Picture Show (May-Oct 1920)

Picture Show, July 3jM, 1920. 21 THE HOPE DIAMOND The Hope Diamond is known to be a tragic possession, bringing in its train disaster and trouble. The story goes that years ago the Blue Diamond was one o! the two eyes belonging to a god in a temple at Burma. The temple was looted, the diamond being among the gems stolen. This priceless stone changed hands many times, and, without exception, every owner of the jewel met with a sudden or terrible death. The story oS its mystery is now to be filmed, and Grace Darmond, who takes the leading part in the film, tells of her interview with May Yohe, who once owned the fateful stone. THE name of May Yohtr always meant a lot to me. It invariably brought to my imagination, old, ivy-covered castles in Merry England, the English Derby) and of the time when May Yohe was the wife of Lord Francis Hope. 1 visualised May Yohe residing in some mansion or oilier, by the shores of the Pacific ocean, with butlers, and flunkies, and golf courses, and — and everything. Then " Can you direct me to the mansion of May Yohe ? " I asked ' the Postmaster at San Pedro Harbour, California. " Er— mansion ? You mean Mrs. John Smuts' house, right around the corner." And tl^ Postmaster eyed me curidusly. .Tust around the corner, and no mansion ! A wee cottage half-buried in honeysuckle nestled by the roadside, and a pretty woman stood in the gateway. 1 stopped my motor. '• The May Yohe mansion, Mrs. John Smuts' house, can you direct me to it ? " I asked. " I am May Yohe, and this is my mansion. Come right in, my dear ! " Just think of it ! May Yohe, the toast of London town, the belle of two continents, the girl with princes and potentates at her feet, and who wore the famous Hope diamond valued at £95,000, this wee cottage 'midst honeysuckle and roses was her " mansion." It is indeed a queer old world after all I A Delightful Day. I NEVER spent a more pleasant day. Captain Smuts, who is a relative of General Smuts, "and who carries three bullets in his body as a result of war service, came home early from the shipyards where he works. " John works every day in the slupyards. I hope he can quit it soon for someone is always getting hurt at the work," said May. " And then we want to go to India and try and make ¥55,000, that would he. enough to live on, don't you think ? " Then Captain Smuts came in and was introduced. A fine, upstanding sort of Englishman. And he turned the music, and May played " Honey, my Honey " on the piano. Her touch is divine ! Then nothing would do but that I go with the Captain and May out in the back yard to see the rabbits. They have a dozen rabbits, all pets, and May has a name for each one. Her favourite she calls " Pussyfoot Johnson." " I couldn't kill any of them, you know. They like me and I like them. We like each other, don't we, John ? " Then Captain Smuts smiled into the brown eyes of his wife, and she smiled back. They are very, / very happy. " Xow, my dear, tell them that I am a good housekeeper." We were in the kitchen, which also serves as a dining room, and ve sit around a little table where May poured some wonderful tea, and we had bread and butter, home-male cake, and strawberries and eream. I never tasted anything better in my life ! Her Secret. IN EAKLY forgot the wonderful salad we had. It was made by May from lettuce, radishes and onions she planted and cultivated in her own little garden. " I'm going to te'.l you a secret, Miss Darmond," said May Yohe, as we rose from the kitchen table. " 1 wrote the strry of the Hope diamond for a purpose. T mean ;ome day to return to England. I love that old (ountry where I have manv, many friends. With the money I earn, I am going to show them that May Yohe is alive, happy and prosperous." There was a flash of the old, proud spirit as she said it. I have played my very best in the Hone Diamond Mystery serial, played my very best for May Yohe's sake, if for notlung else. I am glad to be associated with her, both as to the story and in the scenes where she appears, and I believe the serial will do what May Yohe so keenly longs for, be the means of returning her to Old England where, with Captain Jolin Smuts, her beloved husband, she will prove to her old friends that " May Yohe is alive, happy ami prosperous." MAY YOHE surrounded by members of the cast of the film.play that centres round the wonderful Hope diamond.