Screenland (Sept 1922–Feb 1923)

/P HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA the barn. It was a combination of handball and tennis, with rules made by H. G. Very exciting and good fun. Then a walk to Lady Warwick's estate. As I walk I recall how dramatic it had sounded last night as I was in bed to hear the stags bellowing, evidently their cry of battle. The castle, with beautiful gardens going to seed, seemed very sad, yet its ruins assumed a beauty for me. I liked it better that way. Ruins are majestic. H. G. explains that every one about is land poor. It takes on a fantastic beauty for me, this cultivation of centuries now going to seed, beautiful in its very tragedy. Home for tea and in the evening I teach them baseball. Here is my one chance to shine. It is funny to see H. G. try to throw a curve and being caught at first base after hitting a grounder to the pitcher. H. G. pitched and his son caught. As a baseball player H. G. is a great writer. Dinner that night is perfect, made more enjoyable for our strenuous exercise. As I retire that night I think of what a wonderful holiday I am having. N EXT day I must leave at 2 :30 p. m., but in the morning H. G. and I take a walk and visit an old country church built in the eleventh century. A man is working on a tombstone in the churchyard engraving an epitaph. H. G. points out the influence of the different lords of the manor on the art changes of different periods. Here the families of Lady Warwick and other notable people are buried. The tombstones show the influence of the sculpture of all periods. We go to the top of the church and view the surrounding country and then back home for lunch. My things are all packed and H. G. and his son see me off. H. G. reminds me not to forget another engagement to dine with him and Chaliapin. the famous Russian baritone. As I speed into town I am wondering if Wells wants to know me or whether he wants me to know him. I am certain that now I have met Wells, really met him, more than I've met any one in Europe. It's so worth while. I HAD promised to attend the premiere showing of "The Kid" in Paris and I went back to the French capital as I came, via airplane. The trip was uneventful, and on landing and going to mv hotel I find a message from "Doug" Fairbanks. He and Mary had arrived in Paris and were stopping at the Crillon. They asked me over for a chat, but I was too tired. "Doug" promised to attend the premiere at the Trocadero theater. During the afternoon there came 250 souvenir programs to be autographed. These were to be sold that night for 100 francs each. In the evening I went to the theater via the back way, but there was no escape. It was the biggest demonstration I have yet seen. For several blocks around the crowds were jammed in the streets and the gendarmes had their hands full. Paris had declared a holiday for this occasion and as the proceeds of the entertainment were to be given to the fund for devastated France the elite of the country were there. I am introduced to Ambassador Herrick, then shown to my box and introduced to the ministers of the French Cabinet. I DO not attempt to remember names, but the following list has been preserved for me by my secretary : M. Menard, who attended on behalf of President Millerand ; M. Jusserand, M. Herbette, M. Careron, M. Loucheur, minister of the liberated regions ; M. Hermite, Col. and Mrs. H. H. Harjes, Miss Hope Harjes, Mr. and Mrs. Ridgelev Carter, Mrs. Arthur James, Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Rutherford Stuyvesant, Walter Berry, M. de Err'axu, Marquis de Vallambrosa, Mile. Cecile Sorel, Rob ert Hostetter, M. Byron-Kuhn, Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Loeb, Florence O'Neill, M. Henri Lettelier, M. Georges Carpentier, Paul C. Otey, Mr. and Mrs. George Kenneth End, Prince George of Greece, Princess Xenia, Prince Christopher, Lady Sarah Wilson, Mrs. Elsa Maxwell, Princess Sutzo, ViceAdmiral and Mrs. Albert P.Niblack, Comte and Comtesse Cardelli, Duchess de Talleyrand, Col. and Mrs. N. D. Jay, Col. Bunau Varila, Marquise de Talleyrand-Perigord, Marquis and Marquise de Chambrun, Miss Viola Cross, Miss Elsie De Wolf, Marquis and Marquise de Dampierre and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rousseau. M Y box is draped with American and British flags, and the applause is so insistent that I find I am embarrassed. But there is a delicious tingle to it and I am feeling now what Doug felt when his "Three Musketeers" was shown. The programs which I autographed during the afternoon are sold immediately and the audience wants more. I autograph as many more as possible. I am photographed many times and I sit in a daze through most of it, at one time going back stage, though I don't know why, except that I was photoed there, too. The picture was shown, but I did not see much of it. There was too much to be seen in that audience. At the end of the picture there came a messenger from the Minister: "Would I come to his box and be decorated?" I almost fell out of my box. I grew sick. What would I say ? There was no chance to prepare. I had visions of the all-night preparation for my speech in Southampton. This would be infinitely worse. I couldn't even think clearly. Why do I pick out stunts like that ? I might have known that something would happen. But the floor would not open up for me to sink through and there was no one in this friendly audience who could help me in my dilemma and the messenger was waiting politely, though I imagined just a bit impatiently, so, summoning what courage I had, I went to the box with about the same feeling as a man approaching the guillotine. I am presented to everybody. He makes a speech. It is translated for me, but very badly. While he was speaking I tried to think of something neat and appropriate, but all my thoughts seemed trite. I finally realized that he was finished and I merely said : "Merci," which, after all, was about as good as I could have done. And, believe me, I meant "Merci" both in French and in English. But the applause is continuing. I must say something, so I stand up in the box and make a speech about the motion-picture industry and tell them that it is a privilege for us to make a presentation for such a cause as that of devastated France. SOMEHOW they liked it, or made me believe they did. There was a tremendous demonstration and several bearded men kissed me before I could get out. But I was blocked in and the crowd wouldn't leave. At last the lights were turned out, but still they lingered. Then there came an old watchman who said he could take us through an unknown passage that led to the street. WTe followed him and managed to escape, though there was still a tremendous crowd to break through in the street. Outside I meet Cami, who congratulates me, and together we go to the Hotel Crillon to see "Doug" and Mary. Mary and "Doug" are very kind in congratulating me, and I tell them of my terrible conduct during the presentation of the decoration. I knew that I was wholly inadequate for the occasion. 1 keep mumbling of my 32