The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-15

"Concol was given me by Miss
Constance Collier, who often comes
to see Cissy and me. She is the
very great English actress, you
know, and dear friend of mine.
This little cocker spaniel she gave
me I named for her-Concol-the
first three letters of her two names.
She tells me of her wonderful
experiences in the theater playing
Shakespeare and Ibsen and then
get quite confused and think per-
haps I will remain an actor after
all, although 1 would love to write.
Thinks of Future
Having just passed IL I have
started to think seriously about my
future. This probably is my last
year as a boy actor and perhaps
my last year of acting. Cissy thinks
that we will go back to England SO
can go to school and college.
Il should miss America terribly
but on the other hand 1 have made
up my mind quite definitely to be a
writer. You see I met Mr.. H. G..
Wells and while he was here I
thought would like to be an histo-
rian. 1t is rather difficult not to be
influenced by such great men.
Then, when talked to Mr. Hugh
Walpole, l thought 1 should write
stories. Of course, l could prepare
for either of those careers here as
we'll as in England, but I was born
in England SO 1 expect I shall al
ways be British.
There is a small garden in the
back and a veranda. If you like
flowers, we have a few
Dog Is His Shadow
"Concol is a very friendly animal
and while am at home he is a
sort of shadow of mine. I'd love to
have more flowers. Have you ever
seen the English countryside? Re-
member those matched roof houses
along the road-all vine covered and
each one with a garden! But l am
home so little and these are about
all Cissy and I can take care of.
Look at Concol running around,
trying to get his exercise in 20 to
30foot space. You see clearly what
1 mean-he needs big field. Cock
ers like to hunt. In England my
grandfather has lot of land and
grows things-flowers, vegetables,
fruit
when I lived in England we used
to visit my grandfather quite often.
Peter, a cousin of mine, lived right
next door and we built house in a
high tree. We built it all ourselves
and then we used to raid the pantry
for things to eat--take them up into
the tree and have picnic. l must
confess that although the house
was originally built with the idea of
a Robinson Crusoe hideaway, we
played little of that game and just
ate cookies, mostly.
Peters father is a soldier and
sometimes we went to his house and
played at soldering. His father
drilled us and when 1 played in
Professional Soldier 1 discovered I
knew a great deal about being a
soldier king. Shall we sit down
here on the veranda?
Would Like Country Life
"Now I do not mind the smallness
of this house in the least. Of course,
most of the screen stars have very
large places. / rather have my
things all over the inside and CiSsy
is not a bit fuSsy about my habit
of leaving my airplanes and electric
tracks in nearly every room but the
kitchen. Cissy is very understand
ing in most things. But boy should
live in the country where he can
hike and play at real games.
when I went to Palm Springs,
Cal, I rode a horse and learned
how to spin rope and round up
calves. I think the American cow
boy is the greatest fellow I have
met in America. If l had a farm
4 mean ranch, it has to be
ranch here, you know could do
all those things on my days off
from the studio. But Cissy says
that she does not want me to get
spoiled
'She says to friends:
81 came to Hollywood with Fred
die with great reluctance. I was
afraid of too much success for
boy as young as he. In his work
at the studio, Freddie lives in cas-
ties, splendid homeS-he has even
been a king. But I am determined
that he shall not lose the simlic-
ity of surroundings in which the
was born and brought up This
little house could be the home of
any average American or British
boy, and that is exactly what Fred
die is-an average boy
Can't lave Broken Arms
"Then I say:
Granted, Cissy, but I have met
many boys here who are average
boys and they are allowed to go
hunting with their fathers
they are allowed to ride a spirited
horse. I really can not see how
those things would spoil chap
Then she says:
"'But, Freddie, you have no father
here. and riding spirited horses is
a bit dangerous for boy who has
a motion picture contract and does
not dare have his arms broken
IT had two-mile gallop the other
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