Star-dust in Hollywood (1930)

Hollywood — The Stars deemed suitable to the mentality of the club. Presenting the magnificent close-up, he said : " Ladies, I wish to prove to you that Mr Mix's art is one that should be strongly supported by all right-thinking men and women in the United States. There never has been, and I can assure you that there never will be, a situation in any one of Mr Mix's films that could call a blush to the cheek of the most refined young maiden. . . . Mr Mix's films are founded in purity of ideal and purity of purpose. . . . And, ladies, I am now going to reveal to you a fact about Mr Mix's character that will prove the truth of my statements. Ladies, Mr Mix has never smoked a cigarette in the whole of his life. . . ." When The Belle of New York first came to England I thought that the verses With grief intense, And at great expense, We strive to destroy Vicious habits in our neighbours; But we regret That the cigarette Gives a loud ha-ha To our very best endeavours, were intended to be satire carried to absurdity. But in America we have learned that it is little more than a mild statement of fact. The smoking of a cigarette has, in certain circles of temperance reform, been magnified to a misdemeanour almost comparable with adultery. Christian America is trying to undo the ' evil ' that aboriginal America brought on the world in discovering the tobacco-plant. The cigarette is persecuted with unfailing persistence, although we have not learned whether there is an anti-tobacco-chewing movement. On the balcony Mr Mix looked more insignificant than his films would have led one to suppose. No doubt the lack En?]