The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-11


M Hiss AGNES AYREs, the well
V known motion picture actress,
stood on her cOlnpany's lot at
Los Angeles recently, entirely surrounded
BY scenery, camera men, / high-priced
director and assistants, scenario writer's
and supernumeraries
Miss Ayres was about to Be taken in her
first big scene with her leading man and
lover in the play. There was to be one 81
the warnnest kind Of clinches, with plenty
Of kissing. Miss Ayres, as she explains
later on, likes kissing, and she was won
dering what kind Of kisser Mr.. Robert
Cane, who had been selected for the part
and whom she did not know very wen,
would turn out to be.
Mr.. Robert Cane strobe out on the
lot. He advanced confidently and
springingly to Miss Ayres. He was and is
an extremely personable young chap, one
who would seem to make perfect lover
on the screen or off.
But what was the matter with Miss
Ayres? Yes, indeed, who could be the
matter with her!
She had watched the approach Of young
Mr.. Cane with widening eyes and an ever
increasing expression of apprehension on
her pretty face. And now, as Mr.. Cane
came closer, she raised q trembling finger
and pointed it toward him.
"StopP' she cried, and then turning to
the astonished director she said: II can
never play this love scene with Mr. Cane r
whats the matter with me p not un-
naturally asked the surprised Mr.. Cane.
II cannot kiss man who wears a mus
tache," cried Miss Ayres. mo lips that
wear whiskers shall ever touch mine. If
you expect me to go on with this love
scene with Mr.. Cane he must shave off his
mustache at oncev'
That said Mr.. Cane, with emphasis,
Il shall never do. What is the matter
with my mustache? | have brought it up
with great care" said Mr.. Cane, earnestly,
looked after it diligently and raised it as
only the best mustaches should be. / ask
again, what is the matter with it,"
ut is horrid" said Miss Ayres. "It is
not just your mustache that | object to,
Mr.. Cane. 1t is all mustaches. And /
will not go on with this picture until
yours is shaved off,
II will not lose my mustache for any
woman's outrageous whimy' cried Mr..
Cane.
81 will not kiss you with it ony' cried
Miss Ayres.
The play came to an absolute standstill.
Argument was loud and vehement
At last Mr.. Cane gave in. A razor was
brought and in bitterness of spirit. in
wrath and in sorrow, he cleaned from his
upper lin the cute little adornment he had
been so proud of. And then the play
went on.
But why does Miss Ayres object so to
mustache?
"Ill tell YOU" she said to a representa-
tive of this magazine who asked her later
to explain her reluctance. t"IH tell you
why.
81 realize my duty to my art. When
dedicated myself to my profession | was
perfectly willing to play the part of an old
woman or a young woman, good woman
or bad one; / was prepared to permit
the arms of an actor to encircle me If
necessary, and was ready to give my lips
to the hero's lips, If the play required
that. But there was one thing-just one
thing-that / was determined to make a
stand upon.
There was no reason why any lover
should come to me with growth of hor-
rid, dirty hair around his mouth and ex-
pect to touch my own clean lips with it.