Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 37

FEATURE SECTION HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 1921. INTERVIEWING GILLETTE'S "CASTLE" ON HADLV PART THREE ME HILL Unique Structure Which Commands Far View Reaching prised th noon meal. It mas Just one A PICTURESQUE BUILDING OF ORIGINAL DESIGN WHICH SPEAKS MUCH OF ITS OWNER matter of hours or days. There have been attempts to Interview Gillette before, the word "attempts" is correctly placed, for It Is doubtful II anyone has so far succeeded in persuading him to talk on anything but superficial subjects. Ha has been always good natured, greeting newspapermen with entire pleasantry, but hss succeeded In maintaining an Impassable barrier against all intimate questioning.

There Is an envelope In the files of "The Courant" library crammed to overflowing with clippings, result of these attempted Interviews, wherein the reportera had overcome an almost Impossible situation in writing a story at all. Kach of these accounts have added their bit Story of Pilgrimage to Eminence Overlooking Connecticut River is a Tale of Snow Crusted Roads, an Ice Choked Stream, a Doughty Ferryboat, Its Intrepid Commander and a Heart-Breaking Climb Up Slippery and Ice-Covered Paths. Connecticut, Is still attracted by Its beauty. No one but Gillette himself could explain entirely why he should choose for a home a castle, without a draw-bridge and battlements, but almoat as Inaocessable. There are few places he could have picked, so secluded, except, perhaps, the peak of "Mount Tom," which la an outpost oT the town of Washington in the Litchfield hills, the highest altitude of the state.

Ideal for Iletlrruient. But for all purposes of retirement the "castlo" site nils every retirement, situated as it Is at least half a mile from the nearest railroad station and flanked on the west by the broad stretch of the river, whose beauty Is not spoiled by a bridge. The stream serves in part as a moat for the "caatle," accessible from that side only by mean of a small ferry boat, the operation of which ceases during the coldest months of winter. It In a convenience furniched by the slato. Such la the site of Gillette's "castle," which he prefers always to call his "home." its angular walls Scraping the sky.

Its rocky base grown over with thick foliage, covered with winding paths, rustic bridges overhanging the water for many feet, secret nooks, and at the very bottom, the private boat dock and boat. Aunt Polly, which was, by the way, his former home. For Gillette, the actor. Is a public man, while Gillette, the citizen, has not a few of the Instincts of a hermit, possessed with a love of seclusion a home associated as closely as possible with nature. "Interview" With This tory first of all Is an "Interview" with the "castle." for he was not at home when a party of "Cmir-ant" men called at Hadlyme.

He wis In New York and there was no filing whether his return would be a W1LUAM GILLETTE in the role VV 'of "Citizen" has revealed his off-stage characterization In home. Hi acquaintances, especially newspapermen will testify, that he i inclined to talk on any aubject except William Gillette. Now he has given himself away in this respect more than ever before, he has almost completed a home, 200 hundred feet above the waters of the Connecticut Hiver that citizens of Hadlyme are pleased to call a "castle" which in many respects, is more difficult "to interview" than William Gillette. Possibly he built the home for this purpose. It has been said many times a man reveals himself in lits home, now many are quick to remark that William Gillette is revealed in every angle of he quaint structure that overlooks a broad expense of a river.

and arouses the admiration of those who pasa in boats. Tersona who have met Gillette in a casual fa.hion, and later have become his friends, remark that while he at first appeared reserved he later proved to be capable of light and ser-lous conversation as well. The exterior of his house appears as unap ii Clare Eames Brings More Local Color to "Prince and the Pauper" Former Hartford Girl, Niece of Mrs. Hiram Percy Maxim, Has Role of Princess Elizabeth "in Splendid Faversham Production Is Also Portrait Painter. DISTANT VIKW OF TUB "CASTLK." wa cluttered with ladders, board and having.

Mr. Preston volunteered to show th party around the grounds. Ha led thorn down a by-palh Inio the wood. It circled around great rocks, across rustic bridges always down. Wa It poaalble that this wa a detour to lend, the viNltors away from the "caa- tin'' 11 self? A they went on, slipping over lh crust, using the brush and llntb of trees to keep their feet, Mr, Preston explained how it wa possible for the workmen to build a path on so steep a bank.

