The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-17
Smilin' Thro' Long Distance

M tance was what beautiful Jane Cowl was doing yester- day afternoon about o'clock, when the big old wires connected Georgia and Alabama-the lovely actress at one end of the line and at the other.
 Humping away for dear life on my typewriter, with the buzz of tele- graph instruments singing in my ears, and the click of dozens of other typewriters almost drowning my thoughts, the tinkly little telephone bell b-b- b-b-b-u--z-z-ed and then b-b- b-b-b-u-z-z-ed again, and pres ently l heard & voice that sounded like music and flowers and moon light and sunshine saying:
 Do you believe in smiies7... What's thatT I questioned quick ly. "A paraphrase on Peter Pans Do you believe In Fairies'?" I asked. | 'No--really I mean it," said the euphonious voice. DO you believe in smiles?"
 "of course I dol Why Smiles is my middle name," l declared, and then Jane Cowl laughed, for 1t was none other than she with that ripply, biilowys fascinating laugh of hers and she said:
 Smiles will take you anywhere, you know. Always smile when you can't laugh. and always laugh when you can. l live by the old song: There are smiles that make you happy,
 There are smiles that make you blue; There are smiles that drive away the
 teardrops
 T,fEo ha dri n
 dew
 There are smiles that have a tender meaning
 That the eyes of love alone can see, But the smiles that fill my life with sunshine
 Are the smiles that you give to me-"
 "Is Birmingham a smiling cityT' asked lovely Jane Cowl--and if you've ever seen her in Within the Law" or Lilac Time " or "Smilin' Through" you know just how lively she is and just how .exquisiteiy modu- lated her voice is-deep, liquod-like tiny drops of water rippling over lit- tie meonstones in the twilight. You know this is my very first visit and only visit to your city my very first; I've never set my two little feet on Alabama soil before. so you can imagine with what pleasure I am anticipating my visit.r You know there are smiling cities and there are cities that never smile," said Jane Cowl.
 Meaning by that?" I queried.
 Just this" Jane Cowl declared: Cities are like people; either they smile or they don't If Birmingham believes in smiling then everything 1 is all right"
 Why in Birmingham we believe in smiles like We believe in God and coal and iron and permanent peace" I answered.
 That's what I adore" said Jane Cowl. And do you know I'd rather | be the one who could make two smiles come where there'd been but one, than to be the most favored per son in the world
 Women, I believe, as rule. smile more than men," she continued, flor they know that smile Is becoming Some Frenchman said that woman should never experience an emotion that was unbecoming-and for that reason perhaps women smile more than men, because they know they are irrestibly pretty when they smile.
 "The tyranny of tears is what a man hates in woman" Jane Cowl declared, ''and I agree with the man who feels that way about 1t, don't you?"
 1 I said I did, and then she said: When a man starts out to do great piece of work he generally muses to himself: What shall l say?' But a woman smiles to herself, and says: What shall I wear?--and 1t is usually a becoming gown and bonnet and a wonderful smile-and the world is at her feet!
 You know, few women these days, ask the time-worn question: Is my hat on straightT but instead the up to-date woman asks :'Is my smile on straight? If it is she sighs for other worlds to conquer, because this one is hers already.
 T think one of the cleverest things I've ever heard about pretty smile, Jane Cowl continued, lis what great lawyer once said about femi- nine beauty when he was talking shop out of court. He declared: A pretty smile is like a subsequent rat ification of a power of attorney; It cures every previous defect.