The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-31
Do You Need A Lot Of "PrOps''
By Beatrice Fairfax. Who Occupies a Unique Position in the Writing World as an Author ity on the Problems of Life.

TT have almost nothing to help me
 in my ambitions writes Jane. I'm
 not good-looking enough to attract men easily. I haven't a home into
 which I can ask them. Girls don't
 care a lot for me because they know won't make much of a hit in mixed
 parties. I haven't much education.
 don't earn much money. My family
 is nothing to boast of. like to read
 and I don't mind working. But can
 you, in all honesty, see how I'm go-
 ing to get anywhere in this world :? I'm willing to make a real effort and am reconciled to making my own
 way. But I've nothing to do with. Nothing to do with?"
 Have you even seen a stage set
 cluttered up with what stage par
 lance calls "props?" We regard a
 well-set scene as necessary in the theatre. We regard plenty of props"
 vital to life today.
 But the theatre of Shakespeare's day had the barest of stages for its background, and the most makeshift Of wardrobes for it's costumes and
 every difficulty the lack of "props"
 can suggest. Yet which of us ques- tfons the superb quality of the play In Sllak espeare's day?
 Tho world is full of girls like you,
 Jane. But l hope not many of them
 undervalue the real gift that is yours You have the power of expression
 You can anaIyze and express your conclusions with certain whimsical
 ity and originality. This means that you can easily become a charming conversationalist. If you'll train yourself also to listen we'll you'll find that folks will enjoy your society.
 They are bound to.
 How many great women of his tory emerged from elaborate1y set
 backgrounds? How many clever or interesting individuals count on the
 props of family or wealth or beauty |?
 It's easy enough to drift lazily with
 the tide. and that is about all that is
 required from those whose lives are trimmed up like Christmas trees.
 But the folks who recognize their
 handicaps and have the strength and courage and imagination to overcome
 them, are the ones who triumph in | their chosen fields.
 Often it is because of what he lacks ! that man works desperately. He i has to make it up to himself He has to compensate" to borrow a word | from modern psychology.
 Everyone has something "to do | with" It may be the sensitivene ess which seems to make life a burden and can be applied to an understand 1 ing of others and developed into great delicacy of learning and imagination It isn't by leaning on what is really made, or by counting on what can be bought or handed down that folks get somewhere in this world of ours It is by sorting out their own quail ], ties and developing the strong ones tC compensate for the weak ones that character and insight are developed By understanding. her handica ps and expressing her reactions to them keenly. Jane shows her gift of ex- pressions, her sensitiveness to impress i sions and her yearning to make some | thing of her life. That's equipment enough to build a decidedly worth | while person. Most of us have some I thing just as vital.
 And given one vital. simple, intense | human quality there's a real chance | of developing into a personality. But 1 all the props" Of "fanlity" and so
 cial position and beauty may lead no
 where if they are nothing but shad | owy background for a person who ha: ! no personality of his own