Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-06-30

I TRIED in vain to work. l had had
good supper, and was seated at a
table in my room with pen and paper
before me, but the thoughts would not
come. Instead Of being able to conjure
up the scenes in which my characters
must live and move, saw before me
only the sQualid little room upstairs,
and the old Notwithstanding.
My landlady, when came in that
afternoon, had said to me: 81 wish
you'd go up and see Mr.. Froebel, sir, if
you can, He's in bad way, | think.
I'm really afraid that he's had nothing
10 eat to-day"
0fcourse went found the old man
surrounded as usual, by heap Of lit
tered papers, and, as usual, his pen
was in his hand and-he was staring va
cantly out of the window.
He had hardly noticed my entrance,
] spoke cheerfully to him and asked
him how his work was getting along.
"Not-very ry-well," he said, hesitat-
ingly. Not--very well-I'm afraid. ]
can't get the various parts OF this dra-
matte puzzle to fit"
noted that the room was bare. The
landlady had told me that the old man
had not been out of the house all day
There was no signs of food about the
room. There was a hungry look in his
eyes. Blushing as | did so, l told the
old man that l was lonely and in need
of company, and told him it would be
favor if he would bear me company
to dinner. He blushed, in reply, having
fathomed the depth Of my lie. Hi:
mouth seemed to water at the though
OF meal, but with firm and gentle
courtesy he declined Batfled in any
attempt to aid him, l had finally sought
my own quarters,
Bernard Froebel and L had been ac
quainted about three months. ! haC
occupied my rooms in West Forty-thirC
street for two years Three months age
Bernard Froebel moved in. His per
sonal belongings were meager. Tn,
greater part of his luggage consisted O
dusty mRAuscripts Of plays. When
had c0mlfto know him he said to me:
7 aua playwright When l knew
him better and something like friend
ship had sprung up between us, b,
said Il have been writing plays fo
20 years. never had one accepted"
| was young enough to be his son
was drawn to be his friend had n,
relations, lived lonely life, and fel
a great pity, an immense sympathy, fo
this poor, old, wasted life. l am gla,
now to think that l did what couil
to make the burden of life a little lighte
for him. Froebel was not a pessimist
He had no crazy ideas. like so man,
playwrights, that the theatrical man
ayers were in league against him to re
fuse his plays. When a play was de
clined, he would be as ready as tn
critics TO admit its faults. They ar
quite right" he often said TO me; "th
fault is in the work" And then h
would close his jaws in a determine
sort of way, and ] have heard him NUT
fer AT these times: Il will do ityet."
About a month before the evenin
OF which ! am speaking, Froebel and
were taking dinner i'm a little Freuc
cafe knew oi-soup, fish, two entrees
the roti dessert and a bottle of vim or
dinaire ior SO cents-very good, too,
assure you-aud after dinner the OF
man had read me one of his plays
seemed 90 be wonderfully bright an
original, and, as he reeited the variou
scenes, ] could not understand wh
such a play should not make success
"But they refused it to-day" sai
Froebel sadly. II has made u