple Of days.
The giant baby carriage. with it's oe-
eupant. stood by a specially construct
ed fence which was built In exact pro-
portions to the carriage and thus vas
about II feet in height.
a$ "Baby" Climbs Out.
Soon the scene was finished and the
ssbaby' sat up in its carriage. stuck out
one leg and then the other and clam
bered out. There II stood. dressed like
,astwo-year-old. with a little Cor rath-
er, mammoth) pinkslawn dress. baby
shoes Of immense size. and a pretty
pink baby cap on its head. To my sur
prise. this baby" yawned. reached IN
its pocket, took Sutsa handkerchief and
mopped the pserspirraatttioDinui from its face
put back the shandkerchief.st took out q
cigarette andHa match, lighted tbs
cigarette. inhaled q big puff Of smoke
and blew it out Then he leaned
comfortably on tie huge fends and be;
gan to tell anstftshs Joke 5.ssssss; 81
Did my qlxssfssaacsslxe me? Was no
that the voieesREtkssSlnils the eyes, TIL
manner otsssssltsinsf famous ecornedial.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

almost normal, and then, as I again
looked at the surrounding objects
their great size was apparent.
But the people who sit in the theater
and see these scenes upon the screen
do not see the surrounding OBJECTS
they see only what the camera was
focused upon and not knowing that
the chair and table, the baby carriage
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-24

and fence, are enlarged in size so that
,tLey are in exact proportion to the size
of the "baby" everything looks per-
fectly natural.
Which is only one of the many Won
ders which have come to light in that
land of magic and make-believe-the
motion: picture studio.-By Melvin
Riddle.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03

they expect to start work. The
borough officials have compiled with
the demands of the freeholders by
legally assuring them hat the pave
ment when laid will not be disturb
ed for a period of ten years for the
purpose of making water or gas
or constructing a sewer.
A hitch in any progress on this
work will be met in endeavoring to
get the cooperation of the trolley
though legal advice has
given as to just how the Pub
lie Service company car be forced
to live up to the terms of tAeir fran
chiSe.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
MANY CANDIDATES GIVEN
SECOND DECREE At K. OF c.

Sixty-eight candidates from this
city and Woodbridge. were given the
second degree, and fifteen candidates
the first degree, at a special meeting
of San Salvador Council 299, knights
of Columbus, at the club house on
High street last night. The third de-
gree will be given to a large class
in the club house on next Tuesday
night. Grand Knight James Murray
was in charge of the limitations last
night.
After the conclusion Of the degree
work last night, Grand Knight Coli
Of Woodbridge, was called upon t.
make an address, as were District
Deputy John Quinn. Richard Whit
and Richard Calvin. chairman of The
house committee. Harry Hardiman.
chairman of the entertainment com
mittee spoke in regard to plans for
two excursions to be conducted by
the council this summer, m early
in July, and the other late in Au-
gust.
The entertainment committee
chairman also spoke in regard to the
annual lawn fete to be conducted by
the council, in the fall.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
Tells Of COST
To RAILROADS
Allowance of ! Hour Extra
Each Week for Punching
Clock Cost $6,445,6 58.

WASHINGTON, June 3.-Pro-
visions Of the national agreements
placed in effect during government
control which required 1.-The rail-
roads to allow employees one hour
extra each week for punching the
clock, regardless of the number Of
hours actually work, cost the rail-
roads S6,445,65S during the first six
months Of last year., e. L. Whlterm,
of Philadelphia, chairman of the
conference committee OF managers
told the senate investigating COM
mittee today.
THE order issued by the director
general in July, 1918, guaranteeing
to men employed on piece work the
same minimum hourly rate as those
1hourly workers, resulted in a de-
crease ranging from 10 to 40 per
cent. in the output OF piece work
men," he said, adding:
This falling off in production be-
came uniformly noticeable when 1t
was known by the piece workers
that they would receive no increase,
but were guaranteed only minimum
hourly rates.
Comparison between the piece
work basis and the hourly basis were
maintained by the roads until Feb
ruary, 1919, when the management
was prohibited from continuing such
comparisons. Piece work was final
ly abolished by the director general
on December 81, 1918"
Provisions of the national agree
ment permitting employment as car
repairers of only those men who had
served an apprenticeship in the de
partment, or who have had four
years practical experience on car
work, he said, results in a waste OF
skill and unnecessary increase in the
cost of such repairs"
The rule is not consistent or prac-
teal" he continued. and draws a line
around car work which prevents the
employment of any man who has
had experience in analogous work.
The railroads should have the priv
ilege of employing for the a de-
partment, upholsterers. painters, etc.,
men who have had experience, ire
spective Of where acquired, even
though they had not previously four
years experience on car work.
There is no justification whatever
for. such a rule in connection with
car work.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
SEWAREN HISTORY CLUB
At BUSINESS SESSION