He showed where they had been let down from the top of the many difficulties associated with an adventure, reaching so far beyond the limits of ordinary civil isation. They parked their car at the water' edge and (canned the river for some means of crosalng, having learned that ltadlyme ferry wa sup posed to be running despite the hun- drd of cake of ice that nearly covered the stream from shora to shore. The ferry. If running at all, was at the other side, where there appeared little sign of Ufa. Insptc tlon of the little house that served to shelter the skipper and his crew from the Inclemency of the weather revealed one of the latest type of automobile horns and when the hsn die was shoved in to its limit a pe cullar "squawk" emanated that with out doubt reached the farthest shore, setting to flight a flock of birds at the water's edge.

There was not a person in sight; there was one automobile. That had been forsaken for the moment by the owner, who no doubt had some errand on the farther shore. It wa the only Indication that the boat might be running. The walla of the castle, the object of th quest could be seen at the top of the rock directly In front of the It light stone construction reflecting the rays of an afternoon sun. Was Gillette's house go ing to refuse to be Interviewed tooT This question was uppermost In the mlnda of the newspapermen, when a faint cloud of smoke curled from the only object that would pas for a ferry boat, which wa by th way only a tiny white speck at the Junc tion of land and water.

There was. after a few mniutes, an almoat Imperceptible movement, mora smoke. and, yes, th boat was actually com Ing over. There seemed a chance to get over there too if the boat could break Its way through th Ice. The spirits of the newspapermen arose a the craft continued to plow along; perhap It would not be necessary after all to visit the castle by airplane.

There wa a fair size opening In the Ice, the boat picked It way at the direction of the skipper and drew up at the dock. There were three men on board. It wa a larger boat than It would at first aeem; a It wa learned afterward It had been borrowed for th time being from a point up-river, Everything wa fine now, the croaslng would be only a matter of a few minutes. So It appeared at any rate, until Skipper "Jimmy" Alger expressed his sentlmentc. Ducking across the river In view of the Ice cakes wa not a easy as It looked.

In hi opinion, and there wa even the shadow of a dounbt about the chances of getting across. It might be done In a row but the ferry might not make It. He had been captain of the ferry for five year and he knew a great deal on the subject of the peculiarities of the river. He knew all Its moods and it habit; most of all he realized the difficulties of crossing, while It was caked with lea. He had made tt his special study.

Ac cording to his explanation, one might get th ferry across, then have to wait an hour, two hours, even three and possibly a week before getting It back lagaln. It all depended on the leu. One had to watch for an opening and so while the goinif was good. If it became Jammed tbera was no chance at all. "Another thing people don't understand," he continued, "Is that there is more Ice under the water than on top.

Those cakes out there are much thicker than they look. The Ice goe down In patches; you have to watch It, pick out an opening and go. 1 here may not be a chance hera now In a long time." Skipper Alger had an old fashioned and Immensely long telescope with which he scanned the ice from time to time. He climbed on the rigging on the outermost edge of the boat and peered out, turning now and then to advise Purser Fred Peeb and the crew of one man a to the condition of the breaker. After a delay of about half an hour, lie gave the word to tart.

The boat chugged off shore, the crew tandlng In front with a boat hook to push away cakes that drifted against the craft' aides. There were no other passengers. Purer Peeb stepped up to the news, pspermen, fair sized cloth pocket book In his hand partly filled wllh change. He had come-to collect toll. The question arose Immediately as to how much would be charged.

Would It come to the point of chartering the craft? That would mean a good size expense account. Eo much work was Involved In making the trip; Indeed It seemed that It wus an almost dan-g'rous trip. But the fears of the newspapermen were relieved by the announcement that the fare was but 15 cents for the party, cents for each person. "Surely the fsre must be more than cents?" No, not at all and some people, who buy tickets, get over for cents a trip. Guess the state don't make great desl of money off this craft.

We make a couple of dozen trips a day In good weathr. In summer w. work day and night and have six men on duty." "By th way have you met William Gillette, who lives in the castle up there? Does he patronize your ferry boat?" "Yes, he travels over this wsy when he is here. He's not around very often though. He's a nice chap, when vou get to know him, don't have a areat deal to say to strangers.

