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BEN TURPIN
HK term "misery mongers" has been applied to all those "miserables" who earn their living by selling their afflictions; that is, trading on the sympathies of the passerby. Ben Turpin is the only known person that sells his affliction with honor. He has turned his misfortune to profit, and is so far from being an object
his impersonation consisted of criss-crossing the eyes. Ben already possessed the elongated neck, the beatific smile and the funny legs, but he had to simulate the mismated eyes.
Sometimes he made ten appearances between the time he arose and the time he went to bed. Crossing his eyes so many times, and keeping them crossed for so many consecutive minutes, brought about a permanent condition from, which Ben could not remove them without a surgical operation.
"What is the use of uncrossing them?" asks Ben. "I'd only have to undo the work of the surgeons, because the public has
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Turpin Hve in one of those comfortable houses that is a real home. In spite of his crossed eyes, Ben Turpin drives a car and plays golf.
of charity that he is on the giving and not the receiving end — a liberal spirit that turns the arrows of adversity, mocks at misfortune and makes it serve his purposes.
But Ben wasn't always cross-eyed. There was a time when it was as safe as it was possible for him to follow the line of his vision. Xow, he would have to go two ways at once if he attempted the feat of going where he was looking.
Ben acquired his cross-eyes by encouraging them. He was the third of a trilogy of American vaudeville stars to undertake the impersonation of Opper's world -famed character. "Happy Hooligan." A part of
decided that 'Happy Hooligan' shall be perpetuated in me. I sacrifice myself to the public will. When I get old enough to quit the screen I shall permit some surgeon to untie my eyes, but that won't be until my bank roll is of a size to justify. Then I will look the world in the face and 'go straight'." He is fifty-two, a fact of which Ben Turpin, considering his surprising agility and undimmed energy, has a right to boast.
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