The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-09-02
HOLLYWOOD'S WOMAN
OF MYSTERY
BY JOHN LARpNER

interviewed for Moviescope. Your Favorite
Fan Magazine.
~ Id ladies smile when they pass
Lila Vernon on the street. She
~ arouses the maternal instinct
in them. Little babies gurgle
and stretch out their hands toward
her. She reminds them of their moth
,srs. Schoolgirls stare at her with
Worshiping eyes. To them she Is
Big sister, beautiful, fine. and brave.
Lila Vernon is all these things to
al these people-daughter, mother, big
sister. She is the Woman of Many
Sides. Which is the true side? Who
ls Lila Vernon?
Idecided to find out.
At the gate Of the Offloff- Standard
studio was met by cool, grave
yirl with blue eyes and goitre. She
fntroduced herself. She was Lila YER
mons secretary.
"Come this way" she said. Lila
ae waiting for you."
"Oh, is she?" l said with little
scream of excitement. My heart beat
Easter.
Here we are" said the secretary
1T last.
We stood on the edge of lovely
private swimming pool, filled to the
6rim with crystal-clear water. The
lies of the pool were mother-of-pearl.
At one end was springbOard of in
Raid mahogany.
a trill of girlish laughter sounded
aoS far away. From door in the
studio bounded a tall, free, gazelle-
Ike figure, clad in a bathing suit o.
gold lame, a white dressing gown with
a gold monogram, gold sandals, and a
.ubber cap which hid the famous
nicotine blonde curls. If it hadn't
been for her smile and those unmis
taxable eyes-are they blue, green
.red or yellow?-I might not have
recognized Lila Vernon.
"Hello," she said, jumping into the
pool.
''Hahzit," gurgled your correspondent
This was the most dangerous woman
N Hollywood This was the sombre
sophisticated siren of six continents
This was Lila Vernon (born Bridge
Flaherty in Erie, Pa.)!
Q rubbed my eyes. Why, she was
3ust a merry, unspoiled kid!
"Who are those people in the pool?'
u asked the secretary. "And those
dogs, who are they?"
THAT'S the household staff" ex
'plained the young lady. "Lila is tru'
democrat. Her servants are her pals.
1 uttered a low bray Of excitement
Then 1 produced pad and pencil. Lila
noticing the gesture from the pool
smiled her frank, open smile at me
I saw I had no secrets from thi
woman.
"You want to interview me, dom
7ou?" she said. "YOu think the publ
wants to hear more about poor littl'
ne. Do you mind if 1 go on with m!
regular morning routine? You cal
Rst ask NE questions while l work
.acGillicuddy. bring the fan mail"
The secretary went away and
noistened the point of my pencil.
"What of marriage?" | asked Lii
Vernon, with a faint squeal of in
tsrest.
"Marriage!" her laugh was like wa
,1er ripping over a bed of pebbles.
1ave no time to think of marriag
low. You mustn't believe all tn
1aings you hear IIugh,'-she wave,
her hand toward her husband-"is al
J need. He makes me happy. l shan
narry again for ages. Besides" sh
added coyly, mo one has asked me-"
We laughed together at this.
''You must want to know what sor
lf life l live" Lila went on, clIangin
ner smile for an expression of be
wifching earnestneSs. MY life is m
own-but it is also my public's. What
.ver they ask about me, tell"
So she told. And l listened, spell
,ound, to this warm, fragrant, hOmelI
nipple record of one wOman's life.
When not working, she is up wit
the lark. A family gathering, plung