1 never hesrd him rplcl along much." The Journey across the river wm without Incident. The boat plowed over th small cake, dodged the larger ones, owing to skillful manipulation of the wheel. The skipper didn't remain always In the cabin, however, lit jumped out now and then in a V- i. 'Br pinch to handle a boat hook, thereby assltlng the crew, in a few minute th boat Jarred gently against the dook, which was In no small measure due to Purser Peebe, who took his turn at the -engine; governed by sharp whistles from the skipper' cabin. It now remained to proceed by land.

The newipapermen found the winding roadway that struck up the side of the rock und walked wearily up the steep Incline. Th road appeared to wind around In a circle and It was slow going. There was Just enough crust on the snow to make walking slippery. Half way up the hill, th party met an Indian coming down. He had a pipe In hi motinth, smoked In snappy puffs, and past by without a word.

It must be, they thought, that worked for William Gillette. At the summit the road curved neatly around the house, landing the visitor at a porch the south side. There was only one person In sight, a workman, who wa reparlng the roof. A picture Wa snapped hastily, taking In as much of the house as possihl from the wall, below which there, was a drop of many feet. A third membet of the party discovered Frank Preston, the landscape garener, who wa then in charge of the premle.

"Can we go inclde, look around, take some picture?" was asked. "I'm sorry but th inside is not finished." Still a glimpse was allowed Inside what appeared to be the llvlnij room, It wa unlike any house they had ever teen. Half way up the lde of the walls end i-xtendinir apparently half way around the room wa a ort of balcony. ThI opened Into a number of rooms. Evidently it was an open house effect.

Directly acros wa an Immense fireplace, which wa built of stone. The work was still In progress, as the flool is? proachable as a feudal baron'a castle; the interior in its unfinished atate is still a mystery a passing: glimpse through the windows indicate that It will appear as interesting; as- its actor owner. Uke UaronlBl Castle. The "castle" has been three years in the process of building and it is still unfinished, its regular roof casts a picturesque outline against the eastern sky on the lummit of the immense rock that he purchased for its site. Outwardly the house is complete: the interior, however, Is cluttered with ladders and other paraphernalia required by workmen In putting on the last touches.

Meanwhile Gillette, in the brief periods that he Is there, lives in a more or less primitive fashion, watching: the growth of the structure that la his ideal of a home. The house la Indeed peculiar In Connecticut, and for this reason attracts Instantly the attention of passerby. It lends foreign touch to the surrounding country, suggests the atmosphere credited usually to lands across the aea. Then one Is reminded that Glllettte was born in Hartford, Is Indeed a native of of an old New England family. For generations various male member of the Eamea family served In the United States Navy, and Mis Eame' father wa born In Shanghai, China, the son of a naval captain.

Mr. Eames, or Ensign Eame a be was listed on the navy records, came to this city in the eighties to the factory of the Colt Patent Firearm Company, where he acted aa Inspector of navy ordnance being manufactured by that firm. Later he left the navy and became manager of the Electric Vehicle Company, a rival of the Pope Manufacturing Company at that time, which made clectrio car. When Mr. Eames was manager of the Electric Vehicle Company, the chief designer of the company was Hiram Percy Maxim, now one of the best known of the country' Inventors, and President of the American Radio Relay league.

And Miss Eames' mother Is a sister of Mr. Hiram Percy Maxim, both being daughter of former Governor William T. Hamilton of Maryland. When 11 years old Mis Eame went to live in Cleveland, Ohio. After living there for a time, she Joined her aunt Jlme.

Emma Eame (Mr. Emilia de Gorgora) in Paris. As is of course fitting, it wa In Paris that Mis Eames began her theatrical career. Acting upon the advice of her aunt, one of the leading grand opera artists, she studied the drama for several year. Four years agt she went to New York and took special dramatic studies under the late Sarah Cowell Lemoine, and at the Sargeant School.

Then, came a note of discouragement. "The American Magazine," to the contrary, there seem to come a period In the life of every individual who later achieve success, when the cun of hope 1 darkened and the skies are heavy with leaden clouds of discouragement. Few successful men or women have trod the rough and rocky road leading to fame without a brief, forced halt. On this road, atone bruise and wrenched ankle are numerous, and even the most energetic and ambitious traveler now and then pauses to reflect on the broad, smooth, even highway of Indifference which Is not far distant, and wonder if after all that Is not the best road. And so it was, for a time, with Mia Eames.

