The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-20

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representative OF the typical
American and touched on the
high spots OF Wills early life.
BY JAMES E. BROWN
(COpyriRht, 1895, by International News
Service)
NEW YORK, Aug. 2o.-The
lives of few public men have had
as much emotional appeal as
that of Will Rogers, but no tea-
ture of his career was quite as
moving as his deep devotion to
his family.
Their happiness meant more to
him than anything else in life
Everything that money could buy
he lavished upon them, and all
the minute little considerations
and attentions, known to those
who love with their whole being,
he gave without stint.
He first saw his wife-the for
mer Betty Blake, of Rogers, Ark.
when at the age Of Is she was
sitting in the porch Of a house
in Oolagah, Okla. wills home
town., where she was visiting
cousins.
Her cousins were friends of his,
and they had invited him over
for supper. Riding up to the
house, he saw a pretty girl sitting
alone on the porch. He couldn't
muster up enough courage to dis
mount and speak to her-So in
stead he wheeled his horse
around and galloped up and down
the street in an exhibition OF
trick riding.
Fell in Love
The girl rocked back and forth
in her chair and watched him
with wide eyes. Then Will decided
he "warn't hungry" and turned
and trotted homeward.
He was smitten, however, and
q week later he succeeded in get
ting introduced to the girl at a
candy-pulling party. AS Will said
later, he didn't carry the meeting
off with quite the aplomb that ne
had planned, but it was a start.
Very much in love with Betty,
he decided on a whirlwind court
ship, but his nerve failed him,
and it was not until four years
later that he proposed. They
were married on November Is,
1908. They had a daughter,
Mary, and two sons, Will, jr., and
Jim.
When Will married Betty Blake,
he was already started on his
career as a humorous monologist,
but success had not taken away
any of the boyish shyness which
characterized him throughout his
life.
ROping Artist
His first break came when he
was doing a trick riding stunt
with lack Mulhalrs Wild West
Show in Madison Square Garden.
It was here that he first made
the front page by roping a wild
steer which had broken loose and
was about to charge the crowd.
In 1904, Will made his first ap-
pearance in vaudeville. It was a
roping act, and one of its features
was stunt where, grasping las
soes in both hands, he roped
horse with one and the rider with
the other.
Unfortunately, the trick took
place so quickly that audiences
never really appreciated its diff
Guilty. Accordingly a friend ad-
vised him to explain first what
he was going to do. Diffidently,
Will Shuffled on the stage and
drawled:
"Well, folks, yOu-all can see
ali have one of these in each
hand. When the horse and
rider come out, I'm a'gOin' to
try and throw one of 'em
over the horse and t'Other one
over the rider All don't have
any idea I'll do it, but it's
with a shot,"
The audience rocked with
laughter, and Will was terribly
angry. He hadn't meant to be
funny.
Forced to Joke
For two weeks after that he
performed his act in grim silence.
Then again the manager per-
suaded him to attempt an ex-
PLANTATION beforehand. And, Of
course, 1t again rocked the
house.
It was not until 1912, however,
that he really crashed through.
He was signed for Kieth's in
Philadelphia. but when he ar
rived at the theater he learned
that the train which was bring
ing his horse from Harrisburg
had been wrecked. His act, as q
roping performance, was defin-
itely out.
Desperately, the manager
ordered.
You'll have to go on. We
can't leave a hole like that in
the bill. Get out there and do
something. Tell jokes, even if
they're not funny"
Read the interview with Doro-
&hy Stone on Will Rogers on
page ~