I Know What It's Like to Be in Human Bondage, Continued

[Leslie Howard with his daughter Leslie Ruth "Doodie," c. 1926]

"He was not a great party-lover, which also endeared him to his children, and most parties, when I was small, found him sneaking up to my room like a conspirator and again dozing off on my bed. He was usually found out; someone would miss him, and my poor mother then had to play the villain and come searching for him. Suddenly, her voice would be heard
saying she hoped he was not in 'that' child's room at 'this' time of night. We would giggle with our heads under the blankets, and he would beg me to hide him. This was obviously terrible for discipline, but wonderful fun for me." (pg.7)

"He was great fun as a father, and Winkie [her brother, Ronald] and I would never miss any opportunity to be with him. Being the younger and also at home all the time, I had more chance than my brother, and never had a child a more entertaining companion. He had a rare talent of being able to suit his humor and his interests to whatever age his children happened to be. Perhaps we unconsciously suited our age to his, but whatever the case, I cannot remember a time when he talked down to us or failed to get the same ridiculous glee out of the little things. For at least the first twelve years of my life, I was his shadow, feeling no need for friends of my own, riding with him, learning to dance or draw or read with him, and always laughing with him." (pg. 9)

Howard, Leslie Ruth. A Quite Remarkable Father: The Biography of Leslie Howard. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1959.


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