CINDERELLAS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 11

CINDERELLAS

T TEE’S lucky day has afforded many J j rich prizes for those who have leastcause to expect them. Many a poor Cinderella has awakened to find the golden coach waiting at the door, and even the glass slippers a little further along the road.

*A modern fairy godfather has wafted another of life’s Cinderellas —a friendless little nobody— into fairyland of happiness and romance. When the war broke out, and the tragic flood of refugees streamed back across Belgium, leaving their ruined homes in the hands of the invaders, there journeyed with them a Belgium artisan and his daughter—a pretty, flaxen-haired girl of two. Their future was dark and hopeless. Home, prospects, dreams —everything had been shattered by the rude hands of war. That was in 1914.

Meanwhile, the good fairies have been busv. To-day Marie Suzetto, the little, waif of the saddest processions in the world’s history, is the bearer of one of the proudest names in England, and heiress to a substantial fortune. A fairv godmother in the person of Lord Stevenson, of Holmburv, stepped in and saved her from the nightmare of war bv adopting her as his own daughter. Now, by his death, she inherits a sum of more than £25,000 under his will. The past, with its terrors, is forgotten, and a wonderful new life opens for the little Belgian CinereJla.

Not long ago Cinderella’s coach called at the humble door of Miss Mary Spas, of Long Island, whose father and mother are janitors of an apartment house, and whisked her off to the palatial mansion of Mr. Edward W. Browning, the 00,-year-old real estate millionaire. If the golden coach in modern guise took the form of a prosaic advertisement for a girl willing to bp adopted into the millionaire’s family, and become a sister to his own daughter, it proved just as sure a passport to fortune as the one transformed from a pumpkin. Mary Spas read of the quest, and with little hope of success set out to tramp the five miles from her home to the millionaire’s ntricc.

There were over 12,000 Teplies from would-be Cinderellas all over America, and when, weary and coated with dust,

REAL LIFE ROMANCES

ADOPTED BY MILLIONAIRE

Alary Spas arrived at the portals of the magic door, it was to find that she had to take her place in a queue over a mile long. At last came her turn. She went in—and the glass slipper fitted her like a glove. The moment he saw her the millionaire declared that his search was at an end, and that Mary was the Cinderella he had sought. For the next few weeks the pictured face of Mary Spas gazed out from the papers, while the delightful fairy fodfathor escorted his charming "daughter” round the expensive jewellers and costumiers in an orgy of buying. Mary had only to express a desire for a pretty jewel or handsome fur for her fodfathor to wave his magic wand of wealth and gratify her wish. On the first day of her initiation into a life of luxury she selected fifty dainty frocks, in addition to other articles of finery, costing £SOO. Legal steps were taken to have the adoption properly carried out, and the girl was installed in the magnificent apartments at Tvow Gardens Inn, where the millionaire lived. Browning had specified that his adopted daughter was not to exceed fourteen years of age. Mary coyly admitted that she was sixteen, but was so artless ami confiding, and smiled so sweetly, that he decided to extend the age limit.

But envious tongues began to wag,. It was hinted that Mary had not only emerged from her teens, but at one time had been engaged to be married to a neighbour's son. Another storv was that she had been a cinema actress of sorts. Very soon the fairy godfather found that the role assumed culls for more than fitting glass slippers to the feet of Cinderellas, ami installing them in palatial mansions. The upshot was that Mary had to confess that, she was over twenty. In a burst of hysterical chagrin she then swallowed a, quantity —a very small quantity —of iodine. The golden 'coach and the' fairy godfather vanished from her ken, and Cinderella Mary, her dreams of riches shattered, returned home. But she took her fifty frocks and the rest of her pretty gifts with her.

Another girl whom Browning adopted was "Poa'chos” Henan, and in this ease he liked her so much that he married her. But it would have been better had he remained her fairy godfather

onlv. for after five days of wedded life, according to Ms own affidavit when he applied for a separation, she “ froze,’ and turned the love-nest into an icehouse.

Two baby boys, both born in London in abject poverty, have almost simultaneously become heirs to fortunes of £40,000. One has found a home through the National Children’s Adoption Association with a man prominent in public life, whoso name is being kept secret. The child will inherit the £40,000 unconditionally as well as a famous name.

The other baby was adopted through the same association by a widow with an income of £2OOO. He will not bo able to touch the principal £40,000 until he reaches the age of thirty-five.

Twenty-five wears ago a little boy was playing in Kensington Gardens with his three brothers. Sir .Tames Barrie saw them, joined in their romp with boyish zest, and eventually made the boy, Peter Davies, the hero of the fairy story that has spread its charm throughout the .world. When the boy’s parents, Mr and Mrs Llewellyn Davies, died, Sir •Tames began to play the part of the good fairy godfather in real life. He adopted the youngsters as liis own sons, and lavished' a father’s care on them. Unfortunately, tragedy stepped in. to mar the idyll. Two of the boys have died —one was killed in the war, and another was drowned while bathing at Oxford. For days after he heard the sad news. Sir .Tames Barrie sat in a darkened room, refusing to see anybody, or even to read a newspaper.

Cinderella’s golden coach appeared'in reality (o give Millie. Claire Legue, the pretty niece of a Cannes antique dealer, :i. glimpse of fairy palaces. One day the court coach of the. Queen of Italy drove iTp, and an aide-de-camp alighted with the message that the Queen would bo delighted if MdlJe. Claire would spend a month at the Quirinal. Cinderella stepped into the Royal equipage, and was whisked away to happiness and fortune. Before she left Romo the Queen kissed her affectionately, and gave her a valuable pearl necklace, with the remark: ‘‘ 1 shall always be interested in you, and shall not fail Jo call on you again when I am in Cannes.” ! .. .