The Trouper on the Flying Trapeze

Abstract

With Hattie now six months pregnant, they had to decide where they wanted the baby to be born. Already committed to engagements in England until the end of the year, Bill wanted Hattie to remain with him. “Why not stay in London and have the baby, or in Germany?” he asked. But Hattie wanted the baby to be born on American soil for purposes of citizenship and better care. “No, I would rather go home to mother,” she said. Her mother, who lived in New York, could help her when the child was born. If Hattie stayed, she would have to reside in London as Bill toured the provinces. If her husband went with her, he would have to break his contracts and hope to find engagements in the United States. Bill tried to convince her but again Hattie’s strong will won out, and on April 29, she boarded the Deutschland bound for New York. Busy entertaining, Fields sent her a telegram wishing her “bon voyage.”¹