Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-09
MARION HORWITz O'BRIEN
GLAD TO QUIT MAY0RING
Blonde and Brilliant" Former Phil
adeIphian Too Sympathetic
for FIorjaa Job
Blonde and brilliant.


So summarized appears Mrs. Marion lior-
witt O'Bricn. formerly Mrs. George Quin-
tard Horwitz, who transferred her position
as leader in. Philadelphia social affairs for
the mayoralty. ofaMo9Ee Haven. Florida.
Gladys Bara. inAtIsSElorida Metropolis
Jacksonville publications writes:
"a woman mayor. Mrs. Mari9n Ilorwitz
O'Bren. of Moore Haven, was among the
guests at the Hotel Mason Impcdiatcly
drew mental portrait of her. She would he
buxom. hcr voice would be loud, her hands
large, and her costume severe and mannlsh,
maybe. oh no. there was not possibility
of her not wearing spectacles with shiny
gold rims. But she would be frightfully
intelligent. Many of her splendid achieve
incnts had drifted up to us during her two
year regime in the South Florida town.
Suffrage, I enumerated on my fingers,
league of nations, prohibition and the
next presidential election. Yes, she would
be fine on all these timely affairs. | Won
dered If she also wore
But the elevator door slid open just then
and out she stepped. Thoughts of spectacles.
stiff collars and commonsense shoes picked
up their, shamefaced heels and skunk away.
Marion O'Brien, probably one Of the most
talked Of and celebrated politicians in the
"She was wearing a smart frock of mid
night blue cloth. which clung to her slender
figure. When she moved little flashes of
diamonds hidden in various parts of her
attire blinked up at me On her golden head
was a chic chapcau of dull bronze straw.
And her feet. Well every time thought of
those fiat heel ideas of mine, as relating TO
women mayors. wanted to wcep.
Doesn't Like to Mayor
' '"rhcn she began to talk. One must listen
closely to gather in the meaning of Marion
O'Brien's words. for with her deep mclodous
voice one would rather close the eyes and
drink in the music of her tones.
My term is almost DONE she declared,
and I'm very. very glad. Not that | do
not love my work. she explained when
looked askancp. but it's that nerve soaring
business of Judging people that I hate. |
never want to send any one TO Jail, and yet
] do all the time. Then stay up half the
night crying for what I've done She is full
of gentle. feminine charm. but with it all
possesses the thoughts and visions of
statesman. with the justice and wisdom of
judge.
.'She has just returned from a trip to
Tallahassee. where she and n delegation have
been pleading with the Legislature to cstab-
Iish new county in Florida. She told me
she adOred dabbing in civic affairs. loved
improvement measures for her town and
state, and in fact all things for the better
ment of a community. She admitted that
her husband was a much better suffragist
than she. discussed the new bill for the Grad
icatOn of ticks in Florida and said that she
trusted newspaper people with secrets more
quickly than any one else in the world land
I'm still wondering why she told me thnt).
Who Was the Man?
Now she continued. I'm going to tell
you what very nice compliment one of
your Jacksonville men paid me just few
minutes ago 1t seems Mrs. OBrien was
walking along the street late Saturday after
noon with n box of candy in her hands. As
she started across in front of the hote-a
man in big new touring car stopped di-
rectly in her path
Want a ride?' he asked temptingly
NO thanks. I've got to hurry back with
this candy for my husband and son, but
want to thank you for being so iiattering
to an old lady like me-
- Think of romance coming into my life
at my age and she laughed | adored her
sense of humor. 1t was refreshing, keen and
effervescent.
We'll, what happened to the man. |
had an idea, but | wanted to be perfectly
sure.
II don't know she said and laughed
again. But the last | saw of him he was
doing a Barney Oldfcld up Forsyth street.
He wasn't even polite enough to say good
by
''She put out her hand with firm, sure
grasp. suggesting the really big things ac
complished by the pretty girl. 1 haven't
said anything you could write about she
flung over her shoulder. but say anything
you like, and it will be all right
"And | have