Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1934)

Sylvia Tells Mae Clarke How To Gain Energy [ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53 ] So here's my famous "energy maker." One hour before dinner, flop down on the bed flat on your stomach. Don't put a pillow under your head, but put a big pillow under your ankles and up to your knees, so that your legs are a little higher than your body and your feet don't touch the pillow. Lie in the middle of the bed and, with your hands, grab hold of the bedposts as tightly as you can. (And I hope you haven't gone modernistic and have a bed without a headpost.) Make the muscles in your hands and arms rigid by holding very, very tight. Hold so tightly that you can feel the muscles all along your back and the nerves in your stomach tightening up, too. Atta girl! When you are so physically tired that you can't hold tight any longer, relax your arms — but do it slowly — and let them fall at your sides into whatever position is comfortable. Believe me, darling, you'll be nice and relaxed. You'll be physically so tired that the old nerves will have to stop jumping. Then, without moving off your stomach and without taking the pillow from under your legs, lie there until dinner time. Oh, Mae, I'm telling you that when you've been doing this for a week or so, you'll feel fine, as if you could lick the world with one hand tied behind your back. Now here's your big energy diet — and it won't put any weight on, either. In the morning drink a glass of water — hot or cold — with a tablespoon of lemon juice in it. Then take a lukewarm shower, and use not only a good mild soap but a stiff body brush, scrubbing your body all over briskly, working particularly on the spine and the upper legs. Finish off by stepping under the cold shower for a second, turned on full blast. If you don't react properly, don't do that last bit. Breakfast Two sliced oranges (energy food) One coddled egg (You know how to fix that by now, I hope) Two or three crisply toasted slices of whole wheat bread with butter and honey (honey is an energy food, too) Clear coffee Eleven O'clock Big glass of tomato juice Luncheon Salad of water cress and parsley, chopped fine, with one half of an avocado and spoonful of cream cheese. (Use pure lemon juice over this, as the avocado has plenty of oil) Rye crackers with butter Steamed artichoke with melted butter Small dish of fruit gelatin with a little whipped cream Small glass of milk Four O'clock Basket of fresh strawberries or blackberries or (when berries are out of season) an apple. If the berries are sour, sprinkle a teaspoonful of brown sugar over them, crush them and let stand in the ice-box. They are refreshing and stimulating. If you eat an apple instead, have it cold and well-washed and be sure to eat the skin, since there you find the best food properties. Dinner Small bunch of green onions (tell the boy friend not to mind. Make him eat some, too) Three or four radishes Three or four ripe olives And (if you like it) a rye cracker with fresh caviar Potassium broth (Here's the recipe: Use either turnip tops, beet tops, mustard greens, spinach or Swiss chard. Chop fine and add (also chopped fine) carrots, parsley and lettuce. Cover with a quart of water — cold— and let simmer for thirty minutes. Strain. Press out the juice and drink as soup. If necessary add celery salt.) Chopped meat. (Use any meat but pork. If beef is used choose the cheapest neck meat, for it has the most valuableproperties. Heat pan thoroughly without grease. Sear the meat cake quickly on both sides. Lay a piece of lean Canadian bacon over it and broil. If beef is used, eat it very rare.) Fresh green asparagus Small baked potato, skin and all Baked pear or any fresh fruit Demi-tasse Every other afternoon at four o'clock, alternate the berries or apple with a half glass of milk and a half glass of cream mixed. At bedtime take a small glass of grapefruit juice. Now, Mae, you can probably guess by this diet that I like you. I wouldn't be giving you caviar if I didn't. Well, I do like you. After all the hard knocks you've had, you deserve a little caviar in your life. Anyhow, I'm a great admirer of yours. I don't want you to take much exercise while you're storing up your energy. Be sure to avoid any violent exercise. You c. n swim a little (and with your lovely figure you can't resist putting on a bathing suit), play tennis a little. Walking is fine for you (and for everybody, for that matter). It is nature's most normal, least exhausting exercise. But don't take any more exercise than that for a while, until your strength is absolutely restored. And now I want you to get busy taking those lines out of your neck. Every night and every morning wash your neck with a good mild soap and a fine face brush. That takes off the dead skin. Then for a few minutes gently massage yovr neck with cold cream using a rotary movement from the shoulders and breast-bone up. Remove the cream. At night leave just enough cold cream on to sink into the pores. And I give you my word that's all you need to do. Mae, you're a brick. And every other girl who works when she doesn't feel well is a brick. But if you're going to carry on and keep up the good fight, put your energy into the bank — just as you put a part of your salary check in. The money comes in handy on a rainy day. The energy is for the grand, sunshiny days when you want lots of pep and lots of vitality to enjoy life and health! Lots of love and all the success in the world. Sincerely, Sylvia. Answers by Sylvia Dear Sylvia: I read about the complexion diet that you gave Jean Harlow but I don't quite understand it. While I'm taking the diet should I eat other food as well ? F. G., Las Yegas, N. M. I'd like to know your definition of the word, diet. Do you think you can eat chocolate eclairs and ice cream sodas along with the reducing diets — and if so, what good would they do you? I plainly stated, "Once a month, for five days, do this." Then I gave the diet. If I had wanted you to have anything else along with it, I would have said so. You're supposed to stay on the complexion diet for only five days out of the month. Giving up a little solid food for so short a time won't hurt you. The reason you have bad skin and acne is because you eat your head off — and can't pass up rich pastries. Now stick on that diet and don't be such a foolish girl any more. My Dear Madame Sylvia: I wish you would tell me how I can make my POOR Aunt Sylvia — how those letters do come! But what a joy when I see how many are finding life brighter and happier through my help! If you want help, simply write Sylvia, care of PHOTOPLAY Magazine, 221 West 57th Street, New York City, enclosing a stamped selfaddressed envelope. No obligation — glad I can be of assistance. SYLVIA eyes bright and sparkling. I envy girls with brilliant eyes and wish mine were, too. R. T. E., Dayton, Ohio Well, first of all stop envying other people. That's a waste of time. And if you want sparkling eyes you can use your time to better advantage. Do you know what makes sparkling eyes? Well, I'll tell you. Good health! There is no other way to get them, and the way to have good health and plenty of pep is to follow my health routine — to go on my diets and do my exercises every day of your life. My health routine gives you vitality. Vitality shines in your face and makes your eyes bright. Start in today to get health and vigor! Dear Sylvia: I have a bump right on the end of my nose and it looks very ugly. Is there any way I can remove it? B. H., Houston, Texas Aha! I've caught you. You haven't been reading all of my articles, for I told you what I did for Ruth Chatterton's nose. You never can tell when my articles have advice that is meant not only for the stars but just for you, too. Here's the nose routine: It takes infinite time and patience and you can do it only if you're as careful as if you were modeling something beautiful in marble. Place the forefinger of each hand on either side of the bump, then press very, very gently. You must not press hard for that will make your nose red and bulbous. And do not press for more than a half a minute at one time. But do it over and over each day. Then with the thumb and [ please turn to page 101 ]