Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Dec 1920)

The Joyous Pagan TiiK blonde pagan! It sounds like one of Berta Ruck's novels or a Universal picture, but in reality it's a description of Josephine Hill. For that tiny person, eighteen in years but eighty in wisdom, has evolved a philosophy and a religion all her own. It first manifested itself to me in the tiptiltedness of Josephine's nose, which caught my attention immediately upon our meeting. "But it was just good luck that I had that kind of a nose!" declared Josephine — and thereby hangs a tale — the tale of the aforementioned philosophy. Upon a pedestal in a corner of the room reposed a curious carving. It was a small idol, apparently, a cross between a Billiken and a Buddha, hewn from ivory. And when my eyes were not engaged with Josephine's nose, they were hovering about that strange image. She noticed it, of course, and her mouth crinkled up into a delighted little smile. "That," she e.N|)lained, "is Korsukan, my god of luck. Every morning when I get up and every evening before I go to bed, I bow before him! Isn't that funny!'" She giggled at her own caprice — and yet, was it a caprice? As I learned more of this strange god, I began to suspect that his solitary worshiper had discovered a page from the Book of Wisdom. But I had not come to discuss newborn philosophies ; rather to unearth the life story of this, new light in the cinema heavens. Her marriage with Jack Perrin, the Universal star, was the talk of the day. I could scarcely believe that the tiny girl before me was a wife. "But now, I suppose, you bow before a greater power — the god Husband ''" I suggested. "Indeed. I do not!'' Her eyes widened indignantly. "We've been married only three days, and he has left me already !'' ■ Oh !" I began to suspect that I had said something unfortunate. "But I cant really blame him," she continued hastily. "It's the awful company he's in!" ' There was a distinct break in her voice. I mentally belabored myself for having ventured, into matrimonial subjects and prayed for a return to safe ground. "They've sent him on location way off in the mountains !" she finished. I gasped with relief and hurriedly switched the conversation back to Korsukan. the god of luck. "Long ago, when I was a very little girl indeed," she replied in answer to my questions, "mother used to tell me that there was a little fairy named Korsukan, who would always help me out of difficulties if I would only repeat his name to myself a number of times — Kors-u-kan. Kors-u-kan — course-you-can. Do you .see? .\nd I always found that if I said Korsukan enough, I always could!" "But the image itself?'' I enquired. "Where did that come from ?" "Oh. I had that made when I found that Korsukan came thru every time. It was the decent thing to do, dont you think?" She looked at me rather anxiou.sly. I nodded gravely. "And when it came time for me to make my own living, I found that my little god was quite as faithful as ever. For a long time I traveled with father and mother on the vaudeville circuits, doing baby roles. But when I got big" — she flushed a little when she saw me glance at her feet ; they barely touched the floor as she sat in the big rocking-chair!— "I wanted to go by myself. Mother was a little worried by the idea. I think she was afraid I couldn't succeed. But I just said Korsukan over and over and went to see Gus Edwards. He was very nice to Josephine Hill has a remarkable philosophy all her own, in which a tiny idol, a cross between a Billiken and a Buddha, figures rather prominently. His name is Korsukan— and when Josephine wants anything very badly, she repeats the idol's name several times — and gets her wish. Try it yourself, and see what happens Pholoh/Frculich, L. A. (Twenty/