Lillian Gish and James Patterson agree "A Happy Life is one spent learning, earning and yearning."

September 24, 2013

Lillian Gish: [American author and journalist] Christopher Morley [author of Kitty Foyle] once described a happy life as one spent learning, earning and yearning. The earning portion of this simple formula for living began early in my life. I made my debut in the theater at the age of five, not out of choice, but because I had to earn a living. My sister Dorothy and I received our "on-the-spot learning" from our wise young mother. As our theater group toured America, she would take us to places such as Plymouth Rock, Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, a history book under her arm. In Detroit, we would goo through automobile factories. In the South, we would learn firsthand of cotton, from seeing it picked in the fields to its emergence from the factory as a dress.

My "learning" was continued by lucky association with D. W. Griffith. Then the picture was important, not the players. I researched periods of history, designed costumes, studied hairstyles, edited film, and before I was twenty directed a five-reel picture for Paramount. Everyone had a part in the creative process of film making. Today, much of this spirit has been lost.

Through the "yearning" to be better at my job, I learned to take the responsibility of work. Lloyd George once told Mr. Griffith that he had the greatest power of the over men's minds that the world had ever seen. Who can measure the power of the thrill that encircled the world last summer when we saw the picture from the other side of the moon, focusing on that galaxy, never before seen of endless other worlds, suns and moons on into infinity. Then to hear a man's voice say, "That's one small step for man--one giant leap for mankind."

Power without responsibility creates havoc. Griffith told us to remember that when we stood before a camera.

I would add to Mr. Morley's statement that a happy life should be in balance, that one must live equally in the mind, body and spirit. And temper this with, "What you get is a living, what you give is a life."

Published New York 1969

Many thanks to colleagues, too many to mention, at UCLA, Niles Silent Film Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Library of Congress National Film Preservation Packard Campus, George Washington University's Gelman Library, San Francisco Main Library, San Francisco Chronicle, and attorney Jesse Tissott. It's amazing what can be done and what is going to be done when a reputation is at stake. Thank you all! Now for the next chapter. I have loads more to write about this and comments to make about it. Deadlines, meetings and media events take me away.

(Note: There are two facts in Miss Gish's above essay, I must check with Professor Affron about.) I am thinking a clarification may be needed. More later. Jim, ever the fact checker. 415-516-3493

Curt, at 8 am send fax to President Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D., 220 McFall Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403. The Columbus fax transmitted yesterday. Conference call today. Total post maybe tomorrow.

The original Christopher Morley (1890-1957) quote is "There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning." Kitty Foyle was published in 1937 and was a very successful film for Ginger Rogers.

Miss Gish published her autobiography in 1969 and reflected on the Morley quote as she wrote the book with co-author. The influence of the Morley quote is clear throughout the book.