Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

116 Advertising Section Fashions in Etiquette Change Good Form To=day is Different from the Good Form of a Few Years Ago The Very Last Word on the Subject of Correct Behavior is The Book of ETIQUETTE By Laura Alston Brown Every Possible Topic dealing with the social relationships in which human beings participate is covered in this comprehensive volume of 244 pages. In all, 176 topics are treated. These include : The Etiquette of Christenings Conduct of the Engaged Girl Conduct of the Engaged Man Entertaining Guests Table Manners Calling Customs Letters of Intro= duction Wording of lnvi= tations Accepting or Declin= ing Invitations Funeral Etiquette Courtesy to Servants The Woman who Travels Automobile Etiquette Public Dances Streetcar Etiquette The Etiquette of Sport OTHER VOLUMES OF ETIQUETTE—MANY OF THEM NOTHING LIKE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS THIS ONE —ARE SOLD AT FROM $2.50 TO $5. "The Book of Etiquette," by Laura Alston Brown, the most complete, up-to-date and authoritative work of the kind ever issued, is priced at Skipping Witk Barry Continued from page 74 In an Attractive and Durable Fabrikoid Binding Order from Your Bookseller or from CHELSEA HOUSE Publishers 79 Seventh Avenue, New York are to assume before the public, the pose being reinforced by careful publicity. In the case of Barry, one can easily imagine how impossible it would be to get him halter-broken to this system. From all I can learn, the Fox publicity department has abandoned him as an incorrigible subject on which to hang pretty adjectives. As a result we have the real, unretouched Barry, in all his native waywardness and undeniable charm. Recently an interview was wanted by a writer for a popular magazine. The publicity to be gained from such an article would be, to an embryo star, of inestimable value. Barry, however, at first refused to see the writer at all, but finally compromised by saying he would give her twenty minutes. "But why?" asked his secretary, baffled by his stubborn attitude. "I don't like her," said Barry, calmly. And that illustrates Mr. Norton's attitude toward people. No fawning, no insincerity. About as impractical as it is possible to be, but true to his natural instincts. Once I suggested that he should live in less expensive quarters, his reckless expenditures having provoked me to the rudeness of giving advice. "But if I don't have a nice apartment," he explained, "I am unhappy, and don't like to come home in the evenings." "Look at Buddy Rogers," I said. "He has only one room in a private family." "Does he?" — incredulously. "Sure, he does," I continued, waxing eloquent and ungrammatical. "Now if you'd " A few days later I heard that Barry had given up his expensive apartment, and taken another only slightly more expensive. Suppose you have dropped in to see him before dinner. You find the temperamental Thespian sweatered, and unbecomingly tieless. Oh, yes, he will dress for dinner, eventually, when he feels like it. He lives in a state of luxurious confusion, books and magazines ly ing about. The walls are decorated with etchings and photographs, and on the table and desk are numerous interesting knickknacks. Barry is engaged in unwrapping a tennis set. Yards of twine and paper are torn off and dropped on the floor. "Who wants a drink of water?" he inquires, the business of the tennis <set having been completed. He leaves the room and returns very shortly with a glass or mug of water. You drink what you want, then Barry unconcernedly finishes what is left. Although his English is very good, and practically without accent, he isometimes asks to have published criticisms of his pictures put into simpler language. "What does that mean?" he inquires, leaning forward eagerly. "It means that your two roles are very much alike," you explain. "No, no, they aren't alike," he declares. "Very different." The one thing that makes Barry fighting mad is to be accused of looking effeminate. Still, the accusation is understandable, when one remembers his nicely modeled features and the angelic expression of his face. It is a peculiar coincidence that the camera should have a tendency to slenderize young Norton, when it usually adds a few pounds to one's appearance. Actually, Barry is a sturdy chap, with noticeably large wrists. So there you have him, one of the most expert actors and interesting personalities in his profession. For my part, I deeply admire him, not only for his intellect and ability, but for his fine disregard of time, order, and the approval of his fellow human beings. Strange? No. In many respects his amazing indifference is a blessing. Not for him the anguish of wondering "what people will think." Having lived for more than a quarter of a century in a lather of apprehension at the thought of being late, incurring criticism, provoking enmity, or neglecting my duty, it gives me an uninhibited thrill to meet some one who doesn't give a whoop whether school keeps or not. LURE OF GOLD Oh, young Lochinvar is Come out to the West ! A movie director Has promised a test ! Blaine C. Bigler.