The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-08
BY George Grossrnith.


E TAVlNG been warned so repeatedly
against the dangers of a wife with
out smile" eligible bachelors In
search OF wires cannot be seriously
blamed II now and again they seek them
at Che. thegtres-for instance, at the
Gaiety, or Debrett's Matrimonial Agen-
Cy, as somebody rechristened It. For, as
even chose who criticise them will I'D
NIT the ladies' OF the chorus certainly
know how 10 smile.
The quality and potency OF their
Hmtles evon impressed the serious Sir
Arthur Wing Pinero. Noting them, he
said: THE musical comedy girls will
be tho salvation OF the erlstocracy or
this country. Just think OF the1n-keen-
wi.ted young women, full of the Joy OF
life, with strong frames, beautiful hair
and healthy, pink gums and big white
teeth"
The smile which is the genuine ar
ticle, and is seen playing about the lips
of pretty actress in real life. ia al
altogether different from the post card
article, and really, ] find it almost as
charming as IL werewolf, q mere man
IN the audience instead OF an actor
who knows something Of how such
smiles can be made to come on" and
off. And, incidentally, to relapse in
10 Irish isn't 1t far, far better
thing for q woman to have q smile that
will come off rather than one that will
never come on?
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero gave the
ougenic view of the situation, and the
Tightmtnded section of any community
begins 10 conjure visions of the whole
sale benefits likely 10 be conferred on
posterity by these "Actressocratic"
unions. But alas! Voices are soon
heard crying in the wilderness. or TO be
exact the Mayfair drawing rooms, IN
quite another key.
Owing TO this apparently incurable
habit she has acquired OF settling down
In the peerage. the actress OF the musical
play. we are gravely warned, CONSTITUTES
menace 10 Society" and a whole
string OF other uncomplimentary epithets
are hurled at her head She is attacked
as tho most selfish, superficial and In.
Rincere OF creatures by one OF the
peeresses. who, as a critic, says in re-
turn, besides having bony body has q
'bony soul"
III we accept the principle of heredHy,
her frailties viii be inevitably handed
down to her children" shrieked an
alarTn1st N one OF the recent drawing
room crt'aues Of the actressocraoy.
II such alliances do nothing worse
than reproduce in the children their
mothers picture post card smile an If.
fepardble wrong will be done to our old
nobility"
But why rum!nato on improbable pos.
eroilit!es, when We know what have.
hitherto. been the actual results Of these
marriages? IN almost every case they
have been love matches. and, when You
consider it carefully there Is really no
reason why love in castle should not
he, ultimately as happy as love IN a..
cottage.
True. there are advantages, such ga
having a retinue Of servants perpetuallv
about one, and also relations-in-law. But
Cupid shakes his small fist at little en-.
barraesments OF this sort, and, as a
rule, when an actress consents 70 marry
a peers son-it takes two 10 drive a
bargain, you know, and sometimes. the
tady Re wooed but not won-they do not
ind It more difficult than any other hus
band and wife to Give happy ever after"
Nor does experience show that the
chorus girl who turns peeress IS fish
out OF water OFTEN che develops into n
dezzHngly brilliant social success in her
new role. TO be quite frank, think as
matter OF fact she Is q deal more
ftted, by her training and mode OF life.
20 be the wife OF peer than. let lis say,
me wife o. country doctor OF q subal-
tern In india. If one could escape seem
ahs lnYidlous cutie an interesting list
might Dc drawn OF actressocratic unions
mat have been blissfully happy
can never forget the debt owe to
the Gaie'y, sporting peer who mar
Tied one OF our best known actresses
never tires Of telling mo. "and love to
come back
In the matrimonial mart O. Great
Britains ari5tocracy the supply OF eli
giblo young women IS as all the world
knows, considerably In excess O, the de.
mand Naturally, therefore. matcn.mak
ing mothers have not been slow to re-
sfike CHS yearly Increasing propensity
of the chorus girls to marry into the
peerage.
Such touches OF acerbity make the
whole world kin. They are merely tina
result OF q deplorable trade rivalry-the
inevitable sequel to that cutthroat com.