The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-20
Copyright, 1895, by International
News Servics)

Copyright 1895, by International
News servics)
NEW YORK, Aug. 20 U.N.S0
Dorothy Stone, daughter Of Fred
Stone, the comedian, and pal OF
will Rogers in her childhood,
said, continuing her interview
with International News Service
"Well, he isn't little Bill any
more. He's will Rogers in his
own right. He'll be head Of the
family now, and no finer per-
SON could be head Of it. Wills
son is marvellous; he's q genu-
ineIy real person. absolutely
unspoiled, and a real man. In
spite of his background and all
the advantages which he has
enjoyed, he has retained all Of
his fathers simplicity and
charm.
"WilI just lived for his
family, and his greatest ambi-
ton was that they should all
be happy. He would just do
anything for them.
Sometimes, he would be
putting ON his riding clothes
getting ready to 90 out, or be
=. in the midst of doing some
thing else, when he would sud
denly remember that he had
promised to take little Mary IT,
the movies or to play ball with
Billy. That was enough, and
he would drop whatever he was
doing to keep his promise to
them.
DEVOTION TOUCHING
ellis devotion to Aunt Betty
was constantly touching, and
illustrated by the many small
ways in which he tried to please
her. Last Easter, while she
was away, he had his whole
ranch done over for her. He
planned and supervised every
thing and was as excited as =
small boy. He would say to us:
Don't you tell her nOw!'
And, of course, we didn't.
When she came home, she was
absolutely delighted with the
whole thing. Will led her all
around, showing her each
improvement, and anxiOuSly
waiting to see how she would
like it. He grinned broadly
each time she praised anything.
Among the improvements he
made was the frightening of
the roof of the living room. He
had a life.Size stuffed calf in
the living room, and every day,
after dinner, he'd practice rOp-
Ing 1t for hours. The rope would
sometimes hit the ceiling, so he
had the roof heightened In Or
der to give him more room in
which to swing.
mo one ever thought this aft
er-dinner exercise was odd, and
the women would sit talking in
the room totally ObliviOus of
Wills rope throwing"
Always Mans Man
Miss Stone hesitated for a mo-
ment, and then went GU:
1.-TWO winters ago, there was
. heavy, continuous dOwnpOur
Of rain in the Los Angeles area,
which caused q swelling of the
rivers and flooded q great many
sections. The water washed
away the embankment of the
road by Willis house leaving q
deep chaSm and making the
road impossible and exceedingly
dangerous. The occupants of any
car that went off the road were
almost certain to be killed.
1T was New Years Eve, and
the rain was coming down in
torrents, but, carrying a red
lantern, VIII Saddled q horse,
and. all night long, he warned
motorists of the danger and
persuaded them to stop. None
Of them knew who he was
some of them thought he was
a hold-up man-otherS thought
he was just a cranky old farm
er-but one look at the road,
and they were offering fervent
thanks for his aid.
Gold, with the water swish
ing up to his horses knees, and
the rain soaking through his
coat, Will kept guard all night.
But worse than the physical
SufferingS was a terrible fear
clutching at his heart. All of
his children were out at New
Years parties-and he knew
that the other roads were
washed away"