rBy Evening News Correspondent
SEWAREN, June 3:-The Sewar-
en- History Club met at the home of
the president. Mrs. w. II. Tombs, on
Wednesday morning for a business
session.
The following chairmen of COM
mittees were appointed for the COM
ing year: Program, Mrs. j.. II. Love;
scholarship. Mrs. +. /. Perry; cur
rent events. Mrs. Charles Wiswall;
music. Mrs. A. G. Brown; art, Mrs
l.. f. Ballard; literature, Mrs. ii. b.
Coombe; entertainment. Mrs. A. +.
sofield; visiting. Mrs. G. A. de Russy:
place, Mrs. +. T. Howell; college
supplies. Mrs. It. H. Stryker; Year
Book, Mrs. John II. Haywood, Mrs.
c. A. de Russy; legislation, Mrs. j.
G. Walker: civics, Mrs. r. +. Zettle-
moyer, Mrs. l.. H.. Brown: drama,
Mrs. +. M. Shock. Mrs,C. +. Lewis;
poets corner and librarian, Mrs. A.
C. Walker: Mrs. de Russy was ap-
pointed as parliamentary.
Mrs. w. v. d. Strong was recently
elected as recording secretary but
finding it impossible TO serve resign
ed and Mrs. A. C. Walker has con-
scnted to serve as recording secre-
tary.
Mrs. ]. w. Ferguson, Mrs. NJ. L.
Demarest, Mrs. Harold Pickersgill,
Mrs. f. Fl. Turner and Miss Martha
Burroughs were unanimously elect
ed as members. An outline of the
work to be undertaken in the COM
ing year was announced.
The hostess then served a deli
cious luncheon assisted by Mrs. l..
I. Perry.
Following the business session of
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
PROBE ATTEMPTED HOLDUP
OF TROLLEY NEAR KEYPORI

GBy Evening News STAFF Correspondent.l
NEW BRUNSWICK, June g.
At $3.50 o'clock yesterday an at
tempt was made to hold up a troll
ley car bound for Keyport at Avery
crossing, near Cliffwood, according
to a report received last night by
Prosecutor Stricken.
County Detective Ferd David, to-
gether with Officer Mount, of the
Keyport force, started an investigI-
ton and learned chat foreigner, pre-
sumo bly, an Italian, had boarded the
car at the crossing and poked a
revolver into the face of the conduc-
tor. Evidently the man lost his
nerve at tha point because he I'M
mediately jumped from the trolley
and escaped leaving a suitcase on
the car. The suitcase contatled
ciothing and a name and address On
a card. The :E'tstieation is still IN
progress.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
Hold South Amboy Veteran
For Action By Grand Jury

rendered by Witzcak who admitted
firing three shots.
Witzcak was then asked for a
statement. He stated that he had
nothing to say other than he just
wanted to scare Primka. He stated
that he had shot into the opposite
concrete wall from which he was
standing on the edge of the pit. Mr..
Lovely asked why he did not fire in
the air If just to scare Primka. This
question was not answered.
Whitley" continuing his statement
stated hat he conceived the idea of
soaring Primka in st. Mary's ceme-
terry ~and then proceeded to White
heads sand pit where the shooting
occurred.
In summing up the case Mr.. Love-
ly requested that Witzcak be held
under heavy bail for the grand jury.
He pointed out the seriousness of the
case and stated thnt it was just Gods
evidence that Mr.. Primka vas
spared.
Five hundred dollars was fixed as
bail.
Out of the three hundred and fifty
boys who went into the service
from this city, Whitley" is the only
one to return minus a leg or arm.
While going up with the 18th artil-
lery for the first time the horses
which he was driving became
frightened and fell throwing
Whitley" under the horses and
breaking his arm. He was placed
in an ambulance and consigned to
the rear. While the ambulance was
going to the field hospital the en-
envy scored a direct hit, killing all
the occupants Of the machine with
the exception of the local boy,
whose leg was SO badly shattered
that it had to be removed
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
tBy Evening News Correspondent

