MAYO, MARGARET

(1882-1951)

Born Lilian Slatten on a farm near Brownsville, Illinois, she left home at 16 to escape an unwelcome suitor. In New York City, she drifted into acting, taking her stage name and performing mostly on tour. In 1901, the petite blondcharacter actressmarried the tall, handsome actorEdgar Selwyn, with whom she appeared inArizona. After 1903, she devoted herself entirely to playwriting and won considerable success withPolly of the Circus(1907),Baby Mine(1911), andTwin Beds(1914). She and Selwyn collaborated on the book for a musical,The Wall Street Girl(1912). DuringWorldWar I, she headed a unit of theOver There Leagueto entertain American troops in France. She and Sel-wyn divorced in 1919. Mayo retired to Harmon-on-the-Hudson, New York, and became active in social causes.