Evening star., 1924-02-05
Hearts Adrift"

She had never suspected that she
was to be stared in this play. And 1t
Is not surprising that at the revela-
| t1on or her success she burst into
tears such as have moved her
audiences all over the world.
Can It really. really be true?'-this
might have been the subtitle OF that
, big scene In the drama OF Mary Pick
ford's life.
1t was a moment after this first
shock OF incredulous Joy that she said
to Mr.. Zukor. "Oh, what will mother
say when she hears this?"
Any one who knows Mary will not
be surprised at this almost instan-
taneous thought of her mother. I
have met the average number of
daughters in my life, and 1 can
truthfully say that none OF them ever
gave a mother such devotion as does
she. Until the time Mary married
Douglass Fairbanks Mrs. Pickford
was the one dominating influence in
her daughters life. In the vivid
ness of this relationship you will find
perhaps the reason for one outstand-
ing lack in Mary Pickford's life.
There are many women who admire
her. OF man pals, such as Marshall
Neilan. the celebrated director. she
has q score. But to my knowledge
there Is only one woman who has
approached-ands she very tentatively
the position of intimate friend.
Ma" Pickford. as she Is known
business manager. But in the old
shabby days of the Biograph studio
her activities, although more limited,
were equally pronounced. Every sim
gle day she came with Mary to the
studio and stayed with her until she
left; She watched every move she
made. She gave her suggestions
about her work. She sat with the
faithful makeup box while Mary was
on set. In the Famous Players stu
dio it was the same. OF course. stage
and screen supply numerous other in
stances Of brooding maternal solici-
tude.
I am now approaching a phase of
the noted pantomimist's career which
points to many adventures in which
myself have been involved. When
Mary Pickford first went with Mr..
Zukor he paid her $500 a week. Her
success was so marked that before
tarily raised this to $1,000. After
this-but am anticipating.
Whenever I saw Mr.. Zukor looking
homeless as a small-town man in
housekeeping time I knew what was
the matter
How much does she want now?" I
used to ask him laughingly.
We're fixing up the contract" he
would answer with a significant lift
of tho. eyebrows.
It often took longer to make one Of
Mary's contracts than 1t did to make
one OF Mary's pictures. Yet. strange
ly enough. the beneficiary herself
took no hand in the enterprise. The
warfare of clauses was waged en-
tirely by her mother and her lawyer.
Indeed. Mr.. Zukor has often told me
that Mary Pickford had never asked
him for a cent.
"Then how do you know she's dis
"How does she act?'
Like q perfect lady," responded Mr..
Zukor stoically.
I made no comment. but have al
ways understood that one of the ad-
vantages of being perfect lady Is
phere without creating the basis for
any definite accusations.
During the time that this contract
was being negotiated the newspapers
published an item to the effect that
Charlie Chaplin had just signed a new
$4,000 year. Right here was
where Mr.. Zukor experienced a most
acute manifestation Of his periodic
disorder. ~
when the Chaplin contract was an
nounced every Aim producer knew
tnSN MARY FlCkIOru was n0ROtlALlnR
q NV contract. and I know Of one
specific offer she received at $4,000 a
on account Of the pleasant relations
that had always existed between
Mary Pickford and Mr.. Zukor. how
ever. she finally accepted the new
contract with him. in which Lasky
and I Joined with Mr.. Zukor. az the
contract for $4,000 a week. to apply
on 80 per cent Of the profits Of the
picture. seemed unusually large.
During this period Of dissatisfac-
tion she spoke to mo one day about
tho Chaplin contract. 'Just think Of
IT," said she. "there no 10 getting all
that money. ana here am. after all
my hard work. not making one-half
that much"
This reminds mo that, soma time
after the contract was made, Mary
Pickford started working on her first
picture. entitled LESS Than. Dust"
and I saw more of her than ever
did before. As the enterprise was so
large we decided ~ nave a separate