In one of the period of discouragement, perhaps, she decided that ahe had no dramatic ability; she thought that she would have more success at art, which she had studied along with the drama while abroad. Bo she was at least leaving one rough pathway for another equally as rough. It was not long before she wa forced to- answer the lure of the footlights, and back to the stage she came for a short time. At a student matinee of the Ser geant school in 1917 she appeared and then went down to the end of West Fourth street to the Greenwich Village theater. ThI was before the folly fad had stuck that playhouse and at the time when more attention was paid to art for art's sake mostly.

Miss Eames appeared In various one act plays, Including Rchnltzler's 'The Big Scene," in which sh; had i in hnllHino tin ftfllntt'a renutattnn nf maintaining the alienee of the Sphinx. And so it was Just as well, perhaps, unless his Ideas have greatly ohanged, that he was not at home, when a party of "Courant" men climbed to the peak of his "castle In the air." government man, who hod come to confiscate cither his boat as a torpedo, destroyer, or hi "castle" for a fort. There was a hurried dodging among tha paths, a meeting. Gillette, consenting to talk a little about the castle. Like Ellsa's Famous Trip.

Now, a ipllgrlmag to Glllett's castle. In the midst of winter at least, is like Kflza's memorable Journey, of Tncle Tom'a Cabin," fame, In its flrat stage, and not unlike an expedition up the side of an Alpine mountain, in Its second stage. It la a trip wholly comprised of stages; there are many obstacles to overcome. "The Courant" men reached the opposite bank of the river early in the afternoon; they didn't return until after nightfall. There had been no tlma for dinner, so a luncheon of crackers and cheese, obtained at a nearby village, com- "The Prime and the Pauper." and the Pauper." Miss Eames studied Queen Elizabeth thoroughly at this time, hut was herself dissatisfied with her performance.

which she termed "too amateurish." She later took part in the mob scenes In "Through the ges," and then made a splendid success with Ethel Barrymore as Lady Wilderlng, wife of the ambassador. In "Declasse." Then came the part whkji she is now playing In Mr. Faversham's pntductlon. While one might believe that the hand of fate, or Kismet, or whatever It I that regulate the live of mortals, has dealt with Mis Eames In an exceedingly kind way, unfortunately, such 1 not the case. Th World War brought to her as to hundred of otijer Americans, It mcssag-! of sorrow.

Her fiance, Lieutenant Philip Livingston Rose, of Hartford, son of Major John II. of the surgeon general's office In Washington, was killed In action on October lOrtfcbir 6, ft i i UP" 4 I "ship's beam," because of Its shape. -Mr, Preston smiled aa the party started up th hill once more, ac tually ging In th direction of th House. "You know I came up here thre year ago before the work wa started," he declared, "I looked at the hill, climbed to the top, looked around and below. I sat down on a stump and said to myself how In th world la anyone going to build a house up here? It looked Impossible.

I had an Indian working for me at the time. He looked around Jmt a I did. 'Not for me," he ald, threw up hi hands and gave up his Job. He left me and enlisted In the army, preferring face the Germans rather tbaa h'-lp trj build a house up here." It wa Mr. Clllette' first plan to build a camp on the hill, a ummer place, where ha could live in tha open and enjoy the view the teep height afforded.

liut his home at that time, the Aunt 'Polly, wa fast becoming tiresome. He wanted a permanent place to live. And ao It cam about that his plans ot many year, to build an ideal home, were carried out. The "castle" therefore came Into being. The party had by this time left th rock, crossed the grounds, interlaced with paths and bushes at the rear, reached a small hill, where the "castle" outline could be seen against the light of the sinking sun.

The sky was alight over the horizon with a bright hue of pink, flecked her and there with a strip of gray cloud, Th scene was entirely unlike any familiar to the Connecticut hills. The Jagged roof of Gillette'1 house was a striking sight against the sky. "What style of architecture I tha house?" inquired one of the prty. "Original," Mr. Preston replied.

