Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

Wide World taste, nothing instantly suggests that heaps of money has been spent on it, but which subtly convinces the subconscious perceptions that everything is right. "Right" being that which demonstrates refined taste and knowledge of how to live beautifully. It costs enormously to those who wish to buy it, but can be procured by anyone with a real sense of the fitness of things — with instinctive good taste. Well, Gloria's bedroom is "right." There is not too much of anything. The flowers are not overdone. Only two great bowls of lilies of the valley. The curtains are lustrous green silk. There .is no over embroidery or too much lace on the sheets of her bed, just the finest linen and a simple edging of Valenciennes. Simplicity is everywhere. The baby's cot is simple, too, and all white. None of the fantastic be-ribboned, be-laced things you see in every department store, but fine spotted muslin which can wash, and is always fresh. That it came from the Rue de la Paix and cost a large sum, is nobody's business ! The tiny gossamer sheets and pillow cases have the baby's monogram, "M.B.F." embroidered upon them. The blankets also, of snowy wool, satin-edged. Everything is individual and designed as Gloria wished. And as for the dainty layette of adorable frocks and jackets and even a minute dressing wrapper — well, it would make any young mother crazy with envy could she see it ! The garments are — like the cot — snowy white and simple in their costly purity. Now imagine the room. An old English room decorated by an artist. All the softest green of a forced lily of the valley leaf. Rather empty but for one or two bits of good furniture and the beautiful flowers. The whole place giving a feeling of the spring time. Then think of a "William and Mary" green silk bed; a white quilted satin eiderdown and Valenciennes edged sheets help to conceal Gloria! Michaele Bridget "It is a wan and spiritual Gloria just emerging from the ordeal of acquiring that terious and awe-inspiring motherhood/' CI called does SHE is a very fragile Gloria, with blue eyes so circled by shadows that they appear like blue lamps coming from the gloom. £| She has not the tiniest touch of makeup on, she is a very white pearly crea L _ _ ture, with lips no redder than a pale rose. Her hair, which I have seen long, and then bobbed, is now below her shoulders again — it is soft and curly, but in spite of the wanness of recent grave illness, Gloria is more beautiful than ever with some added charm of striking spirituality. We are such old friends that she let me come in just as she was nursing Michaele Bridget, which is the little one's delightful name. It — she, I mean! — was just cuddled up hungrily and voluptuously enjoying her evening meal. There is no sight so beautiful and holy as a lovely young mother 28 nursing her babe. For ten minutes I did not see anything but a wee, dark, head and sweet profile — with its greedy pursed up tiny mouth. So I could look at and talk to Gloria. We spoke of love and life and of all the years which have passed since we made "The Great Moment." And we both came to the conclusion that love, when it can be of the spirit as well as the flesh, is the only thing really worth having in this world. And I felt that Gloria is happy at last. The dignified English nurse then came and took Miss Michaele Bridget Farmer to her snowy cot, and settled the mother back in her pillows — while she put round her a lovely white dull satin and lace garment to keep off draughts. Then we talked of Gloria's plans for the future ; she is vague about them. Whether she will go back to Hollywood and make a new picture there, or whether she will make one here ; or whether she will just enjoy life for a while, she does not yet know. But looking at her there I could not help reflecting how seldom the real beauty and charm of her has been allowed to emerge on the screen. The charm is greater than ever — she has that fascination of the eyes never changing, even when she smiles. Her blue eyes look straight into yours with something aloof and mysterious in them — contemplative and even a little sad. And yet she may be talking whimsically of something gay. She never says stupid things, she never giggles — she never poses — she is just Gloria all the time. At that moment, Mr. Michael Farmer came in and a pair of lovers' eyes met, and I could not help thinking of Paul and the lady in my "Three Weeks" and Gloria whispered to me — "He has just those adorable 'ways' Paul had — do you wonder that I love him !" I did not! He is a tall, dark, handsome young Irishman, with a "look in the eye" and plainly he loves Gloria. Then came a little whimper from the cot and the dignified nurse lifted the baby up — and the two faces together, Michaele Bridget's and her father's, were exact replicas of each other. She is certainly the most perfect wee creature I have ever seen. None of the crimson, crumpled ugliness which new born babies sometimes show, but every minute feature in proportion and exquisite. Then she has a specially rare thing in these days, flat ears lying close to the head and the stern nurse means to see that the flatness continues ! No thoughtlessness nursemaids will be allowed to lay down this treasure carelessly ! Gloria was beginning to look wistful and tired, so I left her then, safe and -happy with husband and child — and as I stood at the door we each blew a good-by kiss. mysstate Th us oria's dear friend, inor Glyn, describe