New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
STORIES ~ ENBRYO.
THE ADVANTAGES OF EAvEsDRoP2INc FOR
y WRITER OF FICTION.


for the lesser magazines began to explain the
other day how he got many of his ideas II
am gifted with very quick hearing, said he.
land am constantly catching scraps Of con-
versatOn, in streetcars and other public places.
which to furnish the keynotes fer good
stories. These detached phrases are more often
tragic than funny, and some seem almost in
stantly TO tit themselves 10 a story, while others
defy explanation for many long day. Yester-
day l heard good one which has utterly
bafed me far. although l am convinced that
thrilling tale lies back of it, if my second sight
only comes to me | was waiting for a ferryboat
to come n and stood by open window look
ing out toward the street. Almost below me
were three pedlers; one, paralyZed woman, in
a wheeled chair, sold candy; another a crippled
boy. had chosen chewing gum as his stock in
trade, while the third, old woman. mad her
arms full of lilacs The last mentioned was
speaking. The boy crutches had drawn very
near and listening open-mouthed.
with that. said the lilac woman. he catches
her by the arm. Damn You" says he. and he
blows his brains out. Blows EN- right clean
out will You believe it? l since was
born see She broke off and began crying
Iocks Nice liIocksi Five cents a bunch! l
waited for her come back. hut trade was
brisk and before she returned the boat had
pushed in and my dinner invitation forced me
board.
I'm streetcar l heard two girls chatting of
! a comedy which seemed to To promise well
| for a teller of tales. Her, people never knew
thing about it until they reached the Union
! Station in Boston-not n thing Well | never'
calculated the other. Yes. indeed went on the
| first speaker. OF course. they tried To hush it
| up. but Mrs. Thompson-yOu know what she is
she goes and tells the sewing circle-violent
! I,rip h, ~ Of not
! about split up over it, concluded the first girl
as they left the car. still giggling. l just
caught the answer OF the second young woman:
| After all. it was kind of hard ON Aunt Martha.
! Here is a situation TO tickle the palate of a
humorist / write little humor myself so l
make a present of it to any one who will take
IT, suggesting that they deal gently with Aunt
Martha and give the garrulous sewing circle
| its deserts.
The best-thAt is, the most complete-con-
versation OF the sort I heard hoated 10 me
| through the door of the ladies' room hotel
| outside of which stood waiting for friend.
| one woman had apparently been looking in the
| glass. for the talk began with What fright
| am, Forty. at least. I'll never be taken for
| twenty any more-that's certain" It's the
| weather my dear. answered some one. The
| reply came after slight pause. but il was
vicious in its energy when il did come: NO it
isn't the weather, ana you KNOW H. III :
| Dick" When a woman can't walk down a
street without thinking of the day she walked
down il with a man who's heaven knows how
many miles away. it's wonder she looks
| forty "Dick" kept me young he such
boy himself, Now I'll be middle aged in two
years" Her friend answered quietly. with the
| sarcasm which meant To hurt in order To do
good: So that being the case, you naturally
send Dick of to India and promise To marry
seymour" The first speaker laughed half bit
terly half hvstericaIIy- Yes that's my feminine
logic exactly Maybe if you look consistently
like a fright he'll tire of yOu-Seymour likes
beauty The woman laughed again. unpleasant
H. No he won't. child You've no idea how
fascinating | am even if | do look forty. Hd
such luck heard more. but all day thought
of Dick eating his heart out in India. and df
Seymour rejoicing in his conquest and probably
blissfuly unaware that any thoughts strayed
from him over the ocean to where young r2c,H
was thinking Of home and cursiag his luck gerf-
orally. Now, it Is obvious that Dick was
younger than the woman with whom he was in
love and per hars not an eligible parti She, a
woman of thirty with 4 large circle Of friends,
j had 10 intention Of being laughed At, so her
cho.c. f.U on the irreUroachable Seymour. If
4 she n1rri-s him. how she VIII oathe him. If
i DicF is young, he wiz get over il, too, and
that WI sGd gall and worInwcod to her cup
. don't know when I've been so sorry for any
4 Lody.
4 ..hort sentences reach me constantly. One