South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-14
HERO TO VILLAIN

rather well known screen actor. not quite
star but one, for role OF villains
IN Poys where few weeks ago ne would have
rlay~l the hero.
The shift IN his career comes from the loss OF a
art OF his ear in auto accident.
A hero so think the men who produce pictures
have perfect features while to their mind
ngursment is a sign OF evil and foul purpose
The change IN the OF Il always
IS plainly indicated as easily explained as this
particular case
But It is Enthusiastically true that men do shift
quite quickly and completely in real life as
this actor changed from the admirable and the
worshipped TO the scorned and contemptuous.
The film follows traditions Life Is always and
ever creating new traditions and new ideals.
Just why It commonly believed that physical
appearance linked with mental or moral charac-
teristics is problem for the psychologist or the
analyst.
Whole volumes have been written by those who
believe that it is possible to tell character traits
dispositions and tendencies by merely looking at
the color OF eyes and hair. the OF the forehead
or the shape OF the hands.
Attempts have been made to generallze humanity
and classify humankind by the accidsntals but the
real usefulness OF all such efforts has been dem
onstrate that the exceptions always in Of
those who run true to supposed form.
house bum. poor wreck, who lived only for the
sake Of Saturday night drunk whose outward APP
pearance and marred face hideous to the point
OF disgust.
When the city OF Cleveland was creating its great
water plant by which takes its supply from
Lake Erie at a point several miles from shore.
there was accident and a dozen or more men
imprisoned in deep tunnel far beneath the
lake
ie down the trapped men beneath and
those who stood above the huge shaft several miles
from shore. knew that in few hours death would
be the fate Of those left below
Then this who probably stolen
certainly had begged and who sodden in his
sordid habits and vices.
He heard the shout for Help and. above protest
insisted on being below to the rescue He
went down. a rope around his waist. penetrated
the tunnel and brought to the surface two men
who were unconscious from the foul gases and to
whom delay Of a few minutes would have meant
the end.
The rescuar gave his life in that effort BY all
the standards or heroic judgment, this de-
served eternal praise for he took his life in his
hands the life OF other
No Aim director would have cast him in any Fart
the vinainous. but it happened that
was only his body and his appetites which were
sodden that heart had in 1t the inspiration
which makes men very 10 the gods
Instead OF Clipped ears. IT might be well look
for the marred souls in real life. Some very pol
ished perfect appearing men, meeting with
accident fate. change their very rapidly.
They turn from useful admirable characters to
destructive and vicious creatures. They sacrifice
the respect Of their fellows the passions which
their crippled characters cannot resist.
II real life were only as simple as film tradition,
every man would carry his message in his face.
Fortunately no accident to the physical body can
Grange the human heart and perfection not a
matter OF muscle.