tBy Evening News Correspondent
SOUTH AMBOY, June ST Just
wanted to scare him by letting a
couple of shots go at him." was the
only defense offered by Charles
whitley" Witzcak before Judge
Forgotson last night when he reap
peared to answer the charge of
%atrocious assault with attempt to
kill. With three witnesses to testi-
fly against HIM in addition to Joseph
Primka who made the charge, Witz<
oak was held for the grand Jury UNI
der $500.
pyiuka appeared in court last
rIgsS represented by John A. Lovely
who conducted the cross examina-
ton of each witness. Witzcak was
without counsel-Leo j.. Coakley
having represented him on the pre-
vious night. The first man to be
called on the stand was Joseph
Primka. who made the charge. He
told of being down in a pit with a
Mr.. Butcher connecting up a shaft
of an engine. On hearing the shots
fired he climbed out of the pit and
saw "Whitey" with a smoking gun
in his hand. He then asked him
whats the matter, Whitley are
you crazy?" and the answer he re-
ceived was I've got three more here
I'll let you have"
Primka then told of going to DIR.
z. A. Mecham TO have his wound
dressed and then appearing for the
purpose of making the complaint.
Thomas J. Butcher, a mechanical
engineer, who was working in the
pit with Primka, John Primka and
william A. Hendrickson. all identi-
fed the gun and agreed with Prim-
ka's testimony. Patrolman Coughlin
who made the arrest identified the
gun and stated that it had been sur
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03

present left at 1:45 o'clock in auto
mobiles for the New Jersey Reform
atory at Railway, where they were
the guests of DIR. Frank Moore. who
personally conducted them about the
many buildings.
They visited the various shops.
class rooms, kitchen, and were given
a general inspection of the entire
place. Particularly interesting were
the physical drill and a class drill
ing in rapid arithmetic. The club
while in the kitchen saw large guam
titles of newly baked break. They
were informed that each person in
the institution is given a one-pound
loaf of bread daily.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
Action To Be Taken
BIZ The Metuchen Council

. METUCHEN, June Sat the
next regular meeting of the bor-
ough council which will be held
next Monday night the South Main
street paving ordinance will come
up for final passage and when pass
ed bids will be Immediately asked
for, as it is the intention of the
council to push this job forward to
an early completion.
Further information will probably
be available at that time as to just
what the county board of freehold
ers propose doing with the north
Main street pavement and just when
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-03
DAY NURSERY
FUND BOOSTED
Total in Campaign Standt at
$685. -PIants Most Gen.
erous in Giving Aid.

The campaign fund of the Day
Nursery Association is still growing
and as the result Of contributions
from more friends, the total now
stands $~1,95S.71 to support this
worthy institution in he coming
year. AS always in the past, the
plants, the factories and the people
have been most generous in contrib
uting for the car of the Riddles
The following are the donations and
donors during the last few weeks:
Previously acknowledged. .$1.S29.71
Castles Ice Cream Co... $500
New Jersey Terra Gotta. $500
South Amboy Terra Gotta 1900
Barber Asphalt Paving Co. 1000
Hebrew Fraternity. ...... 1000
Raritan Chapter, No. 81, F.
& A. 1000
Bricklayers, Masons and
Plasters Union, No. ~. 500
Couth San Salvador No. 275 800
Exempt Fireman......... 500
United Brotherhood Car
penters and Joiners, No.
Smith Street ....,....... 1000
Market Street ........... 500
Brighton avenue ......... 2.0o
Total .$1,95s.71
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-18

Quality and price are our
best salesmen, they alb
solutely work hand in hand
here with result that we are
always busy making friends
out of our customers.
, 1921-09-13

Fve-room house, modern: three
quarter basement; large garage; full
size lot; east front; close to CY ave-
nue., and the price is only $500 with
terms.
, 1921-09-13
PHONE 1e1sw.
BUSINESS CHAalES

FOR SALECResthurant; paying bust
ness; good terms to right party. Ad-
dress box 225. Greybull, Wyo.