Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-09

history is made in a night in Hollywood,
the fortunes of man rise and fall with the
temperature, scintilating personalities are
caught in the silken webs of fate and drawn
to giddy heights, but herein lies the story of
little boy whose power of faith opened the door
to fame.
Freddie Bartholomew, who in the space of
two short years has risen to foremost place
in the affections of the theater-going public,
born in London murky March day in 1924.
The 2Sth is celebrated as his birthday annver-
sary, and at the age of Is years he has
amassed a vast fortune. From obscurity in a
remote village of England, he has risen to a
commanding place as American motion pic
ture star. There was no physical power, no
friendship, no pull to help him, only deep
rooted sincerity and a staunch, straightforward
British honesty.
There was nothing in Freddies background to
indicate the wonders that lay in store for him.
His father government clerk, the son of
a wel-to-do rural family and his mothers fam
lily was well known in London society.
Fredde's early childhood was spent in Lon
don where his amazing memory recalls the toys
of his infancy, his nursery, and walks in the
park with his mother when he not yet
three years old. He was inclined to be frail and
his health was constant worry to his parents
The fog, the murk, and the dampness of Lon
don were threatening to take their toll, and
when he was but three years old, he was sent
to visit his fathers people who live, and still
live, in Warminster, in Wiltshire County
Here Freddie began a new life. A ruddiness
crept into the little fellows cheeks and he be-
gan to grow strong.
Here, too, he met the spirit that to guide
his baby steps along the path that prepared him
for stardom. This spirit came in the form of
Miss Mylcent Bartholomew, his fathers sister,
a gentlewoman of distinction and charm, and a
popular figure in the society of the small COM
munity.
She took little Freddie to her heart and law
ished all her love and affection upon him. She
had way of understanding a boys problems
and he soon learned he could bring every con-
fdence to her His troubles vanished when he
told them to isis" or Sissy" as he affection
ately called her. To Freddie she became mentor,
sister, counsellor friend-the security and STA
blty that childhood needs for healthy growth.
Sissy" raised him to be English gentle
man. Little Lord Fauntleroy" was no role for
him, it was Freddie being himself. Still he
all boy full of enthusiasm and into mischief in
spite of his polished manners. The mischievous-
ness has fingered on, and it only recently
that one of the electricians came dashing on to
the set for Captains Courageous to alarm the
cast by shouting There's million dollars worth
of kid about to be killed down there on the high
way" The stars rushed out with the directors to
find Freddie and Mickey Rooney coasting down
hill on bicycles to beat the studio trucks across
a dangerous intersection at the foot Of the hill.
1t no formal school that Freddie knew.
Aunt Myllicent was the teacher and Freddie the
only pupil. But they had fun together over the
multiplication tables, spelling out words and
learning to read. In the chilly winter afternoons
before the crate fire and under the shaded light
of the parlor Freddie learned about the knights