Evening star., 1939-03-19
Industrial Arts Teacher
Is CdNector of Burnettionu
Ernest 6. Rick Hos
Vast Library on
Noted Author
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS,
A teacher of industrial arts in the
Stuart Junior High School by pro-
fession and an enthusiastic collector
Of Frances Hodgson Burnett mem
orabilia by avocation is Ernest C.
Rick. a native Washingtonian.
His absorbing interest in this au-
thor who at 1919 I street NV.
penned two famous childrens
stories, Little Lord Fauntleroy" and
Sara Crewe," later dramatized as
"The Little Princess" has had far
reaching effects. It has resulted In
his organizing with Marie de Lour
Kennedy, a society to perpetuate
Mrs. Burnett's memory and her
stories. Its headquarters are here
IN Washington and it has MANY
distinguished members here and
abroad.
Mr.. Rick has also been responsible
for the marking of 1919 I street
This commemorative marker in
bronze was made possible through
the generosity and cooperation of
David Selznick, the producer of the
screen version of Little Lord Faun-
tleroy." To the passer-by it points
out that here once lived the author
ess. Of whose children's stories
Gladstone commented. "They have
brought about better feeling be-
tween England and America"
Overf1ows His House.
Mr.. Ricks' collection fairly over
flows his home at 1885 Massachu-
setts avenue Sc To such an ex-
tent indeed has it taken possession
OF 1t that one feels If Mrs. Rick
weren't In sympathetic understand
ing with her husbands hobby. II
might imperil the comfort of their
household.
Certain aspects Of it are of espe-
cial interest at the moment because
OF the impending release of the
screen play in which Shirley Temple
is the heroine Of The Little Prin-
cess dramatized version of Mrs.
Burnett's Sara Crewe," or what
Happened at Miss Minchin's." Mr..
Rick Is enthusiastic over the fact
that the coming screen version is a
technicolor production with It's f1rst
scene graphically portraying Capt
Crewe, Sara's father, at the head
OF his gallant company of Scotch
Hlghlanders marching through the
streets of London en- route to Colo
NAL service for the British Empire
Mrs. Burnett wrote the greater
portion of THE Little Princess" at
the 1 street house, but its finishing
touches were completed at 1874 K
street. to which the family subse-
quently moved. Mr.. Rick quotes from
the memoirs Of her son, Vivian
Burnett.
In The Romantic Lady" Mr..
Burnett's story of his mothers life.
he says: "One Of the strongest recol-
lections of that period of my life is
my mothers emphasis upon love is
stronger than hate. I remember.
too, the peach trees in the I street
backyard were a show in the spring
with blossoms that family perfumed
it. and that just little later the
climbing yellow rose covered its un-
painted fences with a cloth OF
gold"
First Was Magazine Story.
Sara Crewe," according to Mr.
Rick, was first brought out as story
In st. Nicholas Magazine and was
originally dramatized In London by
Mrs. Burnett. under the title THE
Unfairly Princess" Later it was
given its present title. THE Little
Princess" and Miss Millie James,
daughter OF the Shakespearean
actor Louis James. was the original
juvenile lead in this production.
Charles Dillingham; was another
producer of The Little Princess
and Miss Beatrice Terry of this
famous English stage family had the
stellar role in one of its productions.
while Mrs. Burnett. always a child
at heart herself, opened still another
at the Criterion Theater in New
York.
Greatly amplified from it's screen
version, the story later appeared in
Scribner's Magazine and was subse-
quently brought out in book form.
One Of Mr. Kicks treasures is one
Of these first editions, illustrated in
color by Reginald Bathurst Birch,
who, at "a, is living in New York
City, and again illustrating chill
dren's books after a successful
operation for cataracts on his eyes.
In a memorandum to Mr.. Rick
he says Il was early in my career,
1t seems, destined to be known only
as the illustrator who pictured
Little Lord Fauntleroy" to the
world. Among my letters are many
from subsequent friends, condemn
ing me for the misery I had brought
upon them as boys, because they had
been compelled to wear those
damned Fauntleroy suits" How
ever, I treasure one from Alexander
Woolcott, the author and critic. who
tells me he not only wore one but
liked it,
Other High Lights.
Other high lights in Mr.. Rick's
collection are more first editions,
original letters of Mrs. Burnett's,
and an unusual group of auto
graphed portraits of those stars Of
stage and screen who have portrayed
famous Burnett characters.
OF particular interest is one of
the few original Burnett manu-
scripts in existence entitled
'Haworth. Lancashire Story"
Mrs. Burnett, herself English born,
penned it at 1919 I street. Written
on sheets of ruled foolscap in the
authors fine flowing script, there
are various marginal addenda such
as Lionel" "See Vivian" ASK