Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-03
mGna hia ~

God did it,"
This was the answer of Mrs. Lang
try, the Jersey Lily, when a Post-Dis-
patch writer asked her for the secret
of her youthful figure and appearance.
Mrs. Langtry has returned to America,
the country of her adoption, for the
theatrical season. It is now twenty
years since she had herself legally
adopted as a ward of Uncle Sam at
San Francisco, yet there are those who
say she looks as young as she did on
that memorable tour.
The question put to her was: Good
ness! How can you look so young?"
Ihat would have embarrassed most
women, but not Mrs. Langtry. Though
the question might have been expected,
she had the answer reary.
But surely you have some message
of hope to give American women?" was
the protest as the actress unwound a
rope of pearls from her throat. Think
how vital a topic It is. Every woman
reader Will cut out your precepts and
post them on the corner of her dressing
table"
But how can tell them to do things
that l don't know myself?" responded
the ingenious Jersey Lily. She, at
least, will not have a trunk fun of
How l kept my beauty" recipes, diff
ferent one for every woman's page to
answer for when the day of reckoning
comes.
II really pay less attention to keep
ing my figure good than 80 per cent of
the women In society,"" she resumed.
isn't that so, Carleton?"
The prim English maid, moving
noiselessly about her dressing room at
Keith & Proctor's Fifth Avenue thea
ter, acquiesced readily.
Indeed, yes miss; she doesn't bother
much at ALL"
Then Mrs. 41angtry continued:
Americans eat too much. American
women can't expect to keep beautiful
compilations and good figures if they
overeat. l never eat any sweets. Never
candy, or pastries, or jellies and
never drink ice water, and wines only
rarely. Champagne 1 never take. 1t is
death to a good figure
please don't think I am criticising
the way Americans eat, for you can't
blame them when they serve food so
here. You don't know what
a charming luncheon / had yesterday.
But, you know, American women eat
too much and then there is one of two
tendencies hampering them-either a
too strenuous existence or too Ian
guild one"
"Then all you can really offer in the
way of advice to her who would be
beautiful, Mrs. Langtry, is to eschew
ice water, wines and too much food.
and to take cold baths in the morning?"
"Oh, now, 1 don't advise anything. L
don't even take any credit for having
what you all call preserved my youth
AS I said at first, God made me what I
am and have only taken natural care
Of myself. I am very busy woman,
and, in spite of your ideas of the Eng
lish, l am q very nervous woman. Per-
haps 1 acquired that with my Amerir-
can naturalization.
II certainly do not spend my time
of my figure and my beauty.
From 9 in the morning, every day while
am here, intend working on my me-
moirs. 1 have been offered $4,000 for
them, and L think 1 am entitled to at
least three hours quiet every morning.
That is why can't spend all that time
autographing photos
But, Mrs Langtry. even nature must
have assistance, or at least intelligent
care. You. might tell us what you do
to preserve Gods gift. Where are the
wrinkles you ought to have, the tell
tale droop of the jowl that comes to
women after 30. And you won't mind
admitting you are 95?" she was asked.
Don't SMILE" said Mrs. Langtry
smiling herself, land I'll tell you the
profound secret of keeping your looks
young is keeping your thoughts young.
Wasn't it Buddha who said, The mind
is everything-what you think you be-
come, a truth, of course, older than
Buddha and younger than Christian
Science.
"If woman wants to preserve youth,
elasticity and beauty in her body, she
haA to have them in her mind. If she
keeps young in thought she will re-
main young in body.
II have proved to myself that
thought is a great controlling force, and
I keep my thoughts going," she con-
cluded.
Yes, but, Mrs. Langtry, you must
use tooth paste and beauty lotions and