The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-19

another would rush forward to com fort her. Now, her sole asset-her only appeal-was in being a widow. Don't you know that Henry Harland has expressed the situation exactly when he said: No man wants to marry any of us until we are widows Isn't that clever?"
 'T don't believe many men understand widows-or women for that matter" Miss Bates said presently Even the wisest man who has been many times a widower 50 oft bereaved-has to admit in the end that he is as easily taken in by the last as he is by the first woman."
 We aren't talking about women please-Miss Bates" I pleaded, "but widows. What sort are the most danger ous?'
 "The unnatural blondes,' she replied quickly. "The preoXides, the 'oX-eyed' or any other work of art, as MT. Hopwood says in the play. A widow who is blon- dned and with something on her cheeks out of box-why she's irresistible
 Do you really think that widow who is made up and artificial" I began.
 "The men think She's lovely" said Miss Bates.
 "But such a one beside a fresh, young debutante," I gasped.
 ''What man would look at fresh, young debutante." she said, "when a widow was in calling distance?'
 "But if the widow were faded and old?' I suggested.
 "unnatural blondes with drugstore roses," said the pretty actress, are like ghosts-things per-ennially young Time doesn't touch them, nor"
 "But peroxide DOES turn green I ln- tefpolated.
 Not until the widow has landed her victim, however" Miss Bate declared, and then she doesn't care if her husband does know that the gold of her tresses isn't even good-GILTl Then you know her tresses might be the kind that pin on and are warranted to stay dyed"
 ''But the toast" I reminded |" Here's to the good girl. but not too good, for the good die young and we have no use for a DYED one' How about that?'
 "All a fallaey,' said Miss Bates. Men are won every day under the deception Of yellow near-hair,' and bright, pink checks"
 ''Where did you learn so much about widows?" I asked curiously.
 "Nobodys Widow has Her turn at Palm Beach, and isn't Palm Beach the Widows Paradse?" asked Miss Bates laughingly "Theres the beauti- ful setting: the moon and the music and the palms; yes, the palms. A widow goes nicely with palms, and more music, and, yes, it's the widows world and they are there to sec and be seen. If man doesn't want to be picked up by widow, he'd better not go to Palm Beach. Here a man is nothing more to a widow than a new Dime Magazine. She scoops him up lightly, lands him with cheap dime smile and Pifl Who cares for a January number when February is on the news stands? You see, then. she,s"-
 "Nobody'5 Widow" l suggested, with a simple pride in my own small repartee.
 Exactly" said Miss Bates, ''but they don't stay Nobody's long You see, Widows are mere accidents and should be encouraged.'
 That sounds terribly light" I observed. "and as if just to be ANYBODY'S widow might be an advantage"
 "Certainly," said Miss Bates '1t's worth getting married just to be a widow, is what some people think. That's the com pensation."
 But" I pleaded, suppose one of the kind who would really like to be widow never gets the chance?'
 That is a very sad coincidence" said Miss Bates, her bright eyes twnkling. Its very inconsiderate of the man, to be sure, who says: I'll die for you, and then promptly goes to work and lives hun Gred years He ought to live up to his vow"
 "In your travels" I asked, "have you encountered any disillusioned widows who are absolutely content with their state?' asked.
 Certainly NOT" said Miss Bates. Hope springs eternal in the feminine breast, and widows are always sure of drawing the Capital Prize, the second time in Loves Lottery. And they are nearly always successful in getting SOME THING, for, you see, a widow never ex- poets to marry anything but just a MERE MANI