South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-20

That's the very last time
shall go TO any trouble about you"
announced the Widow. Il wash my
hands OF you. A perfectly nice
girl and $4,000 a year--and you
spoil everything by trying 10 be
frivolous and fiippant the first time
you meet herl"
II only asked her II she approved
OF sending beauty window frocks
to the heathen," pleaded the Bach
elor. and whether she was going 10
tie her ballot with blue ribbon or
pink ribbon. what's the matter
with her, anyhow"
"Nothing-except that she likes
serious, sensible men, Mr.. Weather
by" returned the Widow, icily.
why should there be anything the
matter with herr"
"Oh, no reason at ALL" the Bach
elor assured her, hastily, only. I've
noticed that there always is some
thing the matter with the girls that
you-that a woman whOle-heartedly
recommends 10 a man. Either they
have long noses and weak eyes. or
they go I'm for dress-refOrm and for
eign mission. or"
You ought to settle down." pur-
sued tae Widow, ignoring the Bach
elOr's weak protests. You can be
serious and awfully charming when
you want TO. You can be anything
you like when you 'dramatize your
self"
when WHAT" The Bachelor
was serious on the instant.
Throw yourself heart and soul
into a role" explained the Widow.
I've watched-Fve seen YOU 60
through every one OF them"
Go through every one OF which ?"
The Bachelor was still at sea.
"Oh, all the seven masculine
stunts" was the rejoinder. from
the cave-man to the 'fatherly, I'll
protect-you girl pose from
the mysteriOusly aloof 10 the alb
jectcdly devoted. And I must say
YOU played them all with perfect fin
ish, oh, don't look so shocked"
and the Widow laughed at sight Of
the Bachelors horrihed expression.
Every man dramatiZes himself
plays a role consciously or uncon-
sciously you know, from the mo-
ment he is old enough 10 put on a
cooked hat and play 'Conquering
hero, or a feather head-dress and
play Indian warrior, until ne is old
enough TO pose as a patriarch or
the village oracle No man ever
thinks OF himself as jusx a nice.
commonplace mantle person ne
sees in the looking glass. He is al
ways a hero. or a villain. or q
! martyr. or a deep, dark fascinating
mystery, or
Yes" broke in the Bachelor,
but he never thinks Of himself as
Billy sunday. or a prohibition re-
former, or an undertakes"
NO" sighed the Widow. tits
| usually something wicked and dash
ing and picturesque: a robber when
he's little, and a Don Juan when he
grows up-a Capt. Kidd or a gay
! LothariO. lie loves 10 picture his
| path OF life Strewn with the dead,
the Borrowing. and the broken
hearted. I don't know why a plain,
honest. simple, respectable role
never appeals 10 his Imagination
| out Il doesn't"
You ought to know" retorted
| the Bachelor, maliciously, because
you are a woman. And the great
est little self-dramatizers in the
world are women. ! never know,
when I take a girl out for tea.
whether I'm taking Lady Macbeth.
| or St. Cecilia. or Gree. or the Ouch
! ess or Dulwich. 1t depends on the
| mOOd she got up IN that morning,
or the hat she happens 10 be wear
ing. or the last novel she read, or
| the moving picture actress she hap
pens 10 be impersonating at the
| moment"
! "Or the sort OF woman she thinks
YOU admire" appended the Widow.
"or the sort OF role you happen TO
/ be playing, yourself-and which she
| finds she must play up 70. Every
/ man is the star in his own life
| drama, you know. And a girl so
seldom has a chance 10 select her
own role. as leading lady Some
man always picks II out for her and
/ has 10 live up 10 IL. When / was a
| little girl I always wanted 20 play
| indian chief: but the boys made
me stay in the tent and play 'Squaw
\ and do all the odd jobs around the
place. And IL was the same when
grew up. Every man who-who