The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06

large sixe headline, and wo gobble it
up voidptuously. That is by no
newspapers. Such stories are news.
in the sense that they are what the
public like to read, and that is what
the papers must have. Neither is it
a reflection particularly on the pub
lie. In fact, it is nothing at all but
the truth.
But l would like to get this mes
sage across" She talked eagerly and
there was a fire of earnestness in
her eyes. There are hundreds and
hundreds of married artists who are
living as peacefully and. harmoni GUS
ly together as most mortals, and who
have no thought at all of divorce or
separation. Name some of them?
Well, there is, of course, Mary Pick
ford and Dougas Fairbanks and then
the Robert Mckims, Douglas Mac
Leans, the Vidors -." She named
;:Oh, | could name hundreds of them
if l had time to think. Why, there
are just any number of picture folk
living happily together-just like
us" and she nodded smilingly to-
ward her husband. who was pacing
impatiently in another quarter of the
hotel lobby. The interview was be-
ing conducted on dinner time. she
explained and then returned. Their
home life, though. is just drab har-
bliss; and what can YOU imagine
with less news 'yalue?" She spoke
convincingly.
Believes Divorce No Failt :.
Now you ask me the point blank
question is divorce "A failure? l
usually get around that by saying no,
| think not, since it affordse a med
ium of circulation for folks But
seriously. Il do not think it is en-
tirely. AS an institution, l am GER
tain it is not
gether who should not be and it
would be better for them and for
society if they were not. They
should be allowed divorce Were l
judge, l would make it compari-
lively easy for woman to get
divorce, but l would make it more
difficult for man. / say that for
such step only as the very last
resort-only after she had exhausted
every other means of solving her
problem. She has so much at stake,
particularly if she has children.
But men are VIGOROUSLY selfish, al
that we love, and that makes our
living for us, and wonder does
it not?-our civilization. | would
be harder with them. Men as a class
do not take marriage as socredly
women and home ties bind them less
closely.
In one sense, however. | would
be friend to man. | would. were l
Judge. be slow to grant alimony.
! fail to see the reason why a man.
just because he has lived with a
woman for a month or so. should be
compelled to support her the re-
mainder of her life. There are, Of
course, exceptions"
Accepts Sane Censorship.
Miss Baird discussed motion pic
ture censorship. Il believe in sem
sible censorship" she said. But the
hair splitting-T am tempted to say
puritanical-kind that prevents life
life itself from being portrayed on
the screen is injurious rather than
helpful She cited instances to illu-
strate her point.
what earnest actors and act
resses are trying to do is to present
life as it is lived. not necessarily as
eaints would live it. but we everyday
distasteful or ugly in that. The
great truths of life are the very
fundamentals of our social life and of
our whole civilization. When del
icately and judiciously protrayed
they should not be banned, but well
coined"
Praises Lois Wilson.
Miss Baird talked of much else,
for she can talk of many things. She
told of beautiful young girls who
go to Hollywood with the idea of
becoming motion picture stars
overnight and who land behind cigar
counters or in restaurants as wait
resses These mistakes are pa
thetic," she said. Looks are by no
means everything. There must be
in here" as she pressed her hand to
her bosom. that ineXpressible some
thing without which there is no true
suecess-that spark that most folks
call art Without it, woman may
be as beautiful and as charming as
you please. but she cannot get
across with II though she is not so
beautiful or so charming. she is
destined for fame. Lois Wilson has
the spark "
When asked what she though Of
professional careers for women she
said. Only when they have that