The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-20

What is the greatest secret in the
world" inquired the widow. i'm
pulsively.
The bachelor glanced up to where
she sat curled up amongst the multi
colored pillows in a corner Of the win
dow seat. ),
What is this-a rebus? he de-
manded. suspiciously, Or are we
playing charades? The greatest secret
in the world? Why-a woman's real
opinion Of her husband, Of course!"
The widow shook her head until the
afternoon sunlight on the one side, and
the freight on the other We'd for pos
session Of her glinting hair.
Don't be facetious," she begged.
This is serious. I'll give you two more
guesses." ;,
"Oh well. if must be serious"
complained the bachelor, the most alb
sorbing secret In the world is the Sc
cret of happiness; and the most fasci-
mating secret is the secret Of success;
And then, there's the secret OF eternal
youth, and the secret Of the Sphinx
and"
"All wrong" interrupted the widow
with wave of her hand. Lots OF
people have discovered the answer TO
the first two-and there Is no answer
to the last two. The optimists and the
Don't Worry clubs and the mental
scientists all know the secret Of hap
piness-I know it myself! And once
you know a secret, it isn't fascinating.
any more. And as for the secret OF
success. it's still easier to solve. A
measure of hard work. world of faith
in yourself, and a dash of luck. But
the greatest secret in. the world is
know--and nobody has ever yet sue
ceedeed in, guessing! Either you've
Il haven't" protested the bachelor
frivolously. II haven't had it, this
afternoon! What is it?"
widow, impressiveiy. And either yor
have it--or you haven't it And nobody
in the world knows what it is, nor
where 1t comes from. nor what it's
composed Of
II do" declared the bachelor un-
blushingly. It's composed Of about
100 pounds of pink -and- white frivolty
and two pounds of glittering hair
ut isn't a matter of beauty" pro-
ceeded the widow, ignoring the per-
sonal application. I've seen many a
Venus sitting out half her dances
while some little sub-nosed, freckle-
three times, to satisfy all the men
around her. And it isn't, as the the
oriets think. a matter of vitality and
radiance; because a perfectly healthy
hoyden can ruffle 2 mans feelings like
a blustery wind and Is usually about as
fascinating as a pound of potatoes"
And even Jack Dempsey couldn't
win against William s Hart in a sen.
timental battle" interpolated the
bachelor, modestly.
And 1t has nothing to do with
brains. or genius, or brilliancy, or wit
or intelligence"
IT knew it," evcloimed the bachelo'
with sudden conviction. ITS vanity"
"tVhat?"
"Egotism. conceit, apomb. savoil
faire, self-appreciation Anybody who
thinks a lot Of himself can Away!
make the rest of the world agree with
him"
w." objected the widow, vanity ant
beauty are merely good self-advertise
ments. And when we find they have
deceived US, and that the magnetism
isn't there. we are always horribly dis
appointed. It's something far deenei
and more mysterious than that. Mr.
Weatherbv, It's an appeal to the i'm
aEnation,"
"Ah! | see" murmured the bache
lor. It's what makes women elop
with their chauffeurs; and what make
widows, and trained nurses and col
diers ard actresses so fascinating. The,
may not all have magnetism. but all o
them appeal to, the imagination"
Yes" agreed the widow with
smile Of understanding. They have
running start. But real magnetism
real charm, is more powerful than
uniform or a row of footlights. 1t l.
secret power, reserve force tho
you can't see or define, but can simpl
feel. It's mental electricity"
'iCti1I al bn ha chn1np
the average girl would be little les
frank in her ways, and her convictions
and her gowns. she might appeal NOR
to our imaginations-and our curiosit,
-mightn't she?'
of course" sighed the widow. 1T
always the quiet little thing. swatheC
in draDeries, who sits in a corner ant
| uses her ewes. that draws all the mel
to her And it's never the life of tn
| party, but the quiet. reserved maj
with the devoted, effective manner whit
cantures the belle Of the evening"
oh | don't know" objected tn
| bachelor. Il never see you sitting of
| in a corner and"
Me-" repeated the widow. openinl
| her eyes oh I'm a widow, Mr.
Weatherby, I have running start
| Men can always imagine things abou
| me--that I have mast or history o
a broken heart. Really when yol
lnl'k now easy IL is 10 start Ine mas
| culine imagination working. you won
der why every woman can't be mag
| netic But magnetism. like common
sense and dimDles, seems to be elf
of the high rods to the rare few whor
they love It may be stimulated. bu
it can't be cultivated. or ACQUIRED o
| pasted on. It's like second SIGHT,
It's hypnotism. That's what it is,
declared the bachelor, emphaticallS
And II the high gods only knew II