The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 102

Page Thirteen It-Be HALL IT OME or VAREER? Qrace Perkins, Young Novelist, Who Qrace fully Manages Both, Insists the Career Is Secondary to the Home 5Kv: "This home is the realization of our dream. You see both Mr. Oursler and myself were brought up in houses and we could not conceive of the same peace and privacy in an apartment which a house affords. We love the fireplaces, and it has been such a delight to plan drapes and decorations and color schemes." Mrs. Oursler has had an interesting career in writing and on the stage.

She is the daughter of the late James Lamont Perkins, the publisher. Her brother, Ray Perkins, is manager of the mwic department in Warner Brothers. Her young sister, Bobbie Perkins, is playing in "Animal Crackers." Grace Perkins was born in Boston, lived the greater part By Betty Gnad THE sphere of womankind; career and home-making. Does it come within the scope of woman to enjoy the honors of a career and at the same time keep her finger upon the pulse of her household? This subject has been discussed from all sides. It has been philosophized upon by women prominent In every walk of life.

Women leaders from the business world and from political circles have risen to affirm that it does come within the province of women to play this double role. Now comes one other from the literary world-Grace Perkins, author of "Angel Child," to join in the acclamation that the hand which rocks the cradle of the world, the heart which sings the lullaby of the age, the spirit which is brave enough to face, unflinchingly, life in all its realities has much with which to endow a civilization by reason of these blessings the heritage of womankind. Miss Perkins is conservative, yet quite sincere in her opinions on this subject. To quote the novelist: "A career should be It may bring fame and money, but it is the home and its. love ties which give us peace, joy and understanding.

Love is such a rare quality for it everything should be sacrificed. Whatever else life has to offer, real love is the most valuable and precious, whether it be the love of friends and family or the love of husband and children. There is something within me which is energetic and ambitious and I could never be happy unless I were giving expression to this desire to accomplish something, but I could not have the courage to follow any career at the price of my home." Mies Perkins proves not only that a woman may follow the career of her choice and at the same time fulfill every mission for which she was created, but she emphasizes as well that there may be two careers in a single household. For in private life Grace Perkins is the wife of Fulton Oursler, author and playwright. Sandalwood, their home, a gray stone house of four and one-half stories in height with ten spacious rooms and five baths, is situated in the Seventies just off Riverside Drive.

The Ourslers occupy the entire house. It is a large and busy household indeed, but a real home, the management of which is exacting in its perfected system. There are Mr. and Mrs. Oursler, both engaged in their literary pursuits, each with a private study and a private secretary; there are Bill and Helen, son and daughter of Mr.

Oursler, both destined for the stage. Bill studying to be an artist and Helen an actress, and there is Eaby April, just past two years of age, the lovable little daughter of Fulton Oursler and Grace In addition to being a novelist, a writer of short stories, serial articles and songs for children, Miss Perkins is an accomplished musician. I found her in the great living room, seated at a grand piano. he had come from her study to seek a moments relaxation. A striking picture she made as the shadowy becms played upon her girlish figure, becomingly attired in pearl gray.

Beneath the soft glow of the lights her chestnut-brown hair glistened with a tinge of gold. Her personality Is captivating; she has pretty hazel eyes which open wide in new wonderment, and a lovely smile. She led the way to her study on the fourth floor, an attractive rcom facing the south, flooded with light against a setting cf blended tones of orange and browns. A glance over the shoulder of her secretary, a suggestion or two and the typewriter was again busy clicking out an additional chapter to Miss Ferkins' new "brain child" to come out in the fall. As the novelist turned to one of her book shelves holding a choice collection of books, one rather expected to see a copy cf her book come sallying forth; but, instead, it was Baby April's album, containing her first pictures, first ring, autographs of famous people, cards, baby food prescriptions and all the precious tokens which every mother treasures.

Directly back of this study we find little Aprils complete suite of rooms, a nursery in color scheme of pale green, a porch, kitchenette and bath. Not only is Mrs. Oursler an artisan at home-making but she is a charming hostess. Her hospitality is perfection itself. On the stroke of twelve a most delicious luncheon was served.

Passing Fulton Oursler's study a glance disclosed a spacious room lined with book shelves; In one corner a secretary working furiously; the author in conference with a visitor. "Sandalwood! What an attractive name for a home!" we exclaimed. "Yes, and most significant too," Miss Perkins assured us. "We named it from Mr. Oursler's book, "Sandalwood," written at the time of our meeting and dedicated to me dedicated to April, it appears In the book.

It is my husband's pet name for me, and when our baby darling came we called her April of her life in Westchester and New York City, spending her summers in Kennebunkport, Maine. She was educated at Madames of the Sacred Heart, Manhattan, with a year at boarding school. She then entered the School of Journalism at Columbia, but her second year at Columbia was interrupted by the death of her father. "The early dream of my life to be a writer took form when I was still in school," she said. "My father and I adored each other.

He guided my reading, studied with me; in fact, he educated and disciplined me to writ. We saw the best plays together and, other than my companionship with my father, I lived a very quiet and sheltered life no parties, no beaus, like the other girls of my age. "After Columbia I took a stenographic course, and when prepared to take a position so intent was I on getting into the writing world that I passed up many excellent positions until I finally connected with a magazine. In the meantime I became associated with Minnie Dupree in entertaining the soldiers. One day Minnie said: 'Kid, you are getting clever! Why don't you try for the So Minnie Dupree taught me to 'make up," introduced me to the theater, and I left the magazine to play in a stock company in Toronto and then a season in Rochester.

Grace Perkins "My first leading part was in Ughtnin' with Frar.k Bacon. I also played with Florence Reed In Xullaby' for a season. I never felt really keen for th theater but I was unusually lucky in having long runs. However, I have been most grateful for my theater experience It was a saving grace for me cleaned the cobwebs out of my mind. Having led such a sheltered life, I needed just the contact which the theater pave me.

I believe the theater will either ruin or develop a character. "I was playing the role of a newspaper reporter in 'Her Way Out' when I left the stage to take a position on a newspaper as a reporter. On my first day in my new position I wore the same suit which I wore in the play as a reporter. Ill never forget my first big assignment. It happened that the paper had sent other reporters to the house of a woman whose husband had been murdered and they could get no admittance, so I was the next to go out on it.

I had to take a cab to reach the place, and tried about thirty minutes to get answer, when, finally, my driver picked up a handful of pebbles and threw them against the window. The woman came to see what had happened and when she opened the door the driver pushed me right in and there I was. I was closeted with the poor woman for a long time. She told me her story. We both cried, and before I left I admitted to her that if I was ever in such a position I would feel terrible, too, if people wanted to pry into my private affairs and published them, and I promised her that I would not report it.

"I went back to the editor and told kirn that I had the story but I would not give it in. That was my first and last assignment of actual reporting. The paper put me in the music department and on writing book reviews and bedtime stories. While on this paper I also wrote short stories and serials for magazines and children's songs." It is since her marriage that Mrs. Oursler lias distinguished herself as a novelist.

She wrote "Aniel Child" while she and Mr. Oursler were on their second trip abroad. Having been fiendishly at work on short stories and serial articles, she decided that, since this was her vacation, she was going to do something which she really wanted to, and came back with her b.x.k finished. Just then a baby's glee resounded from the kail below. Baby April had returned with her nurse, la an instant she was caught in her mothers arms and showered with kisses For a brief moment Grace IViLiiis the novelist seemed transformed, la her place appeared a vision of a hunpy mother..