Evening star., 1932-01-31

ton when I hurled this
question at them. Admitting that fathers, alas,
have all too little to say about the upbringing
Of their daughters ther role in the scheme Of
things usually being to approve the mothers
decision and foot the bills each man. whether
he had an actual daughter not began eagerly
to set forth his plans and specifications for an
ideal daughter.
Would your ideal daughter I persisted,
"be modern woman; efficient self f-support-
ing with her goal her own business or
cabinet post? Or would you have her skip
this generation and bloom again sensitive
plant like her crinolined grandmother with
hearth fire ideals? Would you create her to
carry on your wcrk, or, contrary, encourage
her to follow any career but your own?"
NANIEL FROHMAN, starmaker and dean OF
u the theater, who for fifty years has written
Broadway's history in bright lights, has no
daughter but Immediately commenced to chart
one.
"If I had a daughter" he began.
Would she go the stage?" I asked.
ID F." as he is, fondly called by his asso-
eiates, held up warning finger.
First, she would have a good education,
study music and about three Languages, then
turn to dramatic art. Then, whether or not
she became an actress. this enlarged mental
horizon would qualify her for many activities.
Languages would open to her the best in
literature for, as Emerson says, Every man
reads himself out of a book Music, the fine
masterpieces of great composers, brings her
into a world of unspeakable delight! She
would not just be pleased by harmonious
sounds but understand the composers motive
and purpose.
Il would want her to become actress
because her knowledge of light and shade OF
feeling and emotion would give her well
balanced mental and emotional Stature-an
individual poise and authority which would
1I,,,So 80 han nho ptn ~
perience has convinced that the best
actresses are those with knowledge of music,
because they could bring out the elements OF
rhythm, sound light and shade in their acting
rolec'
But what of the struggles and temptations
of stage life?" I broke in.
Il don't deny the hardships and obstacles Of
theatrical life" answered Frohman. Il would
want her to overcome them and to triumph.
Life is a struggle, and success and happiness
come from overcoming this struggle. Achieve
ment is only possible in overcoming obstacles,
whether it is a general politician, composer
or actress.
With a background like this, my daughter
would really know whether or not she was in
love Most girls think they are in love be-
cause man proposes to them" he pointed out.
St John Ervine, famous English dramatlst,
is unwilling to have his hypothetical daughter
act like a character in modern play.
Il would hate to see her swallowing cock
tails and smoking" he said, "and should
loathe her if her conversations were Of the oh,
top-hole, type. Generally speaking, I should
like her to be a lady"
Sam E. Morris, the movie luminary, has no
daughter but if he had, says: Il would not
want her to be faultleSs, fer she would be far
too lonely But the unlovabe faults she must
not have are loudness, mmodesty and other
evidences of poor taste.
MY ideal daughter must be pretty he in
sisted ANY man who is absolutely honest
will admit he is proud of his daughters good
looks She must be intelligent, with good, old
fashioned horse sense The days have passed
when heroines with graceful feeblemindedneSs
were admired. She would be a college girl,
but not a buestocking," he continued, then
trained for some business or profession, engage
in it for a few years and then marry. This
training would be of inestimable value in run
ming a household and bringing up family.
Besides business education would fit her for
an emergency were she forced to take care OF
herself"
A thorough education in every branch OF
housekeeping begun in early childhood, is what
prominent author Albert Payson Terhune,
father of a married daughter, stresses in his