The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-15
Ho1U Madame Polly Shaped Her Destiny

many bitter experiences. She could speak
was not paid. Her husband was discon-
tented He abominated the work he was
doing. After while he gave it up. He
wanted better and more remunerative em-
ploynent. Until he could get it he pro-
posed to remain at home and wait.
He was handsome. Polly was very much
in love with him. She thought it was
terrible that so we'll brought up and
distinguished looking gentleman should
work in a sweatshop. Some day he would
get a fine position and then everything
would be all right. Meanwhile she shaved.
She got up at daylight, cooked break
fast for her lord and master, did the
housework and then started out to go
from house to- house to look for hair
dressing job. A little before noon she
was back to fix luncheon for the hus-
band and herself. Then, after she had
washed the dishes she went out again.
She had to be back about 7 to cook
dinner. and after that meal she had va
rious engagements. Every minute of her
wakingfday she was busy.
She had to arrange many head of hair
at 10 cents to earn a fair amount of
money to dress her husband and to dress
herself, buy food and pay the rent About
a year after her marriage, her first child
was born. That interfered a little with
her business, but not much She had
saved little money. She still was san
guine that her husband would get fine
position So soon as possible after her
child was born she started out again trav-
cling around dressing hair She had
boundless energy extreme confidence and
sunny disposition. She never mourned.
never frowned, but saw the bright side
of everything. She made all her own
clothes, all the baby's garments and
some of the clothes her husband wore
In the second year another child came
to her. Again her work was interfered
with for short time. This did not mat
ter SO much now. for she had saved a
little money and her circle of patrons
had widened considerably. One of her
customers was Marie Dressler. 1t was
through Miss Dressler that she met Lii
Ian Russell. She thought Lillian was the
most beautiful creature she had ever seen,
but she did not like the way Lillian's
hair was dressed, and she told her So
IF you can do it better, prove it," said
Lillian
Polly did so, and Lillian was delighted
Miss Russell is one of the kindliest of
women. When she learned how hard
Polly worked she busted herself to get
many of her friends to patronize her
She insisted, too, on paying well for Pol
ly's services. Gradually Polly's trade
spread through the theatrical profession
Pauline Hail. Virginia Harmed. Queenie
Vasser. Edna Wallace Hopper and scores
and scores of other favorites of the foot
lights called her in.
Her business became so big that she
had to get assistants, and she had to
move from that Thirty-third street house
She had gone in there with only s15 in
the world. She left there in three years
with $4,000 in bank. two children, shift
less husband and fine, remunerative
business. She opened a little shop near
Broadway and she took couple of clever
girls in as her assistants. 1t was in
the heyday of the Casino, the time of
light opera and big choruses
Bright, clever Polly had all she could
do. The day was not long enough for
her to dress the hair of all the women
who wanted her services. She worked in
the dressing rooms of the stars, in her
own shop, in the boudoirs of those wom-
en- who did not have the time or the
inclination to visit a hairdresser She was
on the go from morning till night. Sho
was making money and her handsome
husband was happy. He dressed exquisite
ly and was very proud of his accom-
plished wife. He still was waiting for