New Britain herald., 1929-07-01

These pictures show how Mary Servoss magic wand has trans formed the plain ugly house Tt the upper left into the beautiful home at the lower right, known as Mary SeryOSS House. The other picture is of Miss SeryoSS.
 New York, July l.-Some success full careerists collect antique furlli- ture for an avocation. Others take up art. Mary Servoss, Broadway star, has developed an unusual line. She makes ugly duckling houses lato swans of country places that are the envy and desire of all passersby. T didn't consciously decide that every woman should have an aNoca- tion and then work out one Mrs, Servoss disclaimed credit for plal!- ming her side line with character istic frankness. "I merely passed little. old, moss-roofed house. in state of collapse one day when l was visiting friend in Nestchestnr. Immediately l saw myself HNlng n that house and knew just WA&l l would do to make it lovely.
 My friend stopped her car. Two frail little old ladies lived there Wuo were bern in the house almost cen- tury before and had lived there ever since. l didn't have the heart to even ask them to sell
 Her House Took Prize "All winter that house was mirage before. my eyes. l made Il over hundred times, in my mir '. It was so much my house by sprlns that l was hardly surprised to hear that the old ladies had both di"i and their spinster niece would sell.
 Miss Sarvoss lived in that first i house five years. II is still known as the Mary SerNoss house. ltStook an architectural prize and was the exposure of artistic eyes. A noFgI Nice People" was written around it.
 selling a house is a very personal matter when you've lived and i dreamed that house for five years, v Miss Servoss explained. T couldn't let anybody else have it until some one came along who seemed as much at home in it as l felt
 In the years since she claimed that first house as hers by right of i knowing how to make it over, Miss Servoss had done five places. On" was or river, with the living roolh. dining room and big sun porch right | out over the water Another was an old-time coach house. Her friends say that she does them by car"
 Old Homes Intrigue Her
 T couldn't do a house over unless | it interested me" Miss Sarros3 said. Some old ones intrigue and some very ugly ones with hiproofs do. l There must be a lovely doorway, fireplace. some wide oak floors or other redecming features, however. | think it is a mistake to change things much. l just leave things alone, add terrace, blinds, wings or steps here and there.
 T really am not sentimental about my houses but I cant live in an old one without thinking of the folks who looked in that fire before, their parties. weddings. births, deaths. or all rooms I enjoy doing living rooms most because folks are in them most"
 Interested as Miss SarNoss is in l her aNocation. there is no question that the stage holds first place in ] her heart.
 "1'd abandon the most fascinating house if my stGGe work needed me. I'd always let the carpenters an1 other workers wait indefinitely if a manager wanted to see me. The stage gives a satisfaction that noth- ing else has ever given me. really figure that with two interesting kinds O: work one can rest from ono with the other and always he inter- ested and happy"