3- bk-r w-f-y. I' ll itel (VU 5' 1 MUST HARTFORD keep the New York stage supplied with stars? The average Hartford citizen wUl. reply by saying that he was not aware of the fact that this city wan entrusted with so Important a mission. After he has reflected on the matter for a time however, undoubtedly he will alter his statement ant admit that perhaps it would seem, after all, as though Hartford had to furnish at least a goodly portion of the names which appear in the electric light signs which illuminate Broadway in the vicinity of Fortv-second street. Almost each day one rf-ads in the various theatrical reviews of some individual who has jumped into footlight fame who lias (it one time lived in Jlartforrf.

To repent all of these names would bo impossible In less than two or three columns of closely typed matter. It I necessary, however, to mention the latest Hartforeitte to climb to success in the theatrical world Miss Clare Karnes, Princess Elizabeth of "The I'rinee and the Pauper." -Kach day or.o seems to find some 2ded hold which "The Prince and th'5 Pauper" has upon this city. The play which is now running: at tne Booth theater which was produced by William Faversham. In which Mr. Faversham has the leading role, and which Is one of the greatest successes in the metropolis today, was written in novel form by Mark Twain.

As was told in the columns of "The Sunday Courant" several weeks ago, "The Prince and the Pauper" was first dramatized in Mark Twain's home over fifty years ago, with Mrs. Clemens as stage manager and prominent Hartford people in the various roles. Again it appeared here aa a popular production several years ago, when it was given at Parsons theater by the Jesters, the Trinity College dramatic organization, and at that time Richard Barthelmess, now one of the leading mption picture stars, appeared in the part which Mr. Faversham ha now. So it has gone.

For years Hartfora has appeared to feel closer to "The Prince and the Pauper" than it hai felt to any other Twain work. This feeling may possibly be because the book was written in this city; in the loom where it was first dramatize. In addition to all of the ties mentioned previously, there stands the largest one. perhaps, In the statement maiie by Mr. Favcrffcam to a representative of 'The Courant" in New York on the evening of the Mark Twain anniversary, that he would do cveiything in his power to assist In the saving of the Hartford home or the great American humorist In the account of the Mark Twain anniversary celebration given in the "Courant" recently, mention was made of the.

fact that Harold Webster, a Hartford man, was playing one of the part in the production, although not a major role. At the time It wa not known that one of the principal parts was taken by Miss Eames. who cleverly and splendidly take the part (f Princeps Elizabeth and who succeeds in giving to the character of the afterward notorious Queen Bess the only human touch which the writer ever has associated with her. Miss Lame wa born in Hartford A A A ENTRANCE TO GILLETTE HOME In rcre swings to place the dynamite and light the fuse for blasting. It wa a dung' roim undertaking as dozens of feet of roek had to be blasted out to make way for the path.

Sometimes It had been necessary to build a bridge around a great boulder. He showed one of these bridges, which Gillette had Insisted should be built out In order to avoid "sacrificing three fair sized trees," which had grown out of a rrevlrc between the stones. "Why did Glllett choose so peculiar a house and a aits like this?" "He had been planning on the house for a Rrcat many years, sketched the plans himself roughly. I don't kr.ow why ha choso this place, except that he anchored off here in the Aunt Polly, climbed the hill here and liked the view I guess." Of course' the most difficult feat was to build a roadway )to gain access to tho top, the little bridges and rustic seats. Then nany of the stone had to be dug and blasted out of the rugged aide of the hill and transferred to the site of the house.

Plastering- the stone wa asy In comparison. It was like building any other house. Then there wa the clearing away of the brush, the fixing of rustle seats, like one extending out over the water, dubbed the Ware Eames of Hartford In the part of the wife. But after successful engagement In this production, she again left the stage and took up painting, specializing In portraiture. Uy a peculiar coincidence, William Faversham, the star who ha ralsrd Mis Eames to the Olympian height of stardom where he himself has so high a seat, was the man who caused the former Hartford girl to abandon art for a second time.

Mr. Faversham had seen Miss Eames in one of the Greenwich Village plays, and llkea her work so well that he determined to place her In ont of hi productlonx as soon as the opportunity presented itself. This opportunity cam two years later. Two year after, Mr. Faversham produced "Freedom," and by another peculiar coincidence gave to Miss Eames the role of Elizabeth a role which portrayed the so-railed Virgin Qiicn at a much later 'period of hr life than is shown in "The Prim A.