Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1925)

FEBRUARY 1925 Picture s and Pichjre pver 23 Ar\ Ope r\ Book %i& " Baby Peggy is one who will always pick out the plums of life," says De Sola. ONCE before I have essayed to read a child's face — Jackie Coogan's — and now I have Baby Peggy Montgomery allotted to me for careful and critical analysis. All this solemn pondering, this meticulous weighing of shaded adjectives, does, perhaps, seem a trifle pompous in conjunction with a sheerly juvenile face. And how to write of such a charming young person? Surely not with grave words and solemn dissertation ! Miss Peggy Montgomery deserves I feel, a style lighter than mine, more delicate and gallant, wearing a note of homage and not forgetting a cap of laughter. It is a remarkable little bead. The eyes are older than the child, and they do not lack penetration. I think they are not bad judges of character in their fashion. I fear, however, that they show some traces of susceptibility to bribery. A villain, properly armed with lollypops, might have his way. They are maternal, too. That maternal instinct, I think, with some of its wiseness and tolerance, some of its simple devotion to an instinctive code of sacrifice and protection is not merely a latent trait on the hands of the future, but one that will possibly dominate in years to come. Of course there is mirth here, a keen feeling for comedy ! It is not unaccompanied by curiosity, I regret to state. The brows are practical. They show, in conjunction with the eyes, some rather striking tendency towards quick spurts of temper, but this, perhaps, is merely the fire of the artist. Certainly she is generous, forgiving, and capable of profound remorse forhersudden little flares, whiete do but offset her lively humour. here EINT DE SOLA She is optimistic. As yet, certainly, she feels that this is the best of all possible worlds. Later, I conjecture, there will be enough of emotional force in this character to cause her to taste something of the brooding depths of life, but what else would you have? T.be mere comedian, untouched by a sense of formless tragedy, is at best a superficial fellow. It is sadness that marks the line between the great Droll and the mediocre one. Baby Peggy has a humour too vast, too, authentic, to be content with mere laughter alone. She is ever so malleable to affection, and she has many affections. Some would declare her fickle, but not I. In this face I can readily see that much of her sweetness is but graciousness, awarded as a queen awards, and possessing only the significance of generosity. It is but for the few that she feels deeply after all. I am afraid that there is a touch of obstinacy in the chin. When affection is not employed to persuade her or when, perhaps, her temperament is ruffled by those who are insensitive to the delicately-strung nature of the great artist, she may — she may have a faint tendency to put her foot down — if necessary, both feet "down. It is a singularly direct little head, the head of one who will probably always be fortunate enough to take the plums out of life. So many persons fail or famblc because they are not quite sure of what they want. They vacillate between contradictory philosophies and aims. Baby Peggy seems to show a very strong, a very certain feeling for the issues which actually interest her. In due course, idealism will be developed here ; already there are signs of its presence. There will be sentiment and kindliness, and enough selfassurance to carry her through to her ultimate goal.