The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-25
lheaters


The lady or the perfume? Which
In the most powerful? Does the lady
choose the perfume TO ampllfy her
personality or docs the perfume choose
her? Ia she drawn 10 If, because IL
appeals resistlessly to her nature?
History would presuppose the an
swer Yes" From Cleopatra down,
all women who have been gifted with
distinctive and singularly fascinating
personality have been the slaves of
certain peculiar perfumes. The Siren
Queen of the Nile, we are told. never
used but one scent-thst, strange
elusive, mystic perfume, no doubt very
effective In creating "A sense of wonder
In her masculine admirers. Nine
Recamier, the French beauty, was de-
voted to a lighter and what is techni-
caliy known to perfume makers as
sharper" scent.
Since women first began to adorn
themselves to attract the eye of man
the science of perfume has been stud
led. Primitive women naturally and
instinctively put fragrant flowers In
their hair. In all probability unconscl-
GUS of why they did 1t, but really be-
cause they came across particular
flower which gave of scent which
appealed to them stronger than did
the other flowers.
When women were nearer TO nature
and could select their own perfumes
from the wealth OF blossoms WHICH
grew in the wild state. no perfume
makers were needed. but when civiH~
cation moved them from the open
country they demanded that the beauty
and soul satisfying power OF mower
scents should be brought 10
one of the most scientific studen'S
ssBnifv between them, Ann Haviiano,
tnane6 py Theda Bara. the 'poetess Oh
perfume," says OF her ART
..Tha power OF perfume upon the
wind and memory is astonishing,
Hundreds of people have toto me ina t
tsa Sutntast aroma of a familiar scen'
has arushed aside the curtain OF the
wears and brought tHem PACK W eIis
scene or an incident so viva any '.
startling that IL appeared 10 De "Aiii0"
undergoing repetition u,.A
ere a man were infatuated WIN
.sr,ain woman ne would retain SUP
.orscfousiv the memory Of the per
S,,,rs thaf she used. The reno OF
events might sweep them apart. ihey
might travel their respective roads OF
aes,tnv Arm in the belief that the past
was merged in oblivion pun va,
NAV would have only to smell again
tbo, distinctive perfume and the pass
would live again in memory II "ouio
bring back the light in her eyes aho
the lights In her hair ana the I'LL %
her laughter. -. .sa .o,,I
when Theda Bara hrst came 10 nl1
T., search az a distinct perfume | was
.tr,,ck nv her wonderful persona NY
shs reacted to different scents IN
mos. rernarks bile manner. some sne
found depressing. others unlntefeSeihs
or Inadequate. ..n,..
"-or her newest picture "Cieops
,-o " shs wanted a perfume to be useo
ygsiia acting in Il. CHE wanted some
thing that would be a spur ana al
inapiratton to her IN every seems
/ at was situation calling TOT soIlIo
thing OF q warm. obviously sensuai
nat,,Ts, typical of the Oriental splendor
80 thc.a vanished dynasties. l made
nandaiwood base. Then I followed
.ha shores of the Mediterranean ano
ths hankr Of the eternal Nile TOT
other hints. ~r.n
~ knew that the perfunere to Cleo.
neYra would have had recourse 10 aii
/ The herbs and woods and mowers Oh
shs ernpires over which the Egyptian
nation was ascendant.
! ar was slow and painstAKing
process. But the perfume ne nnaAy
avoiyed from the ancient chemistrs
and hoarv legend is such as would
recall the past for the very munmiheo
figures in the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art. II they could be brought to life,
! Miss Eara's portrayal OF the siren
o. the Nile has been pronounced by
critics as one OF the greatest efforts
of her screen career and to much OF
her success she attributes the amaz-
ingly wonderful perfume prepared for
/ her by Miss Haviland.