The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-26
At the Majestic.

Adelaide Thurston's press agent in
addition to his other duties has been
conducting a matrimonial agency. 1t
came about through an argument, fol-
lowed by a bet, regarding the plot of
Miss Thurston's play, Miss Ananias. p"
The play derives its name from the
fact that Nancy Lyle, a woman of 80.
allows a man who has lost his eye
sight in an automobile accident, to
think her a girl of 10 and the reverse
IN every respect of what she really is.
This one harmless lie brings others I'M
til the poor woman finds herself in a
tangle of falsehoods that seem much
more amusing to the audience than
they do to her.
mo real woman would do as Nancy
does" is the assertion made by Man
ager Frank Woodward that caused the
appearance in a Kansas City paper a
few days ago of the following adver
tisement: Maiden ladies, attention!
Would you tell harmless lie to win
desirable husband? If So for conf
Dental Information free, address Box
4 D 83. Post"
Some of the replies here reproduced:
''I am a widow "a years old, am 5
feet 6 inches and weigh $50 pounds.
Have dark brown curly hair and
brown eyes and have been nursing for
two years, but am taking a vacation
now and would be very glad to meet
you. I am nice, respectable lady and
give references
when one lives in a third story
back room with only the company of
a parrot, one is thankful that there
are such benevolent persons as the
parties who offer to provide a husband
in exchange for a harmless fib. 1 lost
the only chance I ever had in the mat
rimonial game by telling one, but this
NAV be a case of if you don't at once
succeed, try, try again "
Il suppose your personal is a fake
or some kind of patent medicine ad
and that I am a fool to answer 1t, but
any chance, no matter how remote, to
get a husband without any more
strenuous exertion than lying should
not be overlooked by one who. her
self has been Overlooked for nearly
forty years. If you are a gentleman
you will let this remain secret be-
q tween US
you ask me if I can tell a lie. a
harmless lie. Well, mother always
taught me not to, but alas the tempta
tion is too strong. Oh! yes, 1 will tell
a lie"
''The idea that one could obtain a
husband by a simple lie seems too
good to be true. 1 would very much
like to marry again and as it would
be necessary to conceal several things
in order to insure domestic happiness
I hasten to write that I am one of the
maiden ladies who will tell lie, or
any number of lies, to win another
mate"
81 shouldn't think you would have
to advertise for woman who would be
willing to lie to get husband when
you can not help knowing that most
women employ this method-and even
then don't always succeed. However,
I am willing to do q little lying if there
IS a chance Of such an attractive pun
ishment."
Each of the would-be Miss Ana
niases'' instead of a husband received
the following letter, together with one
of the company's folders:
Dear Madam: AS you have ex-
harmless lie in order to win a desir-
able husband, we would advise you to
see Adelaide Thurston's new comedy,
Miss Ananias,' at the theater next
week.
''Of course, we can not promise that
you will meet with the success that
Nancy Lyle did when she Led to Paul
Lester but at least you wi be able to
learn how she did it. Don't let the
fact that Paul is blind when Nancy
wins him discourage you, because all
they do not get over their blindness
until after marriage. You will learn
from the play that beauty of charac-
ter may make a man overlook such
trifies as age and color of ones eyes
and hair; and you will be sure of an
evening of thorough enjoyment
Thanking you for helping us get q
good story in this city. Yours very
truly Box D 49,"
"a Stubborn Cinderella Coming.
No attraction in recent years has
achieved greater success than "A Stub