The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-09-02

in the pool, her fan mail, and then off
to the bowling alleys-for Lila Vernon
has been an ardent bowler ever since
the days when, as tot, she used to
set up pins in Hanlon's Barbecue and
Sports Palace in Erie.
She has other hobbies. She sews,
stuffs owls, collects pewter, and paints
miniatures on pinheads. After dinner,
which is likely to feature simple food
like pot roast, baked beans, or truffle,
she sits down to a rubber of bridge or
friendly wrestling match with her
chef.
And then my children" she told me.
'My children come first of all. They
mean everything to me. Early in the
evening, before they go to bed, I have
romp with Suzan and little what's
his-name. What is the child's name,
Hugh?"
Leonard" said her husband.
Lila VernOn's eyes grew big with
affection.
"Yes, little Leonard" she said, ]
watched, fascinated, as mother love
came rolling out of every pore in
that beautiful face. Little Leonard
who must be three years old now, or
six, or something"
| There was silence in the studio gar
den as we thought of the little tyke
growing up like other children in the
mad bright town of Hollywood.
This, l thought, is the real Lila
Vernon. Mother-wife-arti
The secretary came back, followed
by a small motor-truck full of mail
Lila Vernon climbed out of the pool tc
watch the men unload.
"My FANS" she told me, her eyes
shining with gratitude, "spend $4,000 9
month for stamps to send me let
tiers. Read a few, McGillicuddy. No
too many, I have headache"
The secretary's eyes shone with 10y
atty as she ripped open the envelope
She read letter:
"'You have been hurt enough, Mis-:
Vernon. You have a greater sensi
tivity and a deeper versatility thar
any actress on the screen. We all love
you here in Kalamazoo"
Miss Vernon choked down a sob o.
two, possibly three.
Read on" she said. "This is thu
most beautiful hour in my day."
"'To what purpose" read the secre
tary, "'dOes this meaningless figur,
appear on the horizon of movieland
Lila Vernon's looks and mentality ar
sufficient proof of the idiotic trend il
Hollywood. Confronted with her sac
charine and feeble attempts to act, tn
public"
"That's enough" said Lila Vernon
"Throw it away. Burn it first, ant
then throw it away"
I looked with admiration at thi
woman. In her countenance Their
was sorrow and reproach, but no an
ger. She stood a moment, lost il
thought. Then she spoke. Her voic
was silvery. Her forehead was clear
"My first duty is to my public" sh
said. Desperately shy by nature
fight my shyness for the sake of tn
people who love me. I must go t.
theaters and previews because the pre-
ducers ask it. But whisk in and out
Disgusting myself with a pair of dar'
glasses or a heavy beard. I'm al
normally sensitive"
And sensitive she looked, as she stoo
there poised on the edge of the poo
Her eyes-were they blue, green, re
or ?-looked out toward the hori
zon. seeing and yet not seeing.
That was the last glimpse l had o
her.
That was the true Lila Vernon.
AS 1 left the studio shoe whizze
past my ear from behind. Lila ha
thrown it. 1t was her playfulness, tn
playfulness of the woman and arts
who is still girl. l picked up tn
shoe and threw it back, narrowly miss
ing the loveliest jaw in Hollywood.
@ John Lardner.-WNU Service.
Nv Wac He Caperous2