The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-12
By ELSIE JANIS


 (Copyright, 1892, by NEA Service. Incl
 have received hundreds of let ters from friends and absolute strangers since I started 1932 by stepping out of my character as the stages most unmarried star and hurdied into Hymen's over crowded and uncertain Kingdom with a man Is years my junior.
 Most of the letters are optimistic. all of them are friendly, and the bride and groom are grateful! l know a lot of people are dubious about the marriage, but after all 1882 couldn't be worse than 193l, so bring on the pessimists! ,, The editor is apparently not too sanguine, because the first ques- ton that disturbed his rest reads, "Is there a hope for a woman of 40 who has never married before to get happiness out of marriage z? I answer. "Yes." with a titanic Y!
 But if he asked 'Is 1t possible for her to hang on to happiness" I would have to say, I'm stranger here myself!" If tomorrow some broadminded. slim -hipped cutie "snitched' the groom, would have to react as I used to in the theater when we opened a new play, received good press notices, but the public wouldn't pay to see the show. I'd have to say, roo Bad! We certainly tried to please!"
 Tn the theater we immediately tried again. In matrimony doubt if I would.
 ' think would prefer to cherish the memory of a short and suc- cessful run" with this particular co-star and call 1t a day. As when I retired from the theater three years ago at the height of my car eer, feeling I could never top the things I had done. l turned 10 writing. A marital flop might break heart, put a lot ot new lines in the face, singe the sense of humor, but I can't imagine IL affecting the old typewriter. Most of the reporters who were sont to secure the details of the nuntiaIs seemed to be concerned about the groom's future plans. ] hopped in with the information that I thought helping me with my affairs and being my first husband should keep him busy for a little while at least, and so far IL LOOKS as if I were right.
 The groom is proving to be a most understanding combination ot adviser, secretary, comforter. ana last but for from least, husband. We laugh more than honeymooners should, but not at each other!
 Ye Editor wants to know wheth- CT Ye groom is going to be a pet, or is he going to make a career or his own. Well! He is already a pet, but he is going to do what ever he wants to do with his own life, I'm his wife, not his keeper:
 If he wants to be an actor. I'll give him any advice he asks for. If he wants to run a gas station. I'll buy my gas there and send my friends.
 T believe he will become a some body, because I couldn't have known and loved as many regular fellows as have and then pick just a candidate for the "Only Their Husbands Club"
 I am asked if I think every woman should marry regardless of age. What If she is 70? I wouldn't know. Come around a. gain in 28 years!
 do think marriage should not be regarded as something that every one must experience, like measles, humps, or whooping cough!
 People tried to scare me into 1t years ago by warning me or the terrible things that happens to what used to be called an old maid. They lost their figures. complexions minds, and finally blew away. Well. I don't want to brag, but the brides chassis" is modern, the complexion is not bad, the mind Is active, and so far I have blown up" on occasions, but never away. If I do. it will be marriage, not celibacy. that turns me into an autumn leaf!
 think that women should have the right to marry when they really want to and not to obligc the relatives, doctors. statisticians and traditions. I believe they should work If they want to after marriage, but don't advise 1t. if the husbands can keep them in the style they are not accustomed to. Some one has to amuse and enter tain the tired business man and it is not apt to be the tired busi- ness woman!
 In conclusion let me add. there was no obey clause in our marital agreement. I know too much about loopholes in contracts, and options in Hollywood. Anything you can get into you can get out of, ex- copf . coffin