The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-11


HENRY is prompt, another
L. l. good bachelor trait. I think
prom ptness is a great quality. 1t
IS form Of politeness not to keep
folks waiting. I think the world
goes round on little things.
Last, and I guess most impor-
tant to a woman" Mrs. Mencken
smiled a little. Il think a bache-
Tor Is apt to be much more
thoughtful Of his companion.
He is more conscious of her.
He never just accepts his wife as
part of the household"
Seeing Mrs. Mencken and talk
ing with her gives you the idea
that no man ever could Just &C
cept her. She is perfectly lovely!
A little plump, for she has had
tuberculosis twice and guards
against a third attack by keeping
her weight up, quite young look
ing, she has that soft, rich, white
skin no picture catches, big black
eyes with a quiet humor lighting
them up, and exquisitely fine, soft
black hair that waves from her
face and curls up a. the ends.
1t is her manner, probably that
gets you" Here is woman who
has genuine repose! She seems to
have all the best Southern lady
qualities: dignity, a fine hospit-
able consideration for her guest.
n
nNE reason for the Menckens'
" happy marriage, obviously, is
that they never breakfast together.
mo one has anything to say at
that time of day." she explained.
Il think people are much too pre-
occupied to be sociable early in
the day. I want my papers and
mail and Henry wants his!"
The rest of their day runs some
thing like this: Work from g.
II; Mrs. Mencken managing the
house, marketing and so forth,
Henry working in one wing of
the big apartment in his Office
filled with bookcases, easy chairs,
and grand piano.
They meet at lunch, then both
rest. From 2:30 to $50, work
again, be back in his study, she
in hers, writing, in long hand,
with a pencil.
Their apartment, built in an
old mansion, is sprawling, with
various levels, and So arranged
that his friends or hers can come
in without disturbing the other.
Unless they dine out, which is
seldom, after an early dinner, they
work again from to 10. From
then on they hold open house,
with friends dropping in for
music, talk, anagrams, beer and
pretzels or ginger-beer.
Every Saturday night the same
fourteen musicians gather in
Henry's studio for a concert, and
they have gathered every Satur-
day night for thirty years. Henry
plays the piano-and well.
II
NTARRIAGE hasn't changed
1V4 Henry a Bit" Mrs. Mencken
insisted. He still likes to drink
beer, even more than ever. He
never was real cynic about mar
riage.
He just held some views about
life and marriage and was frank
in discussing them. I never think
Of Henry as radical. He al
ways has seemed a conservative
and very conventional"
The Menckens keep no pets,
take no active exercise, don't like
radio, haven't a car. Henry is
great gardener, she insists, given
the garden.
He is interested in his new
home, in the details of food and
house, provided he doesn't have
to do anything about either. He
eats everything, is fondest of
Stews of all kinds, never helps
with the dishes, or any other
work, but loves to roam with Mrs.
Mencken through antique shops
or secondhand stores looking for
Victorian things.
She collects Victorian pin
boxes, etiquette books and scrap
books; he wood carvings and beer
seidels.
THEIR home reflects their Vic
L torian preferences.
I was brought up in a south
ern home where all the furniture
was Victorian" Mrs. Mencken ex-
planned. And Henry is Victorian"
Their whole house is, for that
matter, and charming. Some of
the handsome carved chairs and
low sofas and handicapped ia
bles were hers, some his, some
they bought together.
The most noticeable things are
an authentic victorian wedding
certificate, signed by Henry and
Mrs. Henry, framed ard hanging
on the wall, and two white doves
under big glass bells facing each
other on the mantelpiece.
Mrs. Mencken writes under her
own name, Sara Haardt. She is
no Lucy Stoner. But her book and
her various articles we're all signed
that. 2 So she will continue to use
it for her work.
Life runs along pleasantly and
smoothly and not too fast" she
analyses it. Both Henry and I
enjoy a routine that gives us time
for work, time for play and time
for seeing the friends we like to
have drop in.
II don think either of us
ever would be happy where the
tempo of life is faster. This just