The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-07

MISS HenrletIa CrOSman, tall anu BfdCe- full, blonde and fair, was teaching a lesson yesterday round at the Jefferson in her very clever play, "The Real Thing" that EVERY woman ought to know-that is, every woman with a hus- band, or for that matter, every one who ever expects to have one.
 The men in the large audience fairly gurgled with delight at the shafts of worldly wise, clothes loving, widows philosophy of preserving Loves Young Dream"
 So--
 There MUST be something in it!
 Miss Crosman thinks very highly, if you please, of being-if not properly dressed prettily dressed.
 She told me about it with her own de- licious, delightful, charming, effervescent humor yesterday just few moments be- fore the Matinee. | She was terribly tired, too, and she was mighty good to do it, for her train was several hours late, and she plainly acknowledged that she was sleepy and earthly hour.
 
 When we were fairly "on our way" and the conversation got a good start, l recalled her attractive portrayal of sweet Kitty Bellairs.' which I had seen several years since, and quoted: If you want to break mans heart, wear piece of blue ribbon."
 Miss Crosman's finger went to her fore head:
 Was that it exactly? No! l have it. There never was a man who didn't love silly, helpless, wishy -washy blue ribbon.
 That's it, and I'm simply smothered in 1 it, just where you CAN see it and just
 where you CAN'T!" And do. you really believe that?" l asked curiously. | "I think it's absolutely true,' said the
 pretty actress. i've some lines in my
 present play that say almost the same
 thing. A bromdic wife who is giving up
 her life to be the household drudge tells
 her sister that the way to a mans heart
 Is through his stomach, and the sister | who knows d thing or two replies: Not | unless he's nearsighted dyspeptici' l And what do you think?" l begged.
 ITO the average clear eyed son of
 Adam" said Miss Crosman, its through his eyes and his VANITY and silly Pink Bows on our peticoats.
 "Is 1t REALLY through his vanity?'
 echoed.
 | Miss Crosman laughed a cunning, ting | ling, little waterfall of a laugh and her pretty brow went up at worldly wise angles.
 l Silly Pink Bows on our Petticoats," |"
 she repeated. Tt MIGHT be as easy as l that"
 | What is The Real Thing in Life, any way?" I asked presently. '"rhe REAL THING in Married Life,'' said she, ''is keeping your husbands love. Any woman can marry very nearly any man she wants to- but I claim that if she's an HONEST woman. she's not go- | ing to cheat him in the game afterward. | If she doesn't care for the things he does, | she must LEARN to do so. She must be
 his chum his pal. his other self She | must play with him.. Miss Crosman's pretty, tapering fingers and she has the loveliest hands imagina- ble, were interlaced, as she sat and pom dered a moment | "So many women," she said presently. after they are married, prefer to slump, | as it were. Stay at home and amuse the | children, and piddle along with the house.
 keeping, and get the dressing sacque, | the kimona' and the curl paper habit, and before she knows 1t, she's got what
 she desreves, an indifferent husband. | honestly believe that this slpshop habit | has sent more husbands on the Affinity | hunt than all the broken Command- ments"
 l q knew a woman once," Miss Crosmar | continued, "who was a marvellous house. | keeper. When all the other women in hei
 neighborhood were bothered about cooks