Pauline Frederick : on and off the stage (1940)

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184 Pauline Frederick times she had been in cities where Pauline was playing but, because of this aloofness which she expected to meet, had not had the courage to come back and see her. Finally, on this day she had taken her courage in both hands and had sent back a card. When she entered the dressing room, Pauline realized that they had never met before but she came forward with a cordial smile and a warm handshake. It was then that the unexpected happened. The young girl was so shaken by the warmth of her reception that she burst into tears! It was now Pauline's turn to be surprised. Quickly she put her arms round the girl and comforted her. This was almost too much for the girl! She began to apologize brokenly and then tried to explain herself. Pauline, thinking that she must be in some desperate trouble or something, listened quietly. But it was not any trouble. Merely that this girl had all these years been wanting to meet her and then had been completely overcome by finding her a nice, kind human like anyone else, instead of a haughty woman much aware of her own greatness. As Pauline listened, she laughed that deep-throated laugh of hers and asked: " Why what did you expect to find? Am I so terrifying on the stage? " To this the girl replied, " No . . . not at all . . . but you put your arms around me! r Again Pauline laughed. " You needed comfort didn't you? Anyway you're a sweet child. Come back and see me any time you want to." And with that she kissed the girl and sent her on her way. Not an important matter, such an incident as this. There had been many such in Pauline's life, as there are in the lives of all public persons, but in these days when people take themselves so seriously, it was rather refreshing. These sentimental interludes in the life of a public figure seem to many, no doubt, to be stupid and irritating. Perhaps they are — it depends upon how life has treated you.