The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-22
THE TACOMA TIMES.
MEMORY OF PRETTY LITTLE LONDON GIRL
CHAPLIN'S REASON FOR NOT MARRYING
BY CHARLIE CHAPLIN.
PART THREE.

Hundreds of letters come to
me through the mails each week.
Many of them are from women
young, old. married, and single.
While each and every variety of
question is asked me, the most
popular seems to be the follow
ing:
Why have you never mar
ried?"
| have never before answered
this query. ! almost hesitate to
do so now. Were it not for a
hope that much similar inquiry
In the future will he avoided, |
would not make this confidence.
| am single for just one rea-
son.
But she is about the best rea-
son in the world, | think.
Bachelorhood has never ap-
pealed to me. want a fireside
of my own-possibly because
there has been so little fireside
in my life. A wife and home
would make my happiness com
plete.
Industrious press-agents have
endeavored to wed me off. Tales
have been circulated that | must
find a woman of great beauty and
brains before I'll marry. Scores
| of woman have written of their
willingness TO become Mrs. Chap
lin.
But, as | have said, there's
just one reason for my remaining
single.
The reason" lives somewhere
in England. | do not know just
where. know SO very, very lit
tie of her people, her home, her
surroundings. Even her name is
unknown to me.
But | do know-her.
Maybe what | am telling you
sounds as romantic and far
fetched as some of motion picture
dramas you've seen on the
screen Perhaps it is romantic.
This is the way of it;
Years ago, in London, while |
was struggling my poverty-strick-
en- way through the slums, mere
lad, ! did anything to turn an
honest farthing. Through the
selling of newspapers on the
streets, picked up few pence.
One wintry day, as | stood on
MY corner, chilled through and
through. handsome victoria
drove up. A pretty little girl, all
dressed in white furs, hoped out,
and purchased paper. Giving
me half-crown, she babe me
keep the change. With dazzling
smile she climbed into the victoria
and was driven away.
Every day after that she
would drive up and buy paper,
paying either a siXpence or shill-
ing. grew to await her coming.
1t was frequently the one bright
spot in an otherwise cherries
day.
One week ! caught a bad cold,
and became so ill | had to take to
my bed. How | fretted and
fumed at being away from that
precious corner!
A week ] spent thus, and then
marvellous hour that it was.-
she came to see ME, bringing me
flowers, candies, and sweetmeats.
Her coming transformed my bare
little room into fairyland. She
told me she had missed me from
the corner, and had searched dill
gently until she found me.
Every day she sent me flowers
and dainties until ! regained my
health. Soon afterward, | went
to work as a program boy, and
then she suddenly disappeared.
have never seen her since.
But | Will ever remember her.
Many a time | have dreamed OF
the little girl who gave me her
smiles and her gifts. Her men,
DRY has been a dearly cherished
thing.
And some of these days | will
return to England. ! will search
out that little girl-even though
grownup, she will always be the
little girl to me-and, If she SC
wills, the romance will begin
anew.
(THE END,)