Radio-TV mirror (July-Dec 1952)

"oothing, smoothing — delightfully refreshing! This exquisitely fragrant, superb imported talc absorbs every bit of moisture, prevents chafing . . . leaves your skin soft, caressable and dainty for hours! Keep flower-fresh — with Mavis! You're Irresistible! ..tempting him with the I pulsating fragrance of Irresistible Perfume... the excitement of lip's : so invitingly smooth -nd delightful to kiss! "peak to him in the anguage of Love — Irresistible! 80 country, she'd stop her own work to take our baby in to the doctor's for checkups. It's pretty hard to put into words the way Creeley and I feel about all the help which has been given us. Closest we can come to it is when Creeley says, "Up here, people care what happens to a stranger. This is the country for me. If I can get an inside job for the winter and make money enough to buy heavy clothing so the kids can go to school, this is where I want to stay." I say that now we dare dream. We came to Benton Harbor in sheer desperation, knowing whatever happened it would be better than the way we had been living. for us to have a place of our own, enough land for a little house where we can live and work and raise our family in peace. We want our children to get an education so they can do better than we have done. Creeley and I have wanted that always, but until Welcome Travelers and our Michigan friends helped us get a new start, we didn't dare say so. On Thanksgiving, I shall sum it all up in one simple prayer. I'm going to say, "Thank you, God, for leading us to the kind of people who helped us find a future." You Can Learn a Lot from Living (Continued from page 29) I recalled how impressed I'd been with the unusual interpretation from "King Lear" which the last year's winner had offered. In a sense of taking "the easy road," I, too, prepared a similar speech. When it came my turn to perform, I realized that the other fellow had not only been original but had presented his material in a far better manner. The judges realized it, too. Then, not content with one mistake, I proceeded to make another. Disappointed at losing the contest, I was somewhat comforted by the knowledge that the judges had placed me in charge of presenting the three winners. I'll just make a quick speech and wow 'em, I thought to myself, say what's on my mind at the time. I made a quick speech all right — I completely forgot every bright thing I'd thought of saying by the time I got on the stage. By lack of preparation, I'd really fixed myself. But — I learned two solid lessons. Even today, after years of being on the air and having to perform extemporaneously, if I'm to do the briefest of introductions, be master of ceremonies at any kind of affair, I prepare my material thoroughly. There is no "easy road" in any job. And, as a result of my losing out in the Shakespearean contest because of imitating my predecessor, I make it a strict rule to steer away from imitation and use only our own creative thinking in my shows. In our home, we let the three children learn by doing — they plan their own playtime for themselves and their friends — and a mistake or two now is helping them to learn to avoid similar ones in the future. Because we're such believers in the fact that you learn by doing, Barbara and I spend as much time as possible with ten-year-old Christene, nine-year-old Gary and little six-year-old Lauren. It's easier to stand on your own two feet when you have someone around you who can encourage you in doing things the right way. Just as it's important to help our children over their hurdles at school with their work, so it is important for us to spend play days together. We're firm believers in the entire family vacationing together. Recently, we spent a wonderful month at colorful Alisal Ranch, approximately 150 miles from Los Angeles. The ranch is a real, working cowboy ranch with beautiful accommodations — as different, however, from our Beverly Hills home as possible. The change gave the children a feeling of independence, as they saw and participated in strange and exciting new events. On the archery range, they learned how to handle a bow and arrow. Then, of course, there was swimming and horseback riding. A genuine cowboy, Bill Nicholas, taught them about handling the horses, showing them why certain ways with a horse are best, others harmful. Meeting Bill, and Lynn Gillham, the manager of the ranch, and hearing their stories of the lure of the old West — plus their becoming acquainted with other guests and children from other parts of the country — was a great experience for them, widened their horizons. Yet, with all this, we could keep a parental eye on them and indirectly help in such a way that they were unaware of our guidance. Meeting new people and new situations developed new responsibilities in the trio. Gary suddenly became interested in money. We always try to enjoy ourselves without giving the children a feeling of exorbitant luxury. All parents have the same problem of trying to explain to their moppets why the family budget won't allow that little extra-special something. "No." Barbara would say, "we'd better not put that on the bill." "Well," said Gary finally, "let me see the bill. I think I better know just how much we are spending." And, like other parents, we had a problem on our hands. To a child, the values of money can only be explained in their own terms. Trying to itemize on an adult level would only confuse the issue and perhaps plant the seeds of insecurity in Gary's young mind. We remembered a similar incident with Christene, when a dollar in her young world constituted a fortune. We didn't realize she worried about money and the effect its shortage might have upon the family until she informed us a certain necessity cost ten dollars. "But do we have enough to buy it?" she anxiously asked. "Would we be broke if we did?" What parent doesn't have to think twice in trying to teach the value of a dollar? The introduction of "Allowance" to our family still hands Barbara and me a chuckle. Christine had never heard the word until one day in school the teacher mentioned it. "Say," she asked that night at dinner, "how about this allowance the teacher was telling us about?" Barbara and I did our best to explain. "I want an allowance," said Chris. "Me, too," said Gary. Barbara and I decided the time had come for the children to learn the twofold purpose of money — the thrill of working for it, and the responsibility of managing it. Parental admonitions of "Now you'll have to work for it" brought enthusiastic agreement from both parties. But it offered a challenge to Barbara and me. Just what should our kiddies be paid for doing and just what should they do as members of society? It was decided that Chris should help keep the rooms straightened and Gary should help keep the playroom neat and see that the Cola bottles were put away, plus looking after a fresh supply for snecial occasions. The