The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-01

Miss Florence May, was shedding the lovely white chiffon gown in her dress ing room at the Bijou yesterday after noon that frames her Mrs. T. Van All styne Townsend hole in "The Winning Widow" and with the assistance of her maid was getting into the dainty pink frock which she wears in the second act of the show.
 "Im a widow, you see,' said Miss May, as I slipped in to have little chat with her during the intermssion, and I am really more dressed than nis- tressed.
 But froc1 like that I said, point ing to the pretty diapha nous thing she bad discarded, lis more than just a mere dress-its gem. You ought to have it set in ring and wear it for a jewell"
 ''It is pretty, but isn't this a darlinS?" said Miss May, as she held in her hands the pretty pink beplumed bonnet with the daintiest of ostrich feathers and aigrettes piled high upon it, which she wears with her very cheerful clothes in the Atlantic City scene of the show. 'Its an Enda-May- Salvation Army Lassie shape,' l ventured. "Is that re- mark coincident with any relation be- tween you and the former clever New York show girl?''
 "It certainly is,'' said the leading lady. Miss Mayor rather Mrs. Lewissohn she is now-is my cousin. have often been considered like her. And do you happen to know Jane May?" Which question I answered with much delight having met the young lady when she was here last season with MT Kyrle Bellew and Miss Gladys Hanson in Rallies" whereupon there ensued d very brisk conversation as to the where abouts of the two Mays-Edna and Jane nay three, for Miss Florence May was the real topic of the conversation. twill you tell me your views about widows?" I asked presently, q suppose you know a lot about them-playing the part of the Winning One" "Of course, Plls tell you all I know and think" said Miss May prettily. T won't either because I couldn't. The pity of a topic like that is that it must he limited by the clock. To say all there is to say about widows would take a lifetime Even longer" I suggested. Tt would take eternity and day. "You know" Miss May began, that portray the type of widow in our play that is the vogue nowadays. The kind who is more relieved than grieved. She pretends to be distressed. She's game. All widows are. That's their long suit; enlsting sympathy. Of course, you know widow has got to do the best she can for herself
 And little widow is dangerous thing" I suggested.
 Dangerous and wonderfully appeal ing," said she.
 "What is her appeal?' asked.
 'Man's conceit,' she said laughingly, as she launched this bit of treason. All men feel a deep and profound sym pathy for widows. To them there is al- ways the thought of what is home with out a husband seer"
 "Do you think" I asked, that the French are correct in the saying that the ideal state for a woman is to be born widow?"
 "Well-er-er-yes-or may-er-er be left one," said she. You see one may be er-er-"
 "You can't mean that she's by this time lost some of her er-er ilusions?' interrupted
 "lllusions?" Miss May laughingly said. "Why most women pack away their H. lusions with the orange blossoms and the tule veil And besides these are compensations. If she has enough in surance to buy good weeds-you know clothes do count
 But if she has made very sad match the first time?' l observed.
 "No matter how sad it was,' said the leading lady, 'there is always the thought that she's got second chance fresh start--with more sense, more knowl- edge of the world more discretion than when she was silly young girl A love ly young widow is very seldom a lonely young widow, you know.' Simple hu- inanity is always standing around with a brand new clean handkerchief for her to weap on.''
 MT. Henry Harland,' quoted, makes on Irish woman in one of his clever stor- ies say that. no man wants to marry any of us until we are widows How about that?
 .'Well of course. widow is bound to make the best wife," said Mis-, May,