The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

July, igig PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL SEAR ffl .GUSOjN a HEN you first meet and talk with Elsie Ferguson, you are probably likely to be fancifully reminded of the old legends of princesses and castles — you feel that weird, mysterious sensation that arises from reading an old, romantic tale. Then after you know her a bit better, she seems to melt — not a great deal, but she is no longer the snow princess that she was when you met her. Each moment of your acquaintance with her, you long for the time to come when she will gradually let you in on a confidence or two, and you dare not hope for more. She is reticent, retiring, and there is a better word to describe her, but it seems unpardonable to use it — she is shy ! Miss Ferguson, the great mistress of poise, grade and artistry is very shy. She does not dislike strangers, but she does not enjoy meeting persons who are strange to her. She suffers when she is obliged to speak before a large gathering of persons, and she would rather go through the floor than to have strange persons watch her while a scene is being made in the studio. This is not temperament, as some folks might call it. It is that little bugaboo fear that possessed her when, as a small child, she ran away and hid under the bed whenever her mother had visitors. Let no one believe that Elsie Ferguson is merely a Dresden doll because she has blue eyes and and fluffy blonde hair and a shy disposition. Beneath the smooth surface of her white skin, there is another Elsie Ferguson, a dominant, forceful woman, both in thought and action. Here is the supreme woman who can match her wits with those of any well informed person. Miss Ferguson has her moments of frivolity, when she romps with the little Angora kitten in her apartment and sings a foolish little song at the piano, and Elsie Ferguson In An Artistic Scene In "The Witness For the Defense" puts funny clothes on to see how she will look ; but these are only rare occasions, when the mood of mischievous pursuit captures her. "I have remarked on various occasions that I do object to interviews," Miss Ferguson the question had been put to face, "and the reason I object do not feel that anyone cares think and what I do outside replied after her, face to is because I about what Miss Ferguson and One of Her Favorite Pets of my work on the screen. What does it matter if I prefer chocolate for breakfast instead of coffee, or blue house gowns instead of pink ones, and Angora cats to Chow dogs ? What has all this to do with an actress's ability and charm from the stage or screen?" When she was told that the motion picture fans all wish to know the secret things about a favorite star, she replied, "Ah, but that is the reason that they become disillusioned and cynical. If they never were to know anything about the favorite's private life, and it was all to be kept a myth, like Santa Claus is to children, then they would never cease to love their favorites, and the glamor of the stage would have a greater appeal. Familiarity with stage craft, and the private lives of the players, robs the theatre-goers of a great deal of the fun, don't you think so?" I could not say that I agreed with her, because I felt that I would have been robbed of a great deal had I never met her, and all the illusions that I had of her were strengthened rather than weakened by personal contact. To know her is to love her, and to talk with her an hour and not be fascinated and completely lost, would mean that you were not human. Miss Ferguson has been interested in social service work for a great many years. She is too modest to let the public know of her gifts to charitable organizations. The working girl's problem has always been a source of interest to this great actress. But not until you have seen her eyes fill with tears and her effort to check them, can you begin to know the heart that beats in her body for all humanity. Speaking of her work, Miss Ferguson said : "I love it for many reasons, first because I am told that it gives pleasure to many millions of persons who could not afford to go to a more expensive entertainment, and then again it gives me the opportunity to portray many characters a year, and to analyze human nature and to commercialize the frailties and strong (Continued on Page 53)