The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-05


w. Browning, Manhattan's "Cinder-
ella man." lives in a fantastic world
where Lochinvars are 81 when they
ride forth and where Romeos sign
contracts with the left hand while
clinging precariously to Juliet
balcony with the right.
Through this world dance lovely
young sprites, who keep alive in
the watcher the illusion of romance
and youth-because the sprites pos
sess both.
But step into his office for mo-
ment and perhaps you will under
stand a bit better.
Obviously 1t is a real estate Of
fee. The sign on the door says
so. This Browning, it seems. is
lord of some fifty fine apartments
and rentals come regularly from
many hundred people. Collections
and maintenance of such constitutes
q vast amount Of shrewd business.
No Girl Workers
But in the very Quitting of the
place there is contradiction. Here
and there about waiting room are
beautifully carved teawood chairs,
suggesting the Orient and elegance.
The first thing one notices Is that
there are no women employees about.
Strange, one thinks, for a man
whose name has been linked with
romance from one end Of the nation
70 tho otEer Cornabou voupor opd
lovely stenographers had been an
ticipated.
Instead the doors open and shut
and through them walk mature men.
Most Of them are past middle age
Several are gray-haired. They bob
in and out with papers to sign and
checks to endorse.
But from the walls are reflected
a glimpse at the other, and very
contradictory world.
Pictures of Proteges
Framed upon the wall are photo
graphs Of girls of Is, or Whereabouts,
dressed in middies and boomers play
ing basketball, or lined up for their
pictures" after the game.
To these the cinderella man
presents silver trophies or prize win
ming medals, or class pins, or what
ever strikes his fancy. And, with
his wealth, he can afford to have
such fancies as he wills-as was dem
onstrated when his efforts at adopt
ing Mary Spas brought him to
public notice.
Then there is a picture Of a large
catch of trout. The Cinderella man"
smiles.
That was a five-minute catch Of
Mary Sunshine" whom he has
adopted She is now attending a
private school.
Meanwhile there has come Frances
Heenan, IS, casual acquaintance of
a dancing party to refill his life with
joy" Not only is he DESTROYS Of
marrying the child, but quite as pre-
pared to wave the magic wand that
would bring any imagined luxury.
Plans FAIRY" Aid
This, apparently, is the gesture
that pleases most "the Cinderella
man." He is not content to take
girls and let them struggle through
to their own destiny, building char
acter and gathering acumen as they
go. He does not search out their
ambitions and help toward the rG2l-
iZation.
His is the fairy tale" idea; to
have luxury and ease and elegance
fall upon them without effort. OBJ
viously he is we'll acquainted with
young dreams. He would give them
education and teach them the so.
cial ref1nements.
II like girls who are young enough
not to have lost their sensitivity,"
he told me. II like them feminine.
young, unspoiled by the world, to a
certain extent Independent.
II like health, the glowing, ex-
>uberant sort that puts color in a
girls cheeks and sparkle in her
eyes. Stage beauties give me no
pleasure. 1 should never willingly
consent to have a child Of mine or
woman 1 loved on the stage. I
hate make-believe and tinsel."
He not only disapproves Of the
stage, but Of the professional and
business woman.
THE business woman is too hard
and calculating" he explained. 1.-THE
professional woman is always self
centered. Both lose something very
charming and sweet when they be-
come Sef-supporting"
Proud of Notoriety
Probably that is the reason there
are no women working in Brown
ing's office.
Apparently he sees nothing incon-
gruous in the December and May
combination. He truly believes the
Cinderella legend.
He showed me with great pride
drawer Of clippings he had re-
ceived as one days installment from
his clipping bureau-some of these
quite uncomplimentary, I'm sure.
He told me of his difficulties in wad-
ing through the 100000 letters he has
received from girls wanting to be
adopted He did not dislike his no.
toriety.
His hair is more gray than white.
He is not particularly young looking
for his age, though he does not sug-
qpSt extrpma age He saws three