Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1915)

94 MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE have been there ever since. My present ambition and that of my childhood years, however, were not quite the same," and here Miss Storey laughed merrily. "Asa youngster, my dearest wish was to join a circus or a Wild West show. Perhaps that is why I am so fond of horseback riding." Then it was that I learnt the antitheses of Miss Storey's likes and dislikes. It is quite illuminating and full of interest. Horseback riding and the woman suffrage movement are much further apart as subjects of conversation than the "Pons Asinorum" and the Brooklyn Bridge, but they express in a superlative degree the likes and dislikes of Miss Edith Storey. In the first place, if there is one thing that this little lady dearly loves it is horseback riding, and if there is another that she heartily abhors it is the woman suffrage movement. Speaking of the former, Miss Storey said, in answer to a query of mine : "I love to go careering over the country roads and fields on a spirited horse. It is so delicious to feel the cool breeze in your face and to drink in the life-giving ozone. Nothing is more exhilarating, and as for it being a tonic, no tonic was ever made that has an effect so lasting and truly satisfying. But then I love every kind of open-air exercise — pardon me a moment." Here there was a call for "lights" from Mr. Baker; the scene was resumed, and Amenset, the beautiful Egyptian Princess, prepared to use a "dear little dagger" on, Geoffrey Lascelles (Antonio Moreno), who, as her earthly ideal of a mere man, seemed to be in a Gilbertian pickle as to what to do with his resuscitated mummy Princess, now that he had her. "It all inclines a woman to masculinity, ' ' she said, speaking of woman -s suffrage with conviction, "and, in my estimation, robs her of her sweetest heritage — her gentle womanliness, for which men love her and her friends adore her." Looking back over her work during the past five years, Miss Storey considers "The Christian" as her best and most worthy achievement, chiefly because she loved the role of Glory Quale, and her heart was in it from first to last. "I frequently have a longing for quiet," said Miss Storey, thoughtfully, as she toyed with her little Egyptian dagger — ' ' that wasp sting, ' ' as Mr. Baker called it — "a longing fo be alone and away from it all, where I can commune with myself and the Nature that I dearly love. And then I think, think, think — it is such a relief at times. It is at such times that I motor alone away out into the country, among the lakes and streams, the green trees, the fields and the wildflowers, where the only living things besides myself are the birds and the squirrels. After a lonely trip like this I generally return invigorated in both body and soul and quite ready to resume work in the chosen profession that I also love. ' ' That is an insight into a woman's soul that makes one love and respect her the more. Miss Storey's mother is with her always. * ! I seldom go any place without her, ' ' the daughter said. ' ' She is almost my shadow and helps me so much, especially at rehearsals." The young artist is certainly to be congratulated on such good fortune, for no maid could possibly take one-half the pains that Mrs. Storey does in ministering to the needs and wishes of her talented daughter. The role Miss Storey was enacting the day I met her was in one of the very few comedies in which she has appeared— "The Dust of Egypt"— and this was the first time that she had been under Mr. Baker's direction. She declares Mr. Baker is a wonder. "He has such a keen perception," she said, ' ' and seems to grasp the true meaning of things at once. And then he is such a help to the player. No trouble is too great for him to transfer his ideas to him or her, and, I assure you, we all appreciate most heartily his kindness and consideration in difficult situations."