The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-25
By Mrs. Thomas L. Reynolds
I'm an InterUiesOJ

- EVERYBODY is familiar with the old
r. adage that marriage is a lottery"
- And lottery is form Of gambling,
of course. My marriage was in the fullest
sense a gamble-for married one Of New
York's most notorious gamblers.
Four years ago came to New York from
the West-a country girl from a little farm
ing town. 1t was my dream to become
great actress, and Twas glad to make
start as chorus girl in the Winter Garden
show. For a wider range Of experience and
to learn something Of the great pulsating
city of New York left the chorus and be-
came a cabaret singer and dancer.
The chorus girl of the White Light dis
trict of New York is supposed to be worldly
wise and sophisticated. But / had come
into the whirl of New York life as ignorant
and innocent as any farmers daughter.
had read of the great ladies Of the stage
and had cut out of the papers and saved
their pretty pictures. Some day hoped
to wear such gowns and jewels if could
earn my way by hard work and faithful
efforts.
But of the great and variegated mass of
human beings who make up the wonderful
kaleidoscope of New York night hfe-alas,
knew nothing. 1 supposed that silk
hat, gloves, patent leather shoes and we'll
creased trousers were the sterling hall
mark of a gentleman. l never dreamed
that they might cover a human wolf.
/ was singing among the tables at one
Of the largest restaurants in the theatre
district when guest attracted my atten-
ton by applauding loudly and begged me
to sit down and have dinner with him. He
was a rather elderly person with Van
dyke beard, carefully dressed in evening
clothes, and with a manner which i'm
messed me with his dignity. But my
natural reserve led me to decline the invi-
tation, and went on with my work The
next night this same man sat at table,
and with him as his guest was girl whom
7 had known in the Winter Garden chorus.
She presented her escort to me, and with
this introduction it seemed proper enough
for me to join them at the table. l was
dining with Thomas Lennon Reynolds, the
man was destined soon to marry.
Next evening Mr.. Reynolds was at his
table but he was alone. l dined with him
- his urgent solIcitation-why should l
have had any fear!
And the next night and the next night
.,5 every night Mr. Reynolds was at his
+obIe and soon pressed me for theatre
enoagements and called to see me at my
modest little home. Very shortly he ar
ranged a dinner for me and my room
mate at his magnificent establishment on
West Sixty-eighth street Here / was i'm
messed by the luxury of the nttlngs ana
the great life-siZe paintings on the walls:
But who was this amiable gentleman OF
exquisite attire, of polished manners, OF
dignifed bearing, of abundant means? My
only source of information was his own
stories of his life, of his achievements, OF
his social standing, of his friends, OF his
honorable career, of his standing as
statesman.
was completely dazzled by his glori-
Gus pictures Of his own grandeur and
wealth and distinguished position. took
him at his own estimate. | had no friend
to tell me he was an imposter-it never
occurred to me to doubt him. So ! mar
ried him and was happy in the pride of
being the bride of distinguished Senator,
a man who had been our Ambassador to
Russia, a cultured college man, a million
aire-but all these air-castles have tumbled
into ruins My husband turned out to be
a common gambler. Hardly had We been
married when / had the horrible humilia-
ton Of seeing him dragged to Jail to serve
a sentence behind the bars!
You have heard of Senator Reynolds,
no doubt?" he said mo? Well, of course,
rot everybody reads the papers. See, here
is an interview with me, Senator Reynolds,
in the morning paper this morning. have
Gorrows and burdens and political duties
which l trust your dear heart and simple
mind may never be troubled with. But
statesmen have a duty to perform, and,
after all, there is no nobler work than my
own in fighting for the poor, the innocent
and the unsuspecting. 1t is the one Joy Of
my life in this wicked world Of designing,
Iascally men and Adventures"
But how was / to know that the true
Senator Reynolds, who lives in Long Beach,
is an entirely different man